Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-10-26
City Council.

the City Council was held last night
Most of the business transacted was Of
an uninteresting nature, and the session
wa, brief
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Six Aldermen were present. and the
business which came before the board oc-
casioued no debate.
Mr.. Hill, chairman OF the special COM
mittee appointed to confer with the ofii-
GERS of the Alexandra Water Company
in reference to the unsatisfactory condi-
ton of the city's water supply, submitted
a statement from President Roberts Of
the water company, which will be found
in the official proceedings.
Several committees made reports on
certain papers which had been referred
to them.
The Aldermen concurred in the action
of the Common Council on all papers
sent in.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The board was called to order shortly
before o o CLOCK.
The street committee reported an APP
of $3.50 for crossings at
Prince and Patrick and Prince and Co
lumbus streets, and the report was
adopted.
The committee on light reported adj
versely on an application for gas lamp
at the corner OF Queen and Patrick streets
and the report was adopted.
The committee on streets and general
laws reported that the W., A. & Mt.
Vernon Railway Company owed 1857. 29
for its share of the cost of inspecting the
paving on certain street work, and the
Mayor was directed to enforce collection.
The application of w. 5. Moore's
Sons for permission to use dynamite in
breaking up the old steamer Mattano on
the river front was rejected as being out
of the jurisdiction of the City Council.
A motion to reimburse the gas fund
to the extent of 5000 for repairs to the
electric plant building and to apprOPri-
ate $50 for other repairs came up.
Mr.. Uhler explained the need which
had occasioned the work and Mr.. Bryan
and Mr.. Spinks thought that action
should be taken tonight, but the chair
decided reference was necessary and
the matter was referred.
On motion of Mr.. Bryan it was agreed
that when the boards adjourn, it be un-
ill November 9. This was, he said, to
avoid a session on the night of the presi-
dental election.
The application of Ellen Nugent for
leave to tap the sewer at Gibbon and
Pitt streets, as it passes through her
was referred.
Council concurred with the Alder
men in allowing Jas. Fitzgerald to make
changes in his property within the fire
limits.
The clerk of the School Board re-
ported the expiration of the terms Of
DR.. Laurence Stabler, Mr.. A. II. Thom-
son, Mr.. w. J. Boothe and DR.. w. NJ.
Smith as school trustees.
Mr.. Bryan moved that the Aldermen
be invited to a joint session TO gil the
vacancies.
At this juncture Mr.. Spinks announc-
ed that in the absence of a report from
the committee appointed to confer with
the officials of the Alexandria Water
Company he desired, as member of the
committee, TO make verbal report. He
said the officials of the water company
admitted that the reservoirs and pipes
are uncleaI, but that the trouble would
be remedied al a later date. Mr.. Spinks
said that he aud Mayor Paff had made
an investigation, which convinced them
that the fault was in the reservoirs and
not in the source Of the water supply.
Mr.. Spinks criticised the water company
for failing to provide method of drain
ing and cleaning the reservoirs.
The chair said that written report
should be made that Council could act
upon.
Mr.. Spinks said that he didn't..believe
the reservoirs had ever been cleaned,
and said it was criminal to attempt to
shield the company. He said there was
no way of draining the reservoirs ex-
cept through the city mains and that
this would leave the city without water.
Mr.. Snowden said the same pipes
which filled the reservoirs had heretofore
been used to drain them, but this Mr..
Spinks denied.
Mr.. Spinks said that he had merely
made his statement for public inrorma-
ton and that his was minority report.
A paper addressed to Alderman j.
Marriott Hill, the chairman of the spe.
cisl committee, and signed by Walter
Roberts, president of the water company,
came in from the Aldermen. Mr.. Rob-
erts stated that the source of the water
supply had been policed for some time
past, and that the water is clean and
sweet until it reaches the reservoirs. He
said the bad odor and unpleasant taste
are due to a vegetable growth in the
reservoirs, and that all cause for cont
plant will be removed in the very near
future. The paper further stated that
an analysis of the water failed to disclose
deleterious.
Mr.. Splnks said that this paper was
not addressed to the committee and he
thought that il was discourtesy to the
committee.
The chair thought that no discourtesy
was intended by Mr.. Roberts. as the
paper was addressed to j. NJ. Hill,
chairman.
The action of the Aldermen in receiv-
L. 1A..a= 81 Ne Rnherfs wa com