Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-07-25
mit,ee had adopted the Vaudeville prop

,sition.
Mr.. Curtin said il must be acknow-
edged that the present electric plant
ioes not meet the demands Of the people.
Il is only able to furnish street lighting,
and he was convinced that the city was
not in a position to erect asuitable plant
for light aud power. He had always be-
lieved that the city should owniss cleo
trio light plant, and believed so now, but
as it was not able to provide one, and after
a careful review of the conditions now
the city, he had determined TO
accept the Vaudeville proposition. He
was convinced that the people wanted
and he would waive his own
opinion in the matter. Did he believe,
however, that til e city was able TO build
a plant, he would vote against it. Mr..
Curtin said it WIS a mooted question
whether q modern electric plant would
hurt the gas works. 1t had not done 40
in other places. The speaker said
moreover that he was in favor OF the ad-
vancement OF the city's interest and
would not stand in the way of any move
ment which would tend to its growth.
Mr.. Bsllenger said he could not vote
for acceptance of the proposition until it
had been demonstrated to him that it
was the most favorable offered, and es-
pecially in the face of the proposal that
had been submitted by the electric rail-
way company.
The ordinance was read the second
and third times and passed by the fol.
lowing vote Ayes, Messrs. Hill, Burke,
Marbury, Simpson, Curtin and W. d.
Sweeuey-6. Noes, Mr.. Ballenger and
Mr.. President-2.
The ordinance embracing the contract
with Mr.. Vaudeville was subsequently
read three times and passed--ayes q,
noes Mr.. President.
After concurring with the Common
Council on number OF papers sent in
the board adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
All the members were present when
the board met shortly after 8 O'Clock.
A communication from the Mayor en-
closing an offer from the Washington,
Alexandra and Mt. Vernon Railway
Co. to furnish electric current to the city
at, arc light 2 cents per kilowatt or $45
per lamp per year. The sale to private
consumers at cents per kilowat.
The Chair said that without objection
the mate would be referred to the COM
mittee on light, finance and general laws.
Mr.. Spinks gave the judgment oil
Electrical Engineer Van Zant in favor OF
the proposal of the railways offer and
read some statistics to support this
opinion. This plan Mr.. Spinks ssid
would give the city profit of Sl4, 600
in ten years-sn excess of So, 95Ol over
the proposal of the Vaudeville plan.
He moved that the whole matter be
laid over.
Mr.. Boothe said that Mr.. Spinks had
mistaken the opinion of Mr., Van Zsnt.
The railroad current proposed began at
the boundary and would require the city
to pay $50, 900 for wiring the city and it
would cost SIT per lamp. He also said
the city would have to pay for taking
care of the lights pay damages for any
accidents &c. Mr.. Boothe said that in
three years the city's debt would have to
be refunded and the city now is 10 no
condition to invest money in an electric
plant.
Mr.. Strauss asked what was before
Council.
The Chair said that as the proposal
for the w., A. x Mt. Vernon Railway
had been referred there was now moth
ing before the board and he had expect
ed this point to have been raised before.
The finance committee reported 10
favor of an appropriation of $7S in favor
of Lieut. Smith, this being the amount
of his salary while he was i'll, and the
report was agreed to.
The ordinance granting E. E Mande-
vile the franchise for the electric light
ing, &C., ofthe city, under the advertise
ment recently published, for period OF
80 years was presented by the commit
tees on light, finance and general laws.
The ordinance follows the advertisement
in all particulars. 1t was read and was
followed by the reading of the report OF
the electrical engineer, Mr.. Hazelton,
which showed the superiority of the Man.
deville plan over all the other proposals
in net cost, cost to consumers, cost to
churches, &C., and in the proposals for
the plant, &c.
Mr.. Bryan called attention to the fact
that the cost of each arc lamp under the
Vaudeville plan would be but S5S. 74-far
less than any of the other plans.
The ordinance was read the third time'
Mr.. Spinks raised the question
whether, as the ordinance contained an
appropriation it could be passed on the
night of its introduction.
The Chair held that this was a case
similar to the fixing Of an officers salrsy
when an ordinance appropriating the
money for the salary would follow. He
held that its passage to night would be
entirely legal.
The ordinance was then passed, fifteen
members voting in its favor and Mr..
Spinks alone in the negative.
An ordinance for carrying into effect
the contract with E. E. Vaudeville was
then read. 1t provides for not less than IS
arc lights, and for incandescent lights.
Vice President Uhler made the second
reading of this ordinance while Mr..
Risheill was called to the chair during
that period.
This ordinance was also passed, yeas
Is; nay-Mr. Spinks.