Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-09-27
CITY COUNCIL.

City Council last night. The meeting
was called 10y the Mayor at the instance
of committee appointed by the mana,
gers OF the proposed sesqul-centennial
celebration in this city who asked Tor
81 600 toward defraying the expenses OF
he same Council appropriated So0O
for tie purpose, sustai4ed the Mayor 10
bis obi scion to the grading and gravel
ing of Alfred street, between Gamer
on and Queen, and transacted some
routine business, mostly relating to
street improvements. But W specta'
tors were present.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Allthe Aldermen were present except
Mr.. Ballenger.
After the communication from the
Mayor giving his reasons for calling the
meeting of Council bad been received
from the lower board and read,
Mr.. Snowden, member of the Com
mon Council, appeared in the chamber
and extended an invitation to the Alder
men TO meet the lower board IN joint
session for the purpose OF hearing a
statement from the committee represent.
ing the managers OF the proposed
sesqui.centennal celebration. The Ii =
vitation was accepted and the Alder
men left the chamber, and upon their
return resolution appropriatng $500
toward defraying the expense OF the
proposed parade was received from the
! Common Council.
Mr. Hill said the committee which
had asked an appropriation OF Sl,Ooo
had worked hard in getting up the pro
posed celebration, and had asked
for reasonable sum from Coun-
ell. They intended to turn over
to the city every cent not spent in the
movement. They proposed having free
fire works On the occasion, and he
favored appropriating $l,000-the sum
asked for-toward the celebration.
Mr.. J. #. Sweeney said he fully re
cogniZed all NJ. Hill said in regard to
the assiiuity shown by the gentlemen
engaged in getting up the celebration.
The movement had been begun by a
mass meeting, and the City Council
should help the projectors; but
ne thought the sum OF $500 was
sufficient recognition on the part OF the
Conncjl of the proposal celebration.
He believed that sum with ali that Will
be collected from private individuals
would prove sufficient to defray all eX
Denses incident to the occasion. The
people were now interested In the
movement, and contributions would BIZ
coming in from time 10 time. He
reiterated that $500 was a sufficient
I Il o ~ ~ Council nd
said this was the largest sum it had
ever devoted TO such q purpose. He
} was satisfied that the gentleman en-
gagged in getting up the celebration
were a3gmenting the city's interests,
and he believed the event would do the
city good. He moved TO concur in the
action CT the Common Council.
Mr.. Hill moved an amendment that
The sum be fixed at 81 900. This motion
was lost by the following vote :;
AYES Messrs. Hill, Clark and Mr..
P lesident--3. n es, Messrs. Dobe,
Curtin, w. H. Sweeney and Mr.. J. /.
Sweeney-4.
The original resolution, appropriat-
ing $500, was then passed Ayes e, Nos
Mr.. Clark.
Mr.. Hill introduced resolution ap-
propriating 800 for the purpose OF
completing the sewer on Columbus
street from King to the alley Rack OF
Mr.. w. 3. Shoots residence. He said
several persons would tap it if it were
continued to the point indicated
Theresolution was passed by unan-
imous vote.
Mr.. Dobie offered q resolution appro
priating $500 for the purpose of grad
| ing and graveling Alfred street from
Oronoco to Pendleton. He said the
owners of the property on that square
would put down pew paVements ana
curling were the roadway fixed. He
explained the geography of the local
ity, aud said that during heavy rains
The wards and fronts Of houses were in.
undated. During the blizzard last win
Ter it had cost the city nearly fifty dol
lars to free the place from water, while
people living in houses on the square
we're compelled to remain indoors az
entire day, there being no way for them
to make their egress.
Mr.. Sweeney thought the resolution
should be referred to the committee on
streets. 1t had ever been customary to
so refer resolutions appropriating such
sums. 1t would be bad precedent TO
pass it on the night of its introduction,
Notwithstanding it might be looked
upon as an urgent case.
MIR. Marbury suggested that the COM
mittee could report or the resolution
immediately.
Mr.. Sweeney did not think that
would be in order. Council would
ueet again on the second Tuesday in
next month.
Mr.. Dobis said similar resolution;
had been passed by Council on the
night of their introduction. There
vas no law against such
procedure, while it may be looked
upon as custom to refer. At any
rate. the resolution could be re.
ierred to the committee on streets with
power to act. The repair of the square
Indicated was urgent, and immediate
action should be taken before cold
weather sets in.
Mr.. Hill said the owners of property
on the square would raise the side
walks and put down new payemenls
should the city make a suitable road
way. They would spend far more
money than they asked the city 10 ap-
propriate. The committee on streets
were familiar with the geography OF
the locality and were aware of the ne
cessity of the work. Were the resou