The Washington herald., 1912-01-10

finance and general laws committee had
prepared comprehensive health laws,
which were vetoed by. the mayor. The
committee, he declared, was ready to
bring them back.
thought the salary Of the health ofIeer
should be suhicient to warrant him de-
voting more time to the ONCE and IN
specting the city. Finally upon motion
of Councilman Williams. the COMMITTEES
having the health laws IN charge were
instructed to report on them at the next
meeting Of the city council.
The United States government has for
malIy laid claim to forty acres OF made
land on the river front, extending from
the shipyard at the foot OF Franklin
street to Jones Point known as the
Baptizing Cove. and 10 show formal own
ership the government has begun the
preliminary work preparatory to the erec-
tion OF a fence surrounding the property.
Several Of the posts for the fence were
placed in position near the shipyard yes
terday, but, 1t is said, were sfterward
knocked out Of position, because, 1t is
alleged, they encroached on private
property.
The work on the part OF the govern
ment is a fimsy affair, and shows con-
clusively that its sole object is to bring
the matter before the courts for final de-
termination as to ownership. That there
win be legal fight by the several abut-
ting property owners for the reclaimed
land there seems TO be no doubt.
Attorney James r. Cation. OF this city,
to-day appeared before Gov. Mann, in
Richmond, and urged upon him TO take
steps on behalf OF the claimants. The
governor, II is announced, will at once
take up the matter with the Secretary
OF War.
The proposed fence to be erected by the
government is cheap wire AFFAIR
stretched across small scantlings. The
men engaged in the work arrived here
this morning in a tugboat under the di-
rection of Inspector John W. Averill, Of
the War Department.
With the deepening of the Alexandria
harbor by the government the forty
acres of land in question was reclaimed
by the government, and many Of
the abutting property owners were Of
the opinion that IT was their property,
inasmuch as their deeds call for to
''the river" Il Is said. The taking on
of the reclaimed land from their property
would, therefore, leave them without
river connections and be a serious In
jury to their property. The land in aues-
ton Is regarded as valuable for manu-
featuring sites. Some time ago 1t was
spoken Of as property which would be
available for park purposes.
That the question Of ownership will
have TO be determined by the courts
there seems no doubt. This Is strength
ened by the fact that the fence being
erected by the government is regarded
as but a temporary. affair, and II would
also seem TO Indicate, IL is said, that the
government desires that the matter be
at once brought to an issue for hnal
settlement
The annual election of directors OF the
three national banks took place to-day
aud the election at the First National
and Citizens banks resulted in the re-
election OF all the former directors as
follows:
First Nationsl-G. L. Boothe. NJ. B.
Harlow. B. Bear. jr.. James F. Muir.
Walter Roberts, Douglas Stuart, and
George Z. Warfield.
Citizens National Bank-Edward L
DaingerfeId, J. Clinton smoot, Worth
Hulfish, NJ. A. Ahern, James W. Roberts,
Carroll Pierce, and Urban S. Lambert.
Both of the foregoing banks will elect
officers later in the week.
The Alexandria National Bank elected
these officers and directors: c. E. Nicol,
president; w. B. Smoot. vice president;
John A. Marshall, vice president; T. c.
Smith, vice president and cashier. These
officers, together with the following.
compose the directorate: E. L. Cockren,
p. F. German, Robinson Moncure,
George V. Peyton, W. E Balm. J. o.
Lynch, r. E. Marshall, Thomas L. Car
ter, b. F. Board, ]. A. Eggborn, o. q.
Staples, c. H. Rector, and r. N. Nc
Carty.