Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-02-14
COMMON COUNCIL.

COMMON COUNCIL.
At a regular meeting of the Common Coun-
Gil of the city OF AlexsndIis, Va, held Feb.
ruafy 13, 1900. there were present:
MessIs. snOwden, Trimyer, Burke, Moore,
Latham, Desmond, Bladder. Psff, Harrison,
Smith, LAWYER, FickIin and Evans.
In the absence Of the president Mr. Snow.
den was elected president pro tenn.
The following message was received from
the Mayor:
Alexandria, Va Feb. 10, 1900.
To the Honorable the City Council Of Alex
andria:
Gentlemen-short'y after the meeting of
our General assembly, in December was in
hlenced 10 communicate with our represents
tyes in that body by a runner of possible leg
islation through which the rights of cities and
towns acre TO be ignored and telephone and
telegraph charters granted over streets and
alleys without asking counc,lmsnic permits.
SION. Not cOntentlng myself with writing, J,
personally, on or about December 10, 1899,
requested Messrs. Donohoe and Hume to keep
me advised OF such measure belonging TO that
species OF legislation herein before men toned.
Today Mr. Hume telegrsphs me of his iDten-
ton to oppose, unless otherwise advised, q
-enats bill containing features obnoxious 10
community rights. / teegraphed him to OPP
pose by all means. Enclosed please find copy
of bill aforesaid and also clippings from Rich
mond papers. These will indicate the char
acter OF legislation which should be condemn.
Cd By our City Council and they also exhibit
the interest," which Virginia cite; are taking
in the matter. | do not think 1t at all necea-
saTy to send committees to Richmond as |
th.t IL
need no assistance of this character, but your
honorable body should by resolution frown
down upon legislation, which takes from A.
exsDdra rights which she should rever sur
reLder and that often-timss encourages men
without IL tluencs in their own communities
to pose as directors OF independent representa-.
lives in the Capitol of Virginia.
Respectfully,
GEO. L. SIMPSON,
Mayor.
Mr.. Psf presented ike following which was
unanimously passed.
Resolved Tha: our representatives in the
Virginia legislature be requested to oppose
the passage of Senate bill No. 800, now pend
ing in the legislature, to incorporate the Viz
glnia Telephone and Telegraph Company.
Permission WAS granted the Alexandra
walk with spur track from the main track
Of the Southern Railway on Union. between
Queen and Princess streets
fhe Finance Committee reported recon-
that 5000 be appropriated for the
outdoor poor and $500 for the aims house,
tho Auditor having reported on February
that the annual appropriations were ex.
hsusted. The recomm sndstion of the Finance
Committee WAS Unanimously adopted.
The Committee on Light reported adverse
ly on Mr.. Desmond's resolution which was
referred to them on FebIy sry 8, 1900, on
the ground that tho pri Vege asked will con.
hi wi the city's interest. The committee
are considering the advissbility Of enl4rging
the present electric light plant with the view
Of furnishing electricity for incandescent
Lights. The report Was unanimously adopted.
The Committee ON Light respectfully re-
turned to the City Council the proposition of
Mr.. Mertens tc lease the city gas and electric |
light plants and also the resolution ref, rring |!
the same TO them, the proposition having at /
he request of Mr.. Mertens' attorney been |
The report of the committee |
was adopted.
The resolution to require the Washing |
Southern and southern Railway Companies |
20 keep the crossing open at the intersection |
IF Wolfe and Payne streets, WAS called from
he table by MI. Lawler, discussed by Messrs. |
Evans Smith and Others, and by general con.
'ent laid over
A II solution sppropristing so for log |
pump at the corner of Pitt and Gibbon |
streets was received from the Board Of Alder.
neu and laid on the table.
An act to repeal an ordinance passed jan
lsry 80, 1900, granting permission to the |
southern Railway Company to lay Q track on |
Henry street, between Duke and Wolfe
treets, was presented by Mr.. Evans and by I
unanimous consent laid over.
A petition signed by 121 gaa consumers.
equesting that Mr.. w. E Hantzmon, who for |
many years was in charge of the city gas
works, be resppointed to the position he for. |
nerly occupied at said works was received |
M referred TO the Committee on Light.
The following communication was received
rom Mr.. Z. NJ. Lstham:
Alexandria Va February ID, 1900
To the Hone rable tho City Council OF Alex.
andria, Va:
Gentlenen-l beg leave to make Q short |
tatement in answer to the Communication
unlimited by the Hon. Geo. L. s mpson. He
makes a comparison between plant install.
a 6O years ago and one OF mo1ern construc.
ION, stating that 80 per cent Of coke pro-
luced returns to the furnaces, but fails 10
ate that the same authority informed him
bat 1t would take so per cent for the pres.
mt plaut, on account of bad benches built
bout 20 years ago, allowing such per cent.
# heat to escape. he says too many men
re employed, but fails to state that
ne extra men were employed on De-
smter 10, 1899, and ouly worked about
wo months He also says better results
vere secured one year ago With less men
thea the following ia the case +: In Decem.
er. 1893. 2.S7OSOO cubic feet; and De-
ember, 1899, 1928, 800 cubic feet; in jan
ary. 1899, 2,6O5. $50 cubic iest January,
go, 3.21O,74O cubic feet was the yield,
nth receipts from sale of coke in excess of
nv prev Gus years since the building of the
liant, notwithstanding that 80 days Of the
eriod it was sold for IL per load (see report
{ Auditor and Clerk. During the year