The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-02
SEEK PUBLIC RETIREMENT
4 Mass Meeting Called by Business
Heu of Alexandria

!
| Lers OF the City Council who would coin
/ eide with their views on street i'm
! proveinerrS. modern sewerage. etc. mas
| again been restricted. This time a call
| is made Upon the citizens TO attend a mass
meeting which viii be held al the Opera
House. on Wednesday evening, at S
@ clock The following ai.P.aI Is made:
To the Citizens of Alexan 1ria:
Is Alexandria growing in wealth and
population As apid,2 as il should when we
consider its Acknowledged natural and So
ciaI Advantages? Il not. what cause or
causes are operating to check its growth,
and how can such causes be removed2
During the period OF IS1G-I9C0 the Dis
trict Of Columbia has increased its popu-
Iatiuu 14I.GlS souls. or ~ per cent: Mont
Eome-y county, Nd which adjoiuS The
| District on the north, has increased It's
population 9.SSS or IS per cent; Alexandria
county. which adjoins it upon the south,
| has increased its population 3,2l5, or 102
per cent; our neighbor. Fairfax county,
has increased its population 562S, or A per
! cent. while Alexandria city, with all its
great natural and social advantages, has
only increased its population by the sum
Of s5S souls, or : per cent. in the last thirty
years
That stagnation in wealth has followed
close upon the heels of this stagnatiOn in
population is clearly shown by the fact
that whereas Alexandra county has. dur
ing the past five years, increased the as
sessed value Of its real and personal prop
eTJy by the handsome sum of S910,362, or
% per cent: Fairfax county has increased
its wealth by the sum of $S29, 725, or 81 per
cent; Alexandria city has decreased in the
value Of its real and personal property by
- r,-E
| enormous loss in assessed values means
| loss of revenue 70 the city OF nearly $500
per annum-
Having in view the betterment Of the
conditions in our city ana earnestly desir-
ing to advance its material interests, our
feliow-citizens who concur in the views
hereinafter set forth are urged 10 unite in
aiding Tire promotion Of the measures
which are Of vital Importance to the wei
fare and prosperity of our community II
to he distinctly understood that this
movement is not for any political purpose
whatever and should have no political
significance, but should merely be an as
sociation Of oar citizens who are willing
TO render substantial service ana assist
ance in advocating and promoting the
objects and purposes herein expressed:
We believe that 10 insure the welfare
and prosperity of our municipality
there should be the strictest economy in
the administration of the municipal at
fairs and the closest scrutiny should be
given 10 the expenditures made by the
different departments Of the city govern
rnent for the purpose OF GSCeTtaining if
the same cannot be materially reduced
without impairing the public service
That the City Council should devise
and adopt q permanent plan of improve
z-r.G4
to sewerage and paving, and begin with
the next fiscal year the execution Of said
Plan, and to carry out the same from
year TO year until il Is fully completed.
We favor the amending OF our present
assessment law by the council adopting
some thoroughly modern method Of as
sessing real aEG personal property for the
purpose of city taxation-sorne method
that has been thoroughly tested and
proved by experience, such method as
shall at one and the same time ~ dis
tribute the burden of taxation equltSbIy
upon each class OF taXpaying citizens,
upon each class OF ana upon edcn moi ;
yidual industry, and upon each individual
citizen; 81 that shall give stability 70 the
value Of the real property OF our city oE
furnishing q reasonably accurate method
whereby each citizen can ascertain such
value: 81 that shall furnish ample rev
enue for the economical running OF our
city government and when ShaA, last
but not least reduce our present tax rate :
The yearly cost Of lighting our city
with electricity is nearly $500; with gas,
nearly S3-Ae0, making total expenditure
for the purpose Of lighting OF nearly $500 /
per annuIn. We believe that the present /
electric lighting plant should be enlarged
in its ca pacity so as to enable the city {
10 furnish IncandeSCenJ and arc lights 70
business and dwelling houses and mo-
tive power TO such as may desire II for |
manufacturing and other purposes
The report for the last fiscal year and
the reports for several years past show {
that nearly 100000 feet, or IS J-lg per
cent, Of all gas made IS unaccounted Tor, /
and such loss has been largely aItribut- /
ed TO the defective condition Of the gas /
mains and pipes. We believe that the /
City Council should adopt such measures !
as may be necessary to renew the gss I
mains III the streets Of the city 10 pre- [
vent the present leakage Of gas, aud for /
that purpose should borrow sufficient /
sum OF money
we advocate that negotiations be en- [
tered into between the City Council and I
tie Alexandra Water Company looking {.
20 the reduction Of water rents.
We believe that the permanent pros /
perity Of our city can De secured only by /
increased business interests and manu- &
featuring enterpriszs in our midst and !
TO that end We advocate the most liberal /
policy on the part OF the municipal gov
and willing to embark in manufactures /
and business IN our community. and we /
pledge our aid and support 70 such Of our /
IellOW-cItlZens as may desire TO engage (
IN manufactures, feeling assured that /
there is no better location for such enter /
pFiseS. and that large number OF man
ufaCturng enterprises, giving employ
ment 10 labor viii be greatly conducive
to our business success.
Believing that the rate of interest is /
as low now as We may reasonably EXPECT
fl 10 be for several years, we favor the
City Council obtaining the necessary leg
islaJiOn al the present session of the Leg
lslatHre authorizing the issue of $500 600 /
worth. Of bonds Fearing interest at not
exceeding ~ per cent, running fifty
years for the purpose of paying off the /
present outstanding s per cent bonds 4
which mature in 1872 ard the $50 bonds 4
which mature in 1863, giving to the pres
ent bondhoiders the option of exchanE-
ing their bonds for the new ones and on
failure upon their part 10 do so pro
vIding that the whole issue shall be sold
al not less than par
Are you willing to cooper
s str,,sa in preventing a5in any further
ues; are you willing 10 cooper
ate in an effort to increase our annual
growth in population; are you willing to
cooperate IN an effort 70 improve our /
streets and sewerage: to equalize taxa I
ton as between our citizens; TO furnish
them with gas for fuel purpose: to fur /
nlsh them with electric light Tor The .
home and shop; and with electric power
Tor their manufacturing plants; are YOU I
Wlllng TO aid in securing manufactures /
Tor the employment Of our people? II so |
we ask your active cooperation with ms /
In an effort TO secure the same
GOING TO THE RLONDIKE.
A baltimore Yacht Captain Resigns