Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-02-28
CITY COUNCIL.

There was comparatively DTlei
meeting of the City Council last night,
although q considerable volume of bust
ness was acted upon. The proceedings
however, were mostly OF a routine ma
ture and attracted but few outsiders.
| BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Seven Alderman were present.
| A resolution was introduced by MIR.
Hill directing the Auditor to advertise
for bids during the next thirty days for
a codi6cation of the city's lave.
Mr.. w. II. Sweeney called attention
to the fact that last November he in.
troduced resolution providing for the
same thing. 1t had been referred TO
the committee on general laws and
nothing had since been heard from it.
Mr.. BalleDger said it had never been
brought before the committee, and must
have been mislaid.
The clerk turned to the minutes sDd
read the resolution from the proceed
ings of the board OF November IL
where the resolution and reference were
recorded.
| IL was uuuiiy hSicOu W 'oici tho IL
solution to the same committee.
Mr.. Clark, from the committee 90
light, submitted communication from
Mr.. l.. 3. Kirby, City Electrician, Oh
the danger threatened the city through
electrolysis, it being urged that the
electric currents passing in close proX-
unity to gas and water mains was dam
i fH oil N
directed the clerk to read extracts from
an article written by an expert in the
American Gas Light Journal.
| Mr.. w. II. Sweeney suggested that
the matter be referred to the committee
on light.
Mr.. J. T. Sweeney couldn't we'll see
what the committee could do ia the
premises.
Mr.. Marbury thought the communi
cation should be referred to the con =
mittee on light who could confer with
the electric railroad officials and see If
the danger threatened could not be
averted.
Mr.. J. T. Sweeney believed the Mayor
was the proper person TO assume charge
| of the matter.
Mr.. Ballenger favored referring Ii Q
communication to the committee en-
light.
Mr.. Clark explained the action of to z
committee in the matter. They bad
approved Mr.. Kirby's report. Tee
committee had brought experts here
and had listened to their opinions.
They all had declared that the contact
| of electric wires and gas and water
| pipes would eventually cause some ter
| rible coDhagratiOn IN Alexandria. TIE
speaker believed such catastrophe
imminent aud that immediate action
| should be taken, not by recommittirg
the matter to the committee on light,
who had already considered it and
caused Mr.. Kirby's report to be submit
ted.
After some further discussion it was
agreed to refer the paper to the COM
mittee on light and general laws, who
should act 10 conjunction with the
Mayor.
The report OF the committee on light
on the report OF Andrew ]. Byrne, gss
expert, was received from the Com
mon Council, that board having ell
Gorsed il as accepted"
Mr.. Clark thought Council should
take more decided action than simply
accepting the report. Something more
should be done in order that some OF
the recommendations made by Mr..
Byrne could be carried out. AS mat
ters now stood the committee on light
was working in the dark, as they were
unaware of the powers yes ed in them.
The law under which they are SUP
posed to act could not be found, a.
though he understood a copy was il
the Auditors office which no one had
been able to obtain.
Mr.. J. Il. Sweeney said he was sure
several copies OF the law were in exist
ence.
Messrs. Ballenger and w. II. Swee
ney suggested that the acceptance OF
the report showed Councils apprecis-
ton of the committees work.
Mr.. J. I. Sweeney thought it an i'm
practicable procedure for the commit
tee on light to direct the carrying out
OF the experts recommendation. The
committee knew nothing about the
manufacture of gas. The committee,
however, had always in measure
done what was needed at the gas
works. He would favor the employ
ment OF an expert gas man to superin-
tend the purpOsed provements, ia
order to relieve the committee of all |
responsibility. In fact the speaker had |
intended to retire from the committee |
shortlyis something in that direction |
was not done. At present member Of |
the committee on light was placed 10
anything but pleasant position.
Mr.. Hill favored the employment of
an expert in order that needed i'm
provements could be commenced ut
once.
After further discussion it was finally
agreed to concur 10 the action of the
lower board by accepting the commit
tees report, after which the board ad.
journed.
COMMON COUNCIL.
Mr.. Snowden was elected president
pro tempore at the regular meeting Of
the Council last night. Twelve men,
bers were present.
The finance committee reported ad-
versely on proposal of J. s. Neale 10
regard to publishing the proceedings OF
Council and the city notices, and the
report was unanimously agreed to.
The committee on light reported that
they had inquired into the advisabiliiy
Of enlar ;ing the electric light plant, fui-
nishiDg incandescent lights. increasing
The motor power, &c. The report
states that the whole cost would not ex
iced 500 .000, and that included 80 addi-