The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07
NEWS FROM ALEXANDRIA.


ALEXANDRIA, Va, April 5.-About 800
people tonight attended mass-meetiag
held in the Opera House. under the aus
pices Of the Citizens Progressive Asso-
citation. the main objects of which are
TO sewer the city and build new streets,
and tc elect a new city council a the
coming Democratic primary, which will
coincide with its views on the subject.
The meeting was called to order By the
Chairman, James p Cation, and James
Bayne acted as Secretary.
Mr.. Caten said that It was his duty TO
call the rasetisg 20 order FOR the purpose
Of cozlsidersnz tn question Of a perrna-
nent orEanizzssS-. and boxing 70 the i'm
provenenr II the city and all matters
that VorIa materially benefit it. we
are not here" he said. TO organize or
disorganize any political body. We are
here as piain business men to consider n
business plan, and have no personal am
billions 10 serve. Men have heretofore
gone to council gader the pretext of pub
lie Improvement, but it was not under
an organized body. The associations ad-
vice is that the city council should adopt
some specific plan of Improvement, II 1t
was only to pave from three to ten
squares at time We will never have
mite plan"
The speaker then referred to the pres
ent leakage in the citys gas mains. and
advocated the placing of new gas mains,
thereby, he said, saving the city con-
siderable amount Of money. The enlarge
ment Of the citys electric light works
was also advocated, as was the furnish
ing of power for machinery and in
candescent lights 10 those who desire
them. The speaker was in favor of re
funding the city's debt, which will soon
mature, in order to reduce the interest He
advocated paying per cent instead Of
2.G5 per cent, which Is now being paid.
He said the desire was to nominate men
in the primary who are in sympathy with
the movement. The speaker asked all
present who were in sympathy with the
movement to signify their intention by
saying aye, and it seemed that all pres
ent were in sympa thy.
James Bayne read the report of the
committee, which was adopted with the
exception Of that portion which referred
10 a reduction in rent from the Alexan-
dria Water Company. The chairman
called for the president Of the association
John r. Zimmerman, and In his absence
u. Il. Downham. Vice President, from the
Third ward, occupied his place. Mr.
Downham said he was glad that he was
one Oi the llIsl 10 take the INITIATIVE step
looking to the Improvement Of the city.
He said that when he was mayor of the
city he submitted plans to the city coun-
ell anent the Improvement Of the city and
that body had entirely ignored them. In
his opinion had the plan been carried out
the city would today have some few
squares paved and would not be in any
more debt than today. He was In favor
Of improving In the manner that IL is
done in Washington; that is, make all
the necessary improvements and compel
the taxpayers to bear their share of the
burden.
Upon motion of Mr. Cation it was de-
cided to give Mr.. Downham the power to
name ii committee of five from each
ward to select men in sympathy with
the movement to become candidates. Mr..
bowman said il would be a hard thing
TO think Of five men from each ward who
were In sympathy with the movement
and Il was finally decided TO let those
lection resulted as follows: First ward
J. NJ. Hin. r. E. knight. Robert Aitche-
son, Henry Strauss, and W. II. Hunter;
Second ward, S. u. Fisher. Henry Wildt,
George II, Harlow. George T.. Price, and
Il. Lee Field; Third ward. Fred Paff jr,
George ID. Hopkins, IL Kirk, jr, W A.
Smoot, tr, and f. L. Downham; Fourth
George II Hill, r. F. Tucker. and w. Il.
Smoot. This committee viii hold a meet
mig Monday night in the rooms of the
business Mems League, at which time
they will slate their candidates for coun-
ell. The committee Will then report to a
mass meeting TO be held in Sarepta Hall
Tuesday night at o'clock.
Policeman Smith today arrested a man
ewing his name as George Jones, on