Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-01-18

| ROD Oh I'VE years .tlIe ISNeHuSS ueIifSu
therefrom. The almost inevitable re-
suit would be to hinder. and retard
indefinitely the work of. betterment
now in progress. This is the opinion
of number of gentlemen, residents
of the city, and it seems to me to be
we'll founded. And in view of the f.
nancial inability of the city, as dis
closed by evidence, | cannot say that
the proposed annexation is expedi-
ent Notwithstanding the borrowing
capacity of the city.
AS to the health of the city, it is
testified by both Drs. Smith and Cor
man that the sanitary condition is
| good, equal to if not better than any
| city in the State, and the death rate
is low. 1t is true, fears are express
cd for the future as to the unsan-
itary condition of Hooff's Run which
drains part of the territory to be an
nexed. Dr. Smith expressing the opin
ion that as the outlying villages in
| crease in population the sewerage will
have to be disposed of, but he admits
that the present condition will not be
improved unless the city is compelled
to put in proper sewers and we have
already seen the estimated costs OF
such sewerage system for Hooff's Run
As q matter of fact there has been
| no epidemic or sickness (caused by
this stream in the past, and we may
safely judge the future by the past,
Nor is there any evidence before the
| court to show in the future these
| outlying villages will have so increas
ed in population as to bring about a
condition involving7ldznger to this
health of the city. 1t would seem that
1T the present time, if there be dan
ger from the pollution of the stream
! the city has ample remedy either at
law or in equity by Injunction. go A.
E. Nh. law page 378 ct seq).
The need of the city in the reas-
onably near future for expansion and
development has been herein be-
fore incidentally considered. The
figures cited speak for themselves. 1t
may not, however, be improper to add
that even if the total population. 1923,
Of the territory proposed to be an
nexed, formerly resided in Alexandria,
!his would not of itself suggest such
condition as would make annexa-
ion necessary. =,
But the evidence introduced by the
city (see Harrie White, page 1877 and
foNlowing) shows that in that part
of Alexandria county, proposed to be
annexed, there are 722 people, white
and colored, and 165 heads of families
Of whom 80 formerly lived in Alex
andria City;ani thattin part ofFairfax
proposed to be taken in there are COL
persons and 129 heads of families,
of whom 64 were formerly Alexan-
dris all being 80 counted if they ever
resided in the city in any past
time, 25 or so years ago; so 1T Will
be seen that of the r294 heads of faml-
lies residing in the territory 153 were
former residents of the city and l4l
are from elsewhere. And it is in
evidence that at least some former
residents of the city moved out be-
cause of their preference for surbur-
ban over urban homes.
The point was made in argument
that the Union Railroad station and
freight depot now without should be
taken into the corporation and at first
was inclined to adopt this view. In
Kentucky town where it was shown
that the only depot near municipality
was located in territory sought to be
annexed that the inhabitants We're de-
pendent on this depot for shipping
their freight, passenger travel, and
mail, that there were no sidewalks from
the boundary to the depot, that one
was necessary and that failure to an
mex would retard the prosperity OF
the municipality. 1t was held proper
to annex.
In this case the street and the ap-
proaches to the station are we'll paved
the cost of the same without the
city havin gbeen betrayed by private
subscription and the county authori-
ties so that what would seem to have
been the ,costrolling reasons to the
case referred to it wanting here.
AS to the large area proposed to be
annexed, about twice that of its pres
ent corporation bounds and embrac-
ing not only the villages of Rose
mont, Braddock Heights and so forth.
I m ,,roc &c lonH GI11tp0