Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-16
ANNEXATION HANGS FIRE
Board of Aldermen Adjourns After
Reading the Ordinance the
First Time.

Contrary to expectations, the Board
OF Aldermen did not pass the ordi-
nance providing for annexation a!
their meeting yesterday evening. The
ordinance was read the first time, as
vas also letters from 5. ?. Fisher,
Corporation Attorney and Howard
W. Smith, chairman Of the Council
committee having the matter in
charge.
President Marbury stated that the
ordinance could be considered as being
upon its second reading, as it has
been reported by the committee to
Council year ago, that the clerk
of the Common Council had read the
instrument when the report was sub
mitted, and it had been read to the
Board OF Aldermen.
There seemed, however, to be some
uncertainty about this. The endorse
ment OF the clerk Of the Common
Council showed that ordinance mad
been read in that branch, but that
of the clerk OF the Aldermen was not
so conclusive, as it was merely stated
that the board had concurred i'll the
action OF the lower board.
1t was finally agreed to make the
reading last night the first in order
to avoid auy semblance Of Irregular
ity.
After the ordinance had been read
by the clerk, Mr.. Ogden asked if the
measure was open for discussion.
Vice President Fields, who was in
the chair while President Marbury vas
making his statement, replied in the
affirmative, but called attention to the
fact that it was understood that no
vote would be taken at this meeting,
although if members desired they
could suggest amendments.
Mr.. Ballenger said he was not pre-
pared to vote on the ordinance. He
called attention to numerous heavy
expenditures which would be incurred
by the annexation movement, among
them the cost OF new school house,
a house to place the old Columbia
fire engine and q chemical extinguish-
er. The latter, according to q state
ment which had been read by the
clerk, would cost $4,000. He was
sure any sort OF house suitable for this
purpose would cost much pore th ~
that sum.
Mr.. Ogden said he heartily favored
annexation, but he did not think the
ordinance had cast the net far enough
to the north Under the present or
dinance the income from the territory
it is purposed to annex would aa.ount
to less than $4,000 n year, which
would not pay the original COS; OF the
movement. The city be thought,
should go far enough north to take
in all the Potomac railroad yards and
that Alexandria should have iurisiic-
ton over most Of the Alexandria and
Washington pike. Mr.. Ogden said
that the amount collected from freight
in Alexandria by the Potomac railroad
yards amounted to 800, 900 a year,
while the city did not received one cent
in return from that yard. He further
asserted that the county authorities
were not interested in tie highway be-
tween Alexandria and Washington, as
it was used in the main by Alexandria
and Washingtonans. Hence the
county was paying most attention to
cross roads, or those running east and
west. This road would eventually be-,
come the ouly means OF communication
between the two cities, automobiles,
motor trucks, etc., having come to stay
and the city should be in a position
to place this road in a fine condition
and keep it in such a state. MIR. Og-
den made many practical remarks
concerning the annexation movement,
and repeated that he is heartily in
favor of annexation, and if he sup
posed any amendment lie might
offer would prove stumbling
block or an impediment in the path OF
movement, he would make none, but
vote to adopt the ordinance rs it came
from the lower board, but ho desired
to see Alexandria take in a much larg.
er portion OF adjoining territory than
was described in the ordinance before
the Aldermen.
Mr.. Summers, in consideration OF
the fact that no vote was to be taken,
moved to adjourn.
The members thought that another
meeting could be held during the next
three or four days, after each had
had an opportunity to study the or
dinance.
There was but one copy, and all
could not have the use OF it; hence the
clerk was directed to have the ordi-
nance published in the Alexandria Ga.
zette as part OF the official proceed
ings Of the meeting.
1t was then agreed to adjourn unit
next Friday night at $50 o'clock.
Fresh res III Mine.
B:iceyille. Tenn, Dec. l6.- Fresh
Fires breaking out in the Coal Creek
NJ, l>,ra I.ct Diubt pravaptp1 fr,rt N q