Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-07-11

favor of paying City ATTORNEY Dull.
$500 for legal service 10 the King street
having suit; also favorably The petition
Of w. o Tomlin for a reduction oil as
sessment, and adversely on the petition
of EMILY Burson for reduction 10 as
sessment, aud the reports were adopt
ed.
The committee on general laws re-
ported in favor Of law prohibiting the
removal OF garbage in uncovered ves'
GELS. which was sgreed to.
Also, in favor of postpoping the pro.
oosal to require fsgmen at several
points on the electric railway in Alex
andria.
Mr.. Burke favored postponement.
Mr.. Lswler opposed the postpone
ment. Ii was, he said, hard matter
to get any legislation against the rail-
way company 10 Council. He favored
requesting the company TO comply
with ell ordinances and making tn m
pay for privileges.
At the suggestion of the chairman,
who said that the president OF the
Board OF Aldermen had a paper to be
submitted II this matter came up, the
subject was laid aside after Mr.. Law
Ter mad expressed bis objection to OIL
Gals OF the railway company in Wasn-
ineton coming to see members OF Coun-
Gil.
The street committee reported 10 ia
vor of appropristing 5000 to paws,
King street between Fairfax and Royal
with vitrified brick. Mr.. Smith sald
that the estimate made when the paw
ing was first proposed was 1880, but
F. Igineer Holcombe's estimate for the
work now was $1,000, as bricks, &c,
had advanced in price.
Mr.. Lawler opposed the approprla-
tons of money under the present con-
iition OF affairs, as all street work now
cost too much money. He read figures
showing a big expenditure OF money
since June /, which he desired TO be
accounted for. He said he did not
wish to unjustly or harshly criticise
anyone, but as a member Of the finance
committee he felt it his duty to call at
tention to these matters. Ofthe S5,OOO
appropriated for the year TO clean the
streets, 81, 81 ,402 had been expended
| in ak weeks, and at this rate the ap'
p,opriation would soon be exhausted.
He showed that the work done for the
corresponding time last year cost but
1858. and said that all the charges Oh
the street committees reports were too
high. He instsnced the paying OF 10
cents per load for hauling gravel and
sand and said this could be done at a
much lower figure. He criticised the
giving of so much work to "Mr. Bel!'
at his own figures when If others were
given a chance they would do the same
work for much less money. The use OF
a street sprinkler, &C., was also crlti-
ci-ed by Mr.. Lawler.
Mr.. Smith, chairman OF the street
committee, produced detailed state
ment from the City Engineer OF the
amount OF work done since June l,
and the coet OF each item OF labor. He
cid the work was being done at rea>
sousbIe prices and at small cost per
capita of the city's population.
Mr.. Burke commented on the great
er cost of removing ashes and waste
tois year than 10 other years.
Mr.. Smith said if the Council desired
less work to be done the committee
would be glad to CONFORM to their di-
rections.
| Mr.. Snowden, Mr.. Evans in the
chair, regretted that an increase OF 500
bad been made In the appropriation for
the King street paving and said that
from all sides came complaints OF the
high estimates. He said he meant no
| un kindness but felt that the committee
Oh streets has not the confidence Of the
community Or of the Council 10 their
estimates for street work. The COun-
Gil had administered rebuke TO the
street committee at the last meeting,
when it appropriated money TO Lee
Camp to do the same work which II
mad refused the street committee be-
cause that committees estimate was
too high. He did not care for peo-
pie saying he opposed improve
ments. He had introduced the meas
ure to pave King street and had hoped
Inc committee would report the old
paper for a $500 appropriation TO do
| he work, so that it might be done
al once. He did not believe that
bricks, &C., had advanced over the
price OF three years ago, He bad read
that Baltimore WAS considering the use
of bricks at $40 per thousand and he
believed that the estimate OF three years
ago was for bricks at $50 per thousand
BE believed that if these high estimates
continued to be made they would stop
Improvements.
Mr.. Smith felt much hurt at the re-
marks of Mr.. Snowden. Lee Camp
could get the work done for less than
the city could, because reductions
would be made for the camp. He had
stated only what he had been told that
the price OF bricks bad advanced and
did not like his word questioned. He
was doing the best be knew how for the
city.
4 Mr.. Snowden thought Mr.. Smith
protested too much. He had not quee
toned his word but bad only criticised
the committees estimates, and had Of
ten been criticised himself.
Mr.. Trimyer wanted the work done
at once but opposed any increase of the
appropriation from 81, 800 to 50 900.
The Eogineer explained his own con-
nection with the work on the streets
aud said he was doing the very best be
could.
Mr.. Evans criticised the way wagons
were used and said carts could be used
t. better advantage.
Mr.. Lawler had no personal feeling
in the matter but the street work cost
too much; more than it cost this time
last year. The cost OF hauling gravel
was much greater aud "Mr. Bell" was