Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-02-05
THE BUSINESS MEMS MOVE
MENT.


the city, held a meeting last evening 10
the rooms of the Business Mems
League.
Owing to the sickness of Mr.. Down.
ham, the chairman of the committee,
Mr.. Isaac EIohberg was called upon to
preside.
The report OF the subcommittee was
presented and informally discussed,
after which 1t was unanimously adopt
ed. 1t is as follows.
10 the Citizens of Alexandris:
Is Alexandra growing 10 wealth and
population as rapidly as 1t should when
we consider its acknowledged natural
aud social advantages? II not, what
cause or causes are operating to check
ils growth, and how can such causes be
removed?
During the period OF 1S70-1900 the
District OF Columbia has increased its
population 147,01S souls, or 1l2 per
cent; Montgomery county, Nd, which
adioins the District on the north, has
increased IFS population 9,8SS, or As
per cent; Alexandria county, which ad.
joins it upon the South, has increased
its population 3.245, or 102 per cent;
cur neighbor, Fairfax county, has 10.
creased it's population 5.62S, or "A per
per cent. while Alexandria city, with
all It's great natural and social advant-
ages, has only increased it's population
by the sum OF 95S souls, or z per cent.
in the last thirty years. Industries
have thsir birth and growth in the
wants OF the community; 1t Is obvious
to the Mid Of every thoughtful citi-
IAN that an average growth 10 popula-
ton of only 80 per annum furnishes no
new wants upon which to found new
industries; as O consequence, our arti
sans and mechanics have been forced
to seek other fields OF employment; the
resnlt to our community being stsgpa'
ton In both population and wealth.
That otagnation in wealth has follow
ed close upon the heels of this stagna.
ton In population IL clearly shown BY
the fact that whereas Alexandria coun
ty has, during the past five years, in.
creased the assessed value of It's rea
ard personal property by the handsome
sum of 1910, 1862, or 30 per cent; Fair
lax county has increased its wealth by
the sum of 1929, 725. or 81 per cent.
Alexandria city has decreased 10 the
value OF its real and personal property
by the sum Of s2SS 800, or 81 per cent
This enormous loss 10 assessed values
means q loss OF revenue to the
city OF nearly $3.50 per annum; thlf
loss of revenue means con-
tinued and increasing lack of necessary
improvements 10 the community; the
lack OF necessary improvements means
furthur shrinkage in population and
in wealth.
Having in view the betterment Of the
conditions in our city and earnestly de-
string to advance its material interests
our fellow citizens who concur in the
views hereinafter set forth are urged tt
unite in aiding the promotion OF tbs
measures which are Of vital importance
to the welfare and prosperity OF oul
community, it to be distinctly under
stood that this movement Ia not for any
political purpose whatever and should
have no political Significance, but should
merely be an association of our citiZens
who are willing to render substantial
service and assistance In advocating
aud promoting the objects and purposes
herein expressed
We believe that to insure the welfare
and prosperity Of our municipality thai
there should be the strictest economy
10 the administration of the municipal
affairs; and the closes. scrutiny should
be- given to the expenditures made by
the different departments of the city
government for the purpose OF ascer.
tslniDg il the same cannot be materially
reduced, without impairing the public
service.
That the City Council should devise
and adopt permanent plan of i'm
provement for the streets, both with
reference TO sewerage and paving, and
Osgin with the next fiscal year the exc
cution OF said plan, and to carry ou
the same from year TO year until 1t II
fully completed.
We believe that the execution OF such
plan will not necessarily involve al
increase Of the bonded indebtedness o.
the city, but that it may be done by the
application OF certain portions of the
revenues each year to that end, instead
of expendiog the same upon temporary
repairs and improvements, as has been
largely the case 10 the years pact.
We favor the amending OF our present
assessment law by the Couucil, adopting
some thoroughly modern method of as
sssslDg real and personal property for
the purpose of city taxatior-.some meth
Cd has been thoroughly tested and prov
ed OF by experience; such method as
shall at one and the same time Q dis
tribute the burden Of taxation equitably
upon each olsss of taxpsyiDg citizens;
upon each class of and upon each in
diyidual industry. and upon each in
dividual citizen; ~ that shall give sta
blity to the value OF the real property
of our city by furnishing a reasonably
accurate method whereby each citizen
can ascertain such value; (3) that shall
furnish ample revenue for the ecoDomi-
cal running of our city government,
and which shall last, but not least, re-
duce our present tax rate.
That the City Council should pass
without delay an ordinance making II
compulsory on the p tt of owners Of
real estate abuttiDg upon sewers al
ready constructed, and upon those
hereafter to be constructed, to discon
tinue all cess.pools upon their premises
aud to make connections with such
sewers.
The yearly cost OF lighting our city
with electricity ia nearly $500; with
gas, nearly 90, 400, making a total ex-
pendture for the purpose OF lighting OF
nearly IS, 800 per a1num. We believe
that the present electric lighting plant