Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-16
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
PROPOSED INCREASE IN ELECTRIC
LIGHT SERVICE.
'peeial Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star
ALEXANDRIA, Va. March rs, 1866.
Interest IN the proposition to secure for
Alexandria an up-to-date electric lighting
and power plant by leasing the franchise
to the highest bidder has been revived BY
the announcement of Capt. Albert Bryan.
chairman of the finance committee of coan-
I'll, that he viii introduce an ordinance
at the next meeting of council directing
that bids be requested. This matter has
been before council number of times and
several bids have been submitted, but the
members were unable to agree, and moth
ing was accomplished.
The most recent bidders were Howell &c
Sinclair and W. T. Barstow. and the COM
mittee to which the matter was referred re-
ported in favor of the bid of the latter, but
she measure fell short of the requisite
number Of votes
In the meantime the old plant. owned and
operated by the city, is declared by some
members of council to be ready to fall
to pieces" and there is constant complaint
about the inferior quality of Hight fur
nished This plant Is merely Tor street
lighting purposes, and. it Is declared, is
not capable of furnishing current for more
than one hundred arc lights: that In its
present condition its capacity Is only about
eighty arcs, and even then, as stated, the
lights are dim at times that they are
of but little service
Plan In View.
The plan is to build plant for general
ing electricity for arc and incandescent
lamps and for power for small and even
large manufactures. There has long been
a demand for such a plant here, but the
councilmen have been 10th to offer the pub
lie incandescent lights. because they would
come IN competition with the gas plant,
which Is owned by the city, and Is a paying
proposition. This feeling has gradually
been dispelled, however, and the members
of council and the public generally now
realize that Alexandria Is many years be-
hind the times in this respect.
Under the constitution of Virginia the
franchise cannot be granted for longer
term than thirty years. nor until bids have
been asked for by means of public adver-
tisement. 1t is not known whether Mr. Bar
stow and Messrs, Howell & Sinclair will
again bid for the franchise, but it is pre-
stunned they will.
Impatient Court Officials.
1t is understood that Judge Barley and
the other officers OF the corporation court
are somewhat impatient at the delay of
city council In regard to the room in which
the court records kept. Over a year
ago council was asked to provide a fire.
proof room In which to keep the records.
but no action has been taken and it is said
Lat Judge Barley will issue a rule against
the members unless they carry out the sug-
gestions submitted to them in the near
future.
Brief Mention.
Lieut.. Smith of the police department has
Informed Chief Webster that Policeman
William Mayhugh has been guilty of an in
fraction of one of the rules governing the
police force, and the matter has been re-
ferred to Mayor Paff for investigation.
The will of Margaret O'Toole has been
admitted to probate in the corporation
court. The estate is valued at 81, 500 and
is left to Mrs. Elizabeth Foley Cline during
her lifetime, and upon her death to ST.
PatrickS Church. Washington.