Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-07-28
A Card

Having been unfairly misquoted by
the press after each of the recent meet
mos of the CITY Council, we desire in
this card to express TO the citizens Of the
city our position relative to the ordi-
nances providing for street improve
ment. Having been elected by large
yotes-cast by those knowing that we
had successfully fought Tor street al; ana
other municipal improvement, ana that
through us and our progressive friends
a comprehensive plan of Improvement
would be deveiopcd-We feel, therefore.
that in view Of the statements that we
are opposed 10 street improvements,
that we must yield TO the demands for 4
statement OF facts.
Shortly after the present Council or
ganiZed, len members OF The common
| Council met III conference. and agreed
| that all future street work should be
done out of the general fund, and tacitly
accepted map Of the proposed V TX
! made by the Git: Engineer. To-day all
| members Of that conference are as SIN
| ,cre rs when they Introduced resolutions
| proyfling frr street work nj The expense
of the general fund. and without cost TO
the property owner. The Chairman OF
the Street Committee i'll presenting tll'.
report OF tnc Joint committee OF finance
and streets. stated: That the report was
not what he wanted but the best thal ne
could get" This statement is the epi'
tome orali the arguments used by the
| members OF the referred TO conference.
| This Property Owner Contribution Plan
| is the only acceptable plan to all but two
members of the Board of Aldermen, and
this is the reason that the Common
Council had but the one plan to con-
slider,
The Constitution Of the State oil Nir-
ginia provides that City Councils snail
not make or levy any assessment Tor
street improvements therefore, Councll
urges n contribution in lieu OF the for
hidden assessment. We have consist
emily voted against the property owners
being required TO pay any part OF the
cost. because we do not believe that the
CITY has legal right TO require or ac-
cept YOUR neigbbors' contribution rs Z
animation to the general fund ut your
expense, and then too, to be used IN
part or patched improvement OF the
streets in Your Immediate nclShDor,
hood. Tho City Engineer admits, ana
the ordinance passed by the Boaru OF
Aldermen provides: THAT no grading
curbine or paving shall be done within
four-and-one-hai feet Of the curb line oil
those falling to contribute. That is TO
saw that should sixty per cent OF the
people pay, then forty per cent OF Inc
street for folIr-and-o nc~hall feet from the
curb line would remain rnimproved.
Personally we joined the property own
crs of our respective sections In making
n part payment for street improvements
and through the recent assessment car
ricd substantial increase in our taxes.
It is this general increase Of tax receipts
accruing to the City. that causes us to
insist that the City and not the individ,,
| Tia! should pay Tie cost OF the proposed
and subsequent street work.
We shall. renaciously continue our OPP
position TO these Intellectual compromise
measures, and At the polls vie with You
] in demanding a broader and more eilcc-
| lual working bodv-onc that will act in
accord with law and not through evasion
Of il. (Signed}
4. u. BRoCKETT,
j. Y. WILLIAMS.