Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-06-27
CITY COUNCIL.

It was half past 8 o'clock last night
before the City Council got to work,
considerable time having been con-
sumed by the committees in the pre-
paration OF reports OIL various matters
submitted to them. There was but
little interest taken In the proceedings
by outsiders. the night being sultry and
other places being more inviting than
without the bar OF either chamber.
The Auditor, City Treasurer and COM
mittee on light submitted their reports
for the year.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
All tho Aldermen save Mr.. Hill were
present
Mr.. Dobie presented resolution pro-
viding for an expenditure of $40 for the
purpose Of placing box culvert at the
intersection of Washington and Frank
lin streets.
Mr.. J. L. Sweeney asked why the
iron pipe now at that intersection was
not sufficient.
Mr.. Dobie said it was not large
enough. There were many complaints
and the City Engineer had proposed
laying wooden trough OF the proper
| dimensions.
MIR. Curtin asked what were the pro.
posed dimensions.
Mr.. Dobie-"Two feet" When
funerals were passing to the Catholic
Cemetery much Inconvenience was
now experienced.
The resolution was adopted by a
unanimous vote.
Mr.. w. II. Sweeney presented peli-
| tion OF Mr.. Thomes Chauncey, who
asked permission to place an addition
20 his house on upper Duke street and
make some necessary repairs. Mr.
Sweeney said he hoped the petition
would be granted and the matter not
referred to a committee, as Mr.. Chaun-
cey desired to get to work on the house
a. soon as possible. He explained the
nature OF the proposed Improvement,
and on his suggestion the board by a
unanimous vote granted the request OF
the petitioner.
Some papers subsequently came 10
| from the lower board and their action
was concurred in.
Long intervals followed in awaiting
papers from the Common Council
which at one time was relieved by one
OF King Hum bert's former subjects who
ground ont soothing tunes from an old
fashioned barrel organ on an opposite
corner.
The Aldermen concurred In all mat
ters which came in from the lower
board without debate.
COMMON COUNCIL.
It was considerably after eight
O'Clock when a quorum appeared and
Council was called to order,
The finance committee reported ad-
versely on the application of E. E.
Downhsm for reduction of rent on the
Jail lot from $40 to s. per anDuD; also
adversely on the petition of Mr.. B. w.
Nails for return OF Improvement tax
money and the reports we're adopted.
The annual report of the finance
committee and OF the City Treasurer
was presented, read and accepted 10
presenting the report Mr.. Lawler said:
With the consent of the Chairman Of
the committee on finance, present the
Auditors report showing the receipts
] and expenditures of the general fund
for the fiscal year ending May 81, 1900.
Statistics never entertaining, IRE
quently dull, should, however, be OF in
lerest to each citizen as we'll as every
tax payer in our city, as it is part Of
his interest, so 1 make q summary OF
our fiscal affairs, not avoiding explicit.
ness for brew y.
The estimates prepared May 1899 for
the year, we're as follows. From taxes
$S4, 100, licenses 81 900. fines 81 800, gas
works SC, 500, electric lights 800, night
soil contract 800, fish wharf $40O, total
$106 030. The auditors statement Of
receipts exclusive of balance in treasu-
~ June l 1899, s454.96, end proceeds OF
temporary loan "a 975) fixes receipts at
Sill 1854 %, q sum So, S16.23 in excess of
estimates.
A comparison of the amounts antici-
pated with that realized adding such
sums as formed no part OF estimates)
wi assist one in ascertsining from what
source this $5,Sl6.23 was obtained. II
was made up in this way. From back
taxes $4,6S9.09, night soil contract
s157. 81, gas works $500, tapping sewers
1915, surveys $4,000, street openings
$5l .25, street material $284.3 building
permits $40, and several small sums az
gregsting s61 90, the total increase
being $6,53S 80. The. following were
below estimates. Licenses $535.64, fines
$136.45, fish warf rent $50, total 1922 90,
making net total revenue $5,81623
more than anticipated. While loan
of IS, 900 was authorized in April only
81, 900 was borrowed for sixty days at
8 per cent. So much for receipts.
Last years appropriation bill carried
appropriations to the amount OF S1O3,'
$50. The Auditors statement shows
an expenditure of SIG 49, 81, differ
ence of $l3,23S q. Extra appropria-
items were made, and bills ordered paid
on many of the accounts, the more i'm
portant being, the poor 81 ,733, fire de-
parimsnt 1913, public property $697.
city council 5000 90. pumps $4,000,
Electric lights 81 1854, cleaning stret Is
81 .543 90, repairing streets and sewers
1919, small pox expenses 81 6lO,
graveling streets g., 247. new sewers 81
266, Seequi-C snteonisl celebration $500
Alexandria Light Infantry for floor
$500, a total of $3.50. 10 some in
stances the amounts appropriated we're
not expended, for instance. salaries,
chain gang, courts and Jail, which 10 q
general way show the difference be-
tween $l3. 1882 and 1880.
Our city has not many ways for rsi'r
ing revenue, indeed bet few-t,xes,
license, fines and the gas works.
At request the Auditor furnishes me