Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-26
ALEX ANDRIA AFFAIRS
CONDITION OF DRINKING WATER
DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL.
Drainage and Cleansing of Reservoirs
Demanded and Relief Promised
General and Personal.


ALEXANDRIA, Va, October 26. 1904
A considerable part of the regular SEMI
monthly session of the city council inst
evening was taken up with discussion
concerning the condition of the drinking
water now being furnished the city of Alex
andria. The regular report of the COM
mittee which had been appointed to In
vestgate the matter was not made, con-
trary to the expectation of several of the
members of council.
Mr.. Frank C. Spinks. member of the
committee who brought the matter be-
fore the common council, announced that
In the absence of a report he desired 10
make a verbal statement He stated that
he and Mayor Paff had made an investl-
cation which had convinced them that
the trouble was not primarily in the wafer
supply, but was to be found in the reser-
voirs. He said that the officials OF the
Alexandria Water Company had admitted
that the reservoirs and pipes are unciean,
and that they had promised to remedy
the condition at an early date.
The failure of the water company to pro-
vide satisfactory means for draining and
cleaning the reservoirs was criticised by
Mr.. Spinks. when an animated discussion
was caused by an objection made by MI
Snowden to a minority report. Mr.. Spinks
forcibIy condemned any attempt to shield
did not believe the reservoirs had ever
been cleaned. To this Mr. Snowden and
others replied that the reservoirs had been
cleaned. and that they had been kept clean
until recently.
Relief Promised.
While the matter was still being dis
cussed paper addressed to Mr.. ]. NJ. Hill,
chairman Of the special committee from
Mr.. Walter Roberts, president of the Alex
andria Water Company, was received from
the higher board. In this paper President
Roberts stated that the bad odor and I'M
pleasant taste of the water is due to GER
tain vegetable growth in the reservoirs
and announced that the cause of the trou-
BILE will be removed in the near future.
He said that the stream which furnishes
the supply had been policed for some time
and that the water source was without
pollution. 1t was also declared that
chemical analysis of the water had re-
vealed nothing deleterious. Further discus
sion on the subject will probably take
place at the next meeting of council, when
the report of the committee Is expected.
A report was received from the committee
on streets in regard to communication
dated August % and signed by former
Mayor Simpson calling attention to the
fact, as stated. that the Washington. Alex
andria and Mount Vernon Railroad Com
pany had failed to pay it's share of the
cost of inspecting the paving on Fairfax
that the bill amounting to s121.5O, be turned
over to Mayor Paff for collection The reso-
luton of Mr.. Uhler. that the gas fund be
reimbursed to the extent of $500 for funds
expended for repairs, was referred there
being not a sufficient number present to
pass it legally without such action. The
election of school trustees to fill the expired
terms Messrs Laurence Stabler DIR. w.
NJ. Smith. \. H. Thomson and w. j. Boothe
was due last night, but council adjourned
without taking up the matter
Death Of Capt. w. n. Smith.
Capt. William H. Smith, a well-known
citizen died last night about $50 o'clock,
after a lingering illness, at his residence,
416 North Alfred street Death was due to
a complication of diseases. Capt. Smith
was in the seventy-ffth year of his age.
He was a half brother of Police Lieut..
James Smith and father of former Council
man B. B. Smith. Several other children
survive him. Capt. Smith served for many
years as sergeant of the city of Alexandria.
He was elected several times over strong
opposition. A few years ago failing health
led him to resign the office. Capt. Smith
was member of the Knights of Pythias
and a former vice president of the old
tons will attend the funeral, the arrange
ments for which have not yet been COM
pleted.
Delivered to Fairfax Authorities.
Edward Loman, the negro who was ar
rested here Monday evening charged with
being an accessory to the murder of two
negroes near Fairfax station Sunday night,
was turned over to the Fairfax county au-
thorities last night and was conveyed to
the jail at Fairfax Court House. The three
colored women, Mamie Shepherd Bessie
Keys and Ethel Steptoe, who were detained
as Witnesses were also delivered to the
county authorities. The police department
here has not been notified of the arrest Of
the man charged with the actual shooting.
General Matters.
The annual official inspection of the Alex
andria Light Infantry was made last even
ing at Armory Hall by Col. 10 Lane Stern
of the state militia. While the attendance
fell below the requisite, sufficient names
are on the rolls. and it is said that some of
the absentees may be court-martialed The
report of the inspector will not be made
public until ii is turned in to the adiutant
general of the state militia but it is known
that the officers and other members of the
present made satisfactory show
ing
Mr.. William Campbell of this city received
a telegram this morning announcing the
death yesterday in Mexico of Mr. G. F.
Thomas, formerly of this city. Mr. Thomas
was for several years master mechanic of
the Southern railroad at this place, and his
death is regretted by many friends in this
city.
The address on the subject of temperance
delivered by Miss c. l. Timing of London
in the NJ. f. Church South last night was
well attended. The program included scrip
ture reading by the pastor, Rev ]. p
Stump; prayer by Rev ]. H. S Ewell of
the Methodist Protestant Church. singing
by male quartet and an address by Mrs