Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-06-09
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Councilman Rfochet' A"'''"'
expenditures for street Improve
ments. Joint Meeting of Committees
on Finances and streets.
A meeting Of the joint committees
on streets and finance was held III the
chamber OF the Board of Aldermen
last night for the purpose OF consider
ing a number of resolutions for the
improvement Of portions Of several
streets OF the city. The cost OF the
proposed improvement will amount
to S73 900.
Messrs Leadbeater, Birrell, Summers
Ogden and Graham, Of the street com
mites we're present. and Messrs. Field
Hill and Burke OF the finance commit
tee. Councilmeu Harrison. Splnks,
Williams. Brockett, and City Engineer
Dunn were also present, and few
spectators appeared without the bar.
Mr.. Field, chairman OF the finance
co mmittee, presided.
After the meeting had been called 70
order, A. D. Brockett, OF the Common
Council, arose aud said he would like
to see 100000 expended for street
and other work in the city, and spoke
in advocacy of the resolutions recently
introduced toward that end and which
had been referred to the joint commit
tees on streets and finance. 1t was, he
said, ND to the finance committee 10
saw whether or not this movement was
to be entered into. In answer to
queries which had been propounded at
previous meeting OF the COM
mittee, he said he was prepared to
state that two Of the city banks
we're prepared to finance Tue
scheme; or either one could do 1t. Mr..
Brockett said his answers tc queries
would be confined to members of the
Joint committees. Mr.. Field asked
Mr.. Brockett if the rate of interest had
been determined upon.
Mr.. Brockett answered that he had
understood that the money could be
procured at five per cent. lie further
said that both principal and interest
could be paid in five years. The
money might be obtained at four per
cent.
Mr.. Field asked if it would not be
better to appropriate $40, 600 year on
street work. Within five years the
city would have expended 500, 600.
Mr.. Brockett thought it more de-
sirable to execute the contemplated
work as soon as possible. He would
like to see it done by the first OF De-
cember. He thought that this proce-
dure would prove beneficial adver-
tisement for the city. He believed this
better plan than that suggested by
Mr.. Field. Contractors from othe7
cities could bid on the work and the
party securing the contract could come
here with men familiar with such work,
as we'll as with all the modern APP
.. pliances for the prosecution OF the
same. 1t would be better, he thought,
to have the proposed work done at
once. 1t would prove to be benc-
fetal advertisements for the city and
would be commented upon all over the
country, people calling alt"n'Ion 70
what was going on in Alex .ndr'a.
Mr.. Brockett explained the purposes
for which the resolutions had been IN
troduced and nam the q fterent
squares to be improved 10y ia" resoln'
tions. Should the movement be 10
augurated everybody in the city would
be talking Alexandria, and il would be
the means OF stopping people from
leaving the city to take up their resi-
dence elsewhere. The interest on the
500, 600 would soon, in the enthusiasm
produced, he regarded as a bagatelle.
Mr.. Field stated that by the plan nc
had suggested AlexandrianS would be
employed to do the work which would
be superintended by the city engineer.
Mr.. Brockett said proper w"rkmeu
for improvements provided for IN the
resolutions could not be obtained IN
Alexandria. City laborerS are unable
to do the work as satisfactorily as those
familiar with it.
City Engineer Dunn stated that the
city paid but fifteen cents an hour &c
laborerS, accounted for the tact ha
at timesit was difficult, to procure men
He said he hid no doubt the city coulC
obtain the services OF all needed we're
the pay fixed at 81. 10.
Mr.. Summers asked the chairman
the amount of the increase in take:
this year.
Mr.. Field said between twelve ana
thirteen thousand dollar.
Mr.. Summers asked for informa
ton concerning Obligations the city |:
to meet from this years revenue.
Mr.. Field said there had been some
extraordinary expenditures, such a
improvements to the jail and othe
work, but these stood rs the clty's as
sets. After all demands shall haS'
heen met there will he a surplus 0
,hout S., 900.
Mr.. Leadbeater said the city ha'