Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-11
CIIY COUNCIL IN SESSION.
First Meeting After Summer Recess
Sidewalks and Building Laws
Cause Heated Discussion.

cause HedteQ DlSCuSSiOn.
There was two-hours' session OIL
the City Council last night. The vol,
ume OF business transacted was about
as yoluminous as ever. This was the
first meeting since the summer re.
cess.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
All the Aldermen were present and
the business was soon transacted.
Most of the two-hours was spent IN
recesses while waiting for the receipt
OF papers from the lower board.
Mr.. Hill presented a resolution
providing for the construction OF q
fiaestone crossing at the northslde OF
the intersection OF Gibbon and Wash
ippton streets, which was passed.
Mr.. Ogden presented petitions OF
the Mutual Ice Company for permits.
sion TO rebuild the shed at their prop
ertv. foot of Cameron street, also for
renairs to their frame building on the
wharf at the foot OF Cameron street.
The petitions were referred to the COM
mittee on streets.
A petition OF Miss Agnes Maxwell
for permission to reshingle her home
at the northeast corner OF Wolfe and
Fairfax streets was granted.
Ths Aldermen concurred in the &C
ton OF the Common Council on all
the papers sent in except an adverse
report OF the committee on light on
a petition for gas lamp at the corner
of Cameron and Pitt streets,
Mr.. Ogden said there was need OF
4 light at the intersection and his
views we're endorsed by several mem
bers, and after an interchange OF
views, in which most OF the members
participated. it was agreed to non
concur in the action OF the Common
Council and recommitt the petition to
the committee on light.
1t was nearly ten o'clock when the
board adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The meeting of the Common Coun-
ell last night was marked by the dis
cussion. of the ordinance providing for
the improvement OF Fairfax street from
Prince to Duke during which time the
old lines on which council has been
divided were to q certain extent broken
up. Cpuucilmen Williams and Brock
cit who have been opposed to the as
s.ssment pl.n OF making street i'm
provements joined their colleagues in
voting for the measure. while Charles
B. Marshall put himself on record as
being opposed to any ordinance which
would require the city to pay portion
OF the improvement of sidewalks.
The ordinance for Fairfax street,
which was passed by the Board OF AL
dermen last July, provides for 81
foot vitri6ed brick roadway and ten
foot cement sidewalk at cost of s.. 90 |
per front foot to the property owners
1t developed in the discussion that in
order to carry out the work the city
would be required to pay twenty five
cents per front foot or approximately
$3.50 to the expense Of laying the side
walk and it was to this feature that
Mr.. Marshall objected. He said that
it would establish bad precedent and |
that as long as he was member OF
Council he would fight against any
measure which would mean that the
city would pay any part of the cost OF
sidewalks. He referred to the fact
that people in every section OF the city |
had laid sidewalks At their own e1-
pense and it would be unfair to inaug-
urate plan which would mean that
the city would now commence to pay
a part OF this expense.
Mr.. Leadbeater was of the opinion |
that the improvement of sidewalks
was just as important as that Of the |
roadWays and said that for very
small expense to tho city uniform
sidewalks would be laid on this partic- |
ular square.
MIR. Williams and Brockett stated
that they found themselves in some.
what embarrassing position. They
were still Of the opinion that the plan
OF assessments or contributions were H.
legal and unwise but in this particular
case all Of the residents of the block
on Fairfax street had agreed to pay
their part OF the expense and in addi-
ton modern sidewalks would be laid
They heartily favored the city paying a
part OF the expense of laying: sidewalks
and as the ordinance seemed step in
the right direction they would vote for
it.
After the vote had been taken with
the result that all of the members of the
council. with the exception OF Mr. Mar
shall, voted for lis adoption. several