Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-09-23
COURT ADJOURNs
TOOCT0BER7TH
Judge Gordon to Reopen
Annexation Hearing on
That Date.
CITY's CASE CLOSED.
Counties Will Have Inning when Court
Resumes in Two Weeks-Satur-
days Evidence. :.

Alexandria closed its case in the
annexation proceedings Saturday af-
ternoon, and, as outlined in the Ga
zette week ago, Judge Bennett T.
Gordon announced an adjournment un-
til October 7th, when the hearing will
be resumed at Alexandria county
court house.
There were several witnesses plac-
ed on the stand Saturday afternoon
after the closing of the Gazette's re-
port. :.
Charles H. Callahan, Commissioner
of the revenue of the city of Alexan
dria, was on the stand to tell of land
conditions of the city. He described
Typographical conditions which made a
great area of the city unavailable for
residence or factory sites. He also
recited that the assessed value of the
real property within the city of Alex
andlia was about S6,000,0O0, repre-
senting from so to 60 per cent of
actual value.
Deputy Commissioner of Revenue
Crawley, of Alexandria county, was
also put on the stand to show topo-
graphical conditions of the land in
that county which Alexandria city
would annex.
Henry K. Field, chairman of the
joint committee on finance of the city
council, in the course Of his testimony
stated that the assets of the city of
Alexandria were more than S45O,0OO.
These consisted of the city gas plant,
valued at s25o,oO0; the market house,
worth $4,000; fish wharf, school
buildings, Jail, almshouse, police and
fire stations, etc.. and about $4,000
in the sinking fund.
A standing offer of a half million
dollars for the gas plant is before the
city authorities, Mr.. Field stated. The
market house would cost much more
to construct than the valuation put
upon it, he said. The money in the
sinking fund is for the retirement OF
a part of the bonded Indebtedness.
The attorneys for Alexandria City,
John M. Johnson, Corporation Attor-
ney Samuel P. Fisher and Common
wealht's Attorney Samuel G. Brent,
are we'll content with their showing
before the court in support of the plan
for greater Alexandria. They con-
slider they have proven the congestion
of the city to an extent that not only
iustifies the desire of the city for ex-
pansion, but demonstrates the abso-
lutte necessity therefor. The financial
ability and the administrative compe-
tencv of the municipality to properly
govern and better conditions in the
districts of Fairfax and Alexandria
counties it would take over the attor-
news believe has been adequately DEM
onstrated.
Upon the reopening of court coun-
sell for Alexandria county-EN--gover-
nor Andrew Jackson Montague, r.
Lynch Montague, Of Richmond and
Commonwealth's Attorney Crandal
Mackey-and counsel for Fairfax
county-John S. Barbour, Thomas
Keith and Commonwealth's Attorney
C. Vernon Ford-will open the case IN
opposition to Alexandria City. Com
monwealth's Attorney Mackey has IN
timated that residents of Alexandra
City will be put on the stand 10
show bitter opposition to expansion
from within the municipality.
1t is generally believed that Aiexan-
dria City will obtain the greater part'
if not al 1.-The territory it seeks to an
mex. The city at present covers an
area of 713 acres. 1t would expand
to three times its present size, taxing
in $50 acres of Alexandria county ana
45O acres of land and $50 acres Oh
water of Fairfax county.
-O-
II