The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-20
A union DEPOT FAVORED
Action of the Board of Development
of Alexandria County.
The Measure Authorizing the APP
pointmcnt of n Commission by the
President to Control Steam Rail-
way Affairs in the District Endors-
ed--TcNt of Resolutions Adopted.

BY action yesterday afternoon at a meet
ing in the County Court House at Fort
Myer Heights. the board of development Of
Alexandria County has gone on record as
favnring bill recently introduced in the
United States Senate, which authorizes
the President of the United States TO ap-
point a railroad commission TO construct
union tracks. depots terminals and union
bridges. to be used by the steam railroads
now entering the District of Columbia, and
which may hereafter enter said District,
and for abolishing grade crossings and the
removal from the public grounds of all
existing tracks, stations, and freight yards
within the said District of Columbia
Resolutions favorable to the measure
were presented to the meeting by G. e.
Boteler, and. after debate, were adopted.
other matters were considered by the
gathering. over which G. ". Donaldson
presided in the absence Of President A. NJ.
Lothrop. About forty members Of the or
ganiZation were present and James L.
Clements acted as secretary.
II was 4 o'clock when the meeting con-
vened. After roll call, business was taken
up in the regular order. mass of routine
matter being first considered. Reports OF
several committees were received. that OF
the committee on Memorial Bridge being
tie first in order. II was reported from
this committee that substantial progress
toward the desired end had recently been
made, special committee appointed at
previous meeting of the society having
also moved forcibly in the matter 1t vas
brought out that this special committee
had called upon Senators Mcmillan and
Martin and directed their attention to the
project locking TO the construction OF the
Memorial Bridge. Slight progress was re-
ported from the committee on Mount Yer
non Avenue and similar state of affairs
was brought to light by a report from the
committee on general county legislation.
Somewhat of a surprise was sprung when
Augustus Davis of this city presented a
motion with the object of securing the
appointment OF special committee TO con-
slider and report at the next meeting of
the association as to the proper steps TO be
taken In the matter Of the proposed con-
struction of good roads for Alexandria
County. During the recent eampaigR-for
the bonding of the county to the ex-
tent of $4,000 for the improvement
of roads, Mr.. Davis was opposed to
the measure then proposed, and 10 his
efforts, in part, the failure of the bonding
is credited. In presenting his
resolution Mr. Davis called for a feasible
plan TO secure good roads in the county.
He claimed that the scheme recently de-
feated at the polls, including the propo-
sition to bond the county, was unjust and
without precedent in the State of Virginia.
Debate upon the motion for committee
lasted for half an hour and finally the mat
ter was brought to a vote. Upon the
adoption of the motion the chair appointed
the following committee to enquire into |
and to report at the next meeting of the
nso
l.. F. Haney, J. II. Hobson. and James E.
Clements. At this point Mr.. Boteler Sc
cured the floor and offered the following |
resolutions:
Whereas the business interests OF Alexandria |
County, well as the traffic between the North |
and South, is seriously retarded by not having |
better railroard connection in Washington city; /
and
Whereas the control OF the terminals in Wash
ngton by any one of the trunk lines 10 the |
clusion of citizens deprives the South from the |
benefits Of competition between various rail-
ways going North; therefore be il
Resolved. That this association requests the !
Senators and Representatives from the State
of Virginia to support House bin el30 as being
of vital importance to the trade between the |
North and the South and The development OF
Alexandria County, and also 0: Washington, City;
be it
Resolved, That this association further re-
quests the Senators and Representatives from
Virginia not to favor any bill donating any
public land in the District Of Columbia 20 any
steam railroad corporation TO the exclusion of 1
my other steam railroad desiring similar prvi-
eyes
This motion provoked long debate but
was finally adopted. A committee COM
posed of George C. Boteler, Augustus Davis,
J. H. Hobson, A. B. Hines, A. NJ. Lothrop,
and James E. Clements was then appointed
by the chair to present the resolutions to
he Senators and Representatives from Vir-
sinia. This will be done, 1t is understood
his week.
After other minor matters had been dis
,osed OF the meeting adjourned at o'clock