Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-02-16
City Council.

A called met ug OF the City O,ulcll
was held lsst night for the purpose OF
considering the new Ia lding Law. The
Board Of Aldermen was In session lu 8
few minutes, but the Common O ulcll,
to which board the law was reported by
The commit ee, was Ia session Ii t |
about $3.50 O'Clock.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
All the Aldermen were present, erd
after the mayors communication giving
bis reasons for calling Gu icil had been
read and the action of tho lower board
contu red 10 on several papers which
had been sent Ia st the lat regular
meeting, TIE Aldermen aej u'ned with =
tu waiting for the Common O ulcil to
act upon the building law, 1t being
sgreed that the Aldermen could consider
1t st The next regular meeting.
COMMON COUNCIL.
Council Wss called to order at 1850
O'Clock, with ten members pTeient. Two
u lnmC III ~
The clerk read the mayors call for
the meeting. This call stated that the
meeting was to consider t1e building
law.
City Engineer Iuin was rtqueI I'd to
cit With the president and explain auy
section of the ordinance which was not
understood.
The clerk then ttMt)d reading the
proposed ordinance.
Paragraph one fixed the FIRE limis 8.
The CHI air thought the limit should be
extended and the members agreed. The
limits were finally fixed So follows:
From the river west on the north eide
of Wilkes strest 10 West street; thence to
Pendeton street and thence to the river.
No frame houses can be built within these
limits without the consent of all adj 1in.
ing property owners snd the permission
OF Otuncll.
Mr.. Leadbeater spoke Ia favor OF the
extended limits.
Mr. Smith though The proposed ex.
tension might be t)o far, bat opposed no
obi ctlOn.
No other portion Of the law caused
any discussion.
Some ofths provisions OF the ordI-
nance are:
Plans aud specifications Of proposed
b1lldings or cit rations are to be submit.
ted to the city engineer.
The thickness OF walls, the height Of
stories and the strength Of materials are
regulated. Iu any case net covered by
this law the city engineer and commit
lee on streets are to have authority, sub.
jet, however, to an appeal to a commit
tee of two builders aud one architect 10
be appointed by the mayor.
After the reading the city engineer In
reply 10 question from the chair said
the cost OF O building under the law just
read would be less than uuder the old
law. The committee having the ord:
nance 10 charge had tried 10 so simplify
the rrqliremer t. that the difficulties OF
building would be greatly lessened.
The chair expressed bis approval OF
this and further sts t ID that the ordinance
bad been largely drawn from the build
ing code Of the National Board OF Fire
Underwr 3rs and the building laws OF
Washington; such Of the present build
ing laws of this city IS were suited to
present conditions we're retained.
The ordinance was then passed, ayes
IL, noes 0.
Mr.. Lesdbeater suggei ted to the city
engineer to repo 10 Council the cost of
printing the building code with t1e view
OF furnishing copies To architects, con-
tractors and others interested In oder
that Ia the 'ut Ire there may be 20 such
mitaader andiDgs as there ssve been 10
the past,
Unanimous consent wss granted Mr..
Burke to present petition from the relief
committee Of the Cooperative Charities
ssking an additional appropriation Of
$500, az on account OF "the increased
cost OF living" the original appropria-
ton OF 81, $50 had become exhausted.
This was referred to the committee on
finance.
Olu1cll then adjourned.
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