Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-12
(Communicated.) J.
THE ROYAL STREET 0DINANCE.

THE ROYAL SIkElEl oOlis 1"is0A1'
This is an ordinance to provide for
the granting by the City Council OF
Alexandria, Virginia, of certain
rights and privileges to the Washing
ton-Virginia Railway Company, to
Law and maintain a certain railway
track on Royal street, from the south
side of King street, to the south side
of Franklin street, with suitable
curves, switches and Connections, to
connect with the track now laid and
operated by the said railway company
on King street.
This ordinance ought not to be
passed, because it is plain that the
interests of the people of the city OF
Alexandria, Virginia, are not in any
way safeguarded by its provisions.
The privilege granted by this ordi-
nance to put in curves, switches and
connections as the railway company
mag see fit, would practically give it
the right to double track Royal street.
The ordinance does not provide that
any one shall supervise and say how
many switches, curves or connections
shall be placed in and upon the said
street. 1t leaves it optional with the
railway company to place in the street
as many curves, switches and connec-
tiol:s as it sees fit. As matter of
racs. these words ought not to be in
hi, ordinance, and should be stricken
out. 1t is not necessary for any
cure, switch or connection to be
placed any where in Royal street to
accommodate the railway company.
This ordinance should be defeated
as the rights of the people of this mu-
nicipal government are not protected
n the matter of the running OF
freight cars on Royal street. The
former ordinance in reference to this
matter prohibited the transportation
of freight on this street, although it
mas been continuously done in viola
.ioT of and in disregard of the laws of
this corporation. This ordinance
grants theright to the railway COM
pany to transport its freight cars
owe: this street, but no where does
The ordinance define of what capac-
ity The freight cars shall be, or what
Their character shall be, but leaves
1t absolutely within the discretion of
the railway company to run any kind
of freight cars it sees fit, and at any
and all hours of the day and night,
ana if this ordinance should pass,
rhe.e is no restriction or limitation
pla> ed upon this'mater by this ordi-
nance. Section 6 of the ordinance
locs provide that for failure to COM
ply with any material provision OF
This ordinance. the same shall be de-
Glazed forfeited by the city council,
and may be repealed and the fran
hise granted declared to be at al.
end. This provision simply invites
the city council of Alexandria to liti-
rat, all questions in dispute between
itself and the railway company IN the
courts of this state. 1t would be lar
better if the ordinance provided IN
pla;1 language exactly what the rail
way company might or might not DO.
Wh.n we go into the courts to under
take to get them to construe "haU
the meaning of any ordinance OF the
city is. there is hardly any one VINO
would be able to say what the decls-
ion of the Supreme Court OF this
sta.a might be. 1t would be prete-
rab,c if the word material was
stricken out of this section of the or
dinance, and then the company could
no punished for the violation OF any
If The provisions. 1t is contended
rbat if this ordinance is granted that II
will have to be re-published, and this
is probably true, but as this ordl-
nance grants the railway company
cor,ajn privileges for a perold Oh
twenty years, it would be better ina. !.
if be re-published any number OF
times in order that a proper ordl-
nance may be passed, than to pass
this one, which does not protect the
interests of the people of this city
''''~ +. C. SPINkS.