Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-12-22

TINS Gas WORKS. Tho Mayo IL al
;,,-ry.eW, speaking of the recent propo.
.oo to ease the city's light plant at six
,sonssud dollars per annum. takes the
",.'r.a mat while under ordinary cir
ann. nee Is it will be considered indeli.
cT4 20 comment upon pending meas
S-s in ne City Council, the present
n,on5-.uan is so far beyond the limits
= n9s.!9le adoption as to furnish a
meme interesting conversation rath-
ertran means OF advancing the inter.
sqsolo our community. Hs says the pre-
n,,sI u accord with msuy PROPOSE
iiols are SO frequently made to get
sone. 2 for nothing and the liberal
.nj,i. tsal naturally Influences our PEG
nlssur delightful festivities Incident
ioiae ought and enjoymt Mt of Christ
ma. a-ons almost justi6es childish re-
oles.s Of grown men for gifts which
.aeg byauo expectation OF receiving.
Cygaaaug the Mayor recalled an offer
nsr was made by several gentlemen
in 1873. "a offer Infinitely more favors-
bl-.9 aur people than the present one.
l. ws- fact 10 give US $500 per an
nan fI- our gas works alone, the use
d sas IL. ali public buildings, engine
ho1.s-, iuirm .ry, armory. gas lamps
o. 81 e raers where electric lights were
ro gas at Sl.25 with per cent
die after FIVE years gas at 81.
ls- orks were too valuable to &C
II this offer being accepted.
or cty Treasurer was quoted
e ime as valulng the plant at
>94Rl, aud as estimating it as plant
,idsole that we should not part
The Mayor also referred to
Il ID n. that was made in 1891 to
lsye al taxes and ground rents and
mortgages against the owners of the
Pioneer Mills property, amounting to
$1,000, removed for the benefit of gift
sex IS from Canal Dover, OHIO, this
iro being vigorously and successful
IS opposed by Messrs. Mushbach,
BY u. Saowden and other members
o. G ancil, with the result that the
$ll,gJ0 was collected by the city.
Ground rent sold for $1,000, the cooper
saop and lots for 81 900 and property
tia We were asked to give away is
pAylog taxes upon valuation OF $44,-
Q00 The Mayor referred to Expert
B4yne's report in 1898 as follows !:
"Ba it seems perfectly clear that T. Q
amount at present charged TO COZ
suuction accounts and which 10
lOunt fully reDresepts cost If
works to date, was paid out OF
net earnings. It seems equally clear
thar the S171,340 transferred from
he gas fund to the general fund,
As -hown by the records of the Audit
" Office from 1864 to 1895,
vas also obtained from the same
olrce. 1t is also clear that the
ost Of lighting the city for all
lese years should be added to
ne two other items in order to COM
).ete our account, which should accu-
a-ely show the net earnings Of the gas
works to date. 10 the Auditors book
81 1893 Expert Bayne shows net earn
Gs- OF 6 per cent. on valuation Of
1851 $3.50, and upon Sl57 1867 .53 cost
D obstruction he shows net earnings
)i Is per cent. 10 the face of th
msgulficent showing we are asked 10
the electric light aud gas
plants for $4,000 per annum, which is 6
per cent. on valuation OF 500 600.
Aud hen we are to give back to these
gentlemen the sum Of IS 600
for lighting our city. We cannot
Charge them taxes, for it is lease that
is asked for, and our people will have
10 lay 81 20 for gas, more than they pay
now. Aud this agreeable condition of
affairs is to continue for 50 years, re-
gsriless of declines in The price of coal,
aud regardless Of everything else.