Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-13
iHNE XATI0N 1D|5CUssED.
Views of Correspondents in A!eXan-
dria County Papers on Subject
OF New Territory.

As us,ia! the tx, Alexandria county
papers give considerable space 10 the
annexation question but the articles
this week show a. lack Of the unani-
nous agreement against annexation
that is supposed 10 exist in the county.
The Monitor is very mild after it,
vitfioIic editorial Of last week and has
calmed down in q remarkable degree.
1t publishes on its rir>: page the 70 J.
lowing article <s4s. "Nenfo"
,Common.,caii3e 2 Attc :uey Macilry
and the lawyers who are associated
with him to oppose the annexation of
part Of the county by Aiexan'lrIt city.
have got a delicate matter Oh their
hands. They must l0oI; az lhe question
from the broad point OF view that con-
siders not onIr what is best for Alex
aEdria county, but also what is to the
bes. Interests OF Alexandria city and OF
the territory under dispute
The more question OF what plan viii
bring the most revenue i1to the county
treasury is far from being the most
important one in controversy over
extending The corporate limits OF 4 city.
1t may be that such extension vii!
bring decided henclits TO the residents
OF the Del Ray locality. such - lights.
sewers, water and adequate fire ana
police protection. 1t may be that the
community thcrealouts is so we'll built
Up as To deserve and need these ad-
vautages Ur it may be that con-
gestcd portions of the city are rapidly
extending in our direction and are cry
ing for new territory. II these cond
,ions exist. and are the city's motive
for expansion, by all means let us have
annexation
The very life Of city depends upon
its ability to take on new territory as
its suburbs become merged wIth itself.
But. on the other hand. there are very
very different motives winch might III
this case be the moving ones.
IT the railroad yards and ether valu-
able corporation owned properties in
the De! Ray vicinity are desired by the
city solely rs n source uf revenue: II
Alexandra intends to grab these taxes
and apply them to its own selfish in
tcrest within its own boundaries; then
annexation should be fought to the
last ditch. The residents OF the dis
ruIed territory, wnlIc-.t.sy do uot ~
ceivr at present the advantages which
city extension might offer thcEi, yet
they DO get their proportionate share
OF what the county has go;; and they
mi gh. do well to wait and look into
what the Board Of Supervisors will have
to offer item when it gets IL enlarged
pDwe!s. Ii they do, they can certainty
count on not being looked upon simply
as gold mine with their Weddings
turned over to some other locality.
These are some OF The Arguments
pro arL con about which the people
are expecting Mr.. Mackey and his as
socialcs to get the facts. Tie rcrela
tons which he Will make from time to
time are heirg awaited with good deal
OF interest"
Patron in tie wealth pro-
ceeds 10 take the hide off Common
wealth Attorney Mackey in the follow
ing communication:
Reading the editorial in your paper
of last week, N regard TO the Board u
Supervisors appropriaiing the sum OF
5000 10y the retaining OF legal conn-
sci to assist the present commonwealth
attorney in the prosecution "f the case
in the defense Of annexation by Alex
andria City, | should be gratiiicd II you
would kindly give space to 4 lew re-
marks, which / think are, to say the
least. timely. II the commonwealth
attorney is Il competent man, il he Is
what IL" has represented himself to he
10 Tie people of Alexandria County,
does it not seem 10 you Mr.. Editor.
that the people have lost Just little
OF tie confidence that they placed III
him only \ few short weeks ago?
Ii he is competent TO run the SchooH
system OF the county, why Is he not
competent to handle one OF The first
cases tha. are a fraction out OF The pidI-
nary, and why is it tina, he must need
have able" legal assistance
that assistance to be paid for from an
already 100 depleted treasury that is
several thousand dollars TO the bad. /
think the annexation proposition
should be fought to the bitter end, bu.
at the same time. thipi; ;he funds
could be used to better purpoSe-in
the school for instance-and let the
commonwealth alterncy fight his own
legal battles, without calling at the 'ir>'
fire Of the gun for assistance. "