Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-06-13
City Council.

road track on Henry street.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
A report of the committee on streets
recommending an appropriation of 81
900 for the purchase of a steam roller.
received from the Common Council,
April "a, was read.
Ma. Hill moved concurrence in the
action of the lower board.
Mr.. Marbury said the city needed a
roller tor certain street work which was
shortly to be recommended.
President Sweeney could not see the
necessity for the purchase at present. A
steam roller was a proper thing ii street
improvements were being prosecuted,
but. so far as he could see, there was
nothing at present under way in this
line nor contemplated in the near future
He, therefore, could not see the urgent
need of an appliance, which would be
stored away under some shed to be
damaged by the weather. Ii was, how
ever, up TO the members to say whether
the expenditure should be made.
Mr.. Marbury said the city needed a
roller and at present it could not hire one.
Mr.. Hill suggested that no one could
work without tools The city had stone
crusher; il now needed roller. 1t
would be utilized in macadamizing Ger.
tain streets.
The report was adopted, ayes &, noes
2-Mr. Ballenger and Mr.. President.
City Engineer Dunn subsequently en-
tered the chamber and answered certain
questions propounded by the members as
to the need of roller at present.
The ordinance providing for bids for
furnishing electricity to the city was re.
ceived from the Common Council.
After it had been read the second
time Mr.. Hill moved that it be placed
upon its second reading.
The President (Nr. Curtin in the
chain opposed The passage OF the ordi-
nance, saying it was virtually the same
az had been previously brought before
Council. lie had been unable 10 see
his way clear to vote Tor it before and
wonld oppose it again. He had hoped
| that the committee In NhOm ii had
been referred would have eliminated
certain sections, especially that prOvid-
ing hat the city dig trenches for the
conduiis should it become necessary ia
future to place wires under or und. He
was, however, opposed to disposing of the
franchise at all, the speaker contending
that such a procedure would result IN
the setting up of a plant which would
compete with the city's $500, 900 gas
plant. The President believed the city
would get enough money IL build a
plant which Sould answer all purposes.
He said it would be better to hold back
certain contemplated street work and
construct an electric plant.
Mr.. Hill challenged President Swee-
ney to show single instance where
electricity when it had been installed IN
city had inierlerred with the sale
of gas
The President said it had been del-
rimenlal to gas in some small places.
Mr.. Hill Then bring in some plan
Yourself"
The President said he was ready to
vote TO pay some competent man to ex-
anime the field and report plans to
| Council.
Mr.. w. H. Sweeney thought The
section referring to trenches was of NJ
serious moment. He had, however,
endeav0red TO have it stricken out by
the committee, but they had insisted on
relaining it in the ordinance.
Mr.. Burke said if the city owned an
electric plant it would be compelled to
bear the expense of digging trenches
whenever it become necessary to put the
conduits under ground, and should an
accident occur the city would be response
BILE for damages to any one injured, The
ordinance under consideration provides
thpt the person or corporation furnish
ing electricity shall assume all RESPONSE
bility in such contingencies. This was
very impOrlant.
Mr. Hill again urged concurrence.
Mr.. Simpson saw no great or material
risk in the ordinance. In the first
place it merely provided for advertising
for bids, and did not dispose of the cleo
trio plant. In the opinion of the
speaker the present plant was worthless
Junk, and any bid the city should re-
ceiye would be beneficial So far as the
digging OF trenches was concerned, the
city bad never buried lis cOnduits, and
there was no good reason to force
Others to do what the city had failed to
DO DUNG the past seventeen years.
should the city become so prosperous in
future as to require the burying of the
conduis there would be no trouble in
meeting the expense If any company
is 50 cfedulous as to buy that pile of
Junk Qelerring to the present electric
plant it would he unfair to make them
dig bitches.
Mr.. Burke said the city had been
maintaining an electric plant for seven
Teen years, and apart from furnishing
for time the Southern Railway with
electricity at their depot it had not reaiz-
ed u cent on the investment. He asked the
members if the gas works had ever
worked up any business, and commended
# they had been in the hands of private
parties the city would have been can
yassed and innumersble gas stoves and
other cOnlrivances would be in opera
ton at present, as attempts would have
been made TO induce all people to use
gas. The city could not make @Oney
out OF an electric plant. 1t would have
to be run about Twelve hours in the
,,ontr four 81 a iosa