Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-03-31
ANNEXATION AND
WHAT IT MEANS.

sent at the joint session Of the
Board of Aldermen and Common
Council last night to hear the re-
ports of the lawyers representing
the city of Alexandria in the recent
suit against Alexandria and Fair
fax counties for the annexation OF
certain territory binding on TINS
city. Residents Of the annexed dis
t,ict from both counties were also
present.
Samuel G.. Brent, Commonwealth
ATTORNEY. and John NJ Johnson,
.st5ssc,ft,l re city in the proceed
- attenaea. and the latter made
"a syhau statement of every
.!. d lection with the suit
and its final termination in the Sup
rene Court of Appeals, which trl-
punal sustained Alexandria city in
its contention. Mr.. Johnson cxhl-
o;icd maps of the territory absorb
ed by the city, and during the de-
livery Of his report he answered a
number of questions propounded by
members of the joint convention.
MIR. Brent submitted d brief state
ment supplementary to that OF VII.
Johnson, and also answered certain
queries concerning the procedure OF
the city in regard to the new terri
tory.
Some well meaning AlcNandrlans
and others equally well meaning
residing in the territory taken from
Alexandria and Fairfax. counties
have not been enthusiastic anneHa-
t,onists. The former have erronc-
;,,sly supposed that the city would
le made to face a great RESPONSE
.bility. certainly during the first hVe
Years of jurisdiction over the out
.,vme district. The suburbanitics str
strangely supposed their tax raee
would be increased. But such mus
have had their apprehensions DIS
peiled after listening to Messrs'
Johnson and Brent last night. o!-
,opses of the statements are gwen
elsewhere in the Gazette.
The matter which will demand the
immediate attention of Council VIII
lie policing the annexed district ana
;,Fording fire protection. Provision
!, will be made for these forthwith
Most of the other matters wnich 10
i've formulated are not SO urgent, anu
they will be disposed of within
reasonable time. Some people, I'M
,o,cssarilv anxious concerning the
outcome of annexation, have suggest
g, that the conversion of Hoit'S Kun
;,,to an archcd sewer for the 5ene-
"a of the new territory would cost
,,,nv thousands Of doifar$, when
Tho city would be called upon to pay
This cloud has been reE"Ec" ~ d
plan by which pipe se''e' car
Le. RIM down the bed Of that water
conrse a sufficient distance az IL
.ost Of about five thousand dollars.
while Alexandria, like other c't'eS
.bronebout the country, is forced at
,;,,es to increase her financial bur-
IONS which are always promptly
,o.t out obligations are consc''''-
,;vc and the city fathers always SCI
.h.;r ,xav clear before embarkmg l"
any enterprise for the bcttermen' VI
,,c city 1t was urged by connsc' LOT
,,ox,ndr;a and Fairfax counties l"
!. ~, annexation suit i'll the oircu'
Conrt for Alexandria county 'n"'
this city was already under great H.
,rcial obligations and was not III
position to take on other ouiuenS
which would be inevitable snouio
territory be annexed. a sufficient an
sr.cr to this is found in Judge
,,ardwelrs opinion handed down IL
The Supreme Court of Appeals about
; swo weeks ago. He states that Alex
a,tdria is in better financial con
,,;lion than any city in the Common
wealth.
1t was suggested last night thai
~ chat annexation is an accom-.
shed fact 4there is no good reason
y the residents of the westcri
/ northwestern sections of tn
eater Alexandria should no
!, lele with those in the east on tn
~ Aferrns There should ne II" Ills
.i.tSl
.ar 80