Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-31
Warrant for superintendent Colvin.

As was stated in yesterdays Gazette,
Messrs. Cuvillier & Co., contractors for
repaying King street with vitrified brick,
have complained several times that they
were losing money each day by reason of
the snaips pace gait at which the cleo
trio railway officials were proceeding,
and have threatened TO throw up the
contract. These conditions resulted late
Yesterday afternoon in the practical ar
rest of Mr.. Joseph Colvin, the superin-
tendent of the railway. The warrant
charged the company with obstructing a
street in failing to do its share of the
work with ordinary dispatch, and lie
based by an ordinance passed by the
CITY Council recently. Policeman Will
liam Ferguson is named as the COM
plainant in the warrant, which was
served on Mr.. Colyin by Policeman Gill.
Mr.. CoIvin was not required to go to
police headquarters with the officer or to
give bond but was simply shown the
instrument and notified that he must
appear in court at 9 O'Clock this morn
ing. The protracted delay in the paving
of King street is said to be due to the
failure of the electric railway company
to furnish and place in position suitable
switch for the turnout near Washington
street. Several consultations were held
yesterday, and Mr.. Colvin waited on the
mayor, the city engineer, and the chair
man of the committee on streets IN refer
ia nnhprgfnO6
that Mr.. Colvin exhibited to each OF
these officials telegram stating that the
diamond switch which has caused the
delay would be shipped from oteelton,
Pa, yesterday afternoon. If such IS the
case it should arrive here about Friday.
The case came before the Mayor this
morning when two hours were consumed
in hearing statements and examining
witnesses. The city was represented by
Corporation Attorney Boothe. Mr.. Col
vim wanted the case continued until Mr..
R. w. Moore, counsel for the company,
could come here from Richmond, but
the Mayor insisted upon going on with
the examination. Messrs. Cuvillier d
Spinks, the City Engineer, Mr.. E. >.
Leadbeater, chairman OF the committee
on streets; Alderman Curtin, the fore
men for the contractors and for the rail-
way company and others testified. The
eist of the evidence was that the con-
tractors had been delayed by the back
wardness of the railway company In
prosecuting their work from Columbus
Street east to the middle of the square
between Washington and st. Asaph, by
not employing a sufficient force CT men
and for other reasns. This was re-
butted by Mr.. Colvin and the railway
EMPLOYEES who declared that the men in
their service had been working as ener-
getically as possible, sometimes night
and day; that the company was always
endeavOring to procure men that 1t was
not the company's fault that the new
switch had not been procured ; that the
company's force often helped the city's
contractors by hauling away earth,
stones. &c, and that it was to the COM
pany's interest to complete the work as
soon as possible. The companys OIL
Gals also stated that had they been al
lowed to place temporary switch and
paving on the part of the street com
planned of the contractors could have
finished their work without any hinder
ance. This had been allowed at Royal
and King streets. The ordinance under
which the warrant had been furnished
did not 90 into effect until December ii,
and the Mayor in summing up the case
said he could not see that the company
had wilfully delayed the work and there
fore dismissed the case.