The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-20
STORM LOSS BIG
in ALEXANDRIA.
Sewers Are Clogged, Cellars
Flooded, Streets Turned
Into Lakes.
TRACKS BADLY DAMAGED
Retail Merchants Vote to Test Consti-
tutionality of Paying Omitted
Taxes Under Law.
TRACKS BADLY DAMAGED

Alexandria. Va, July 1s-Damage to g.
extent OF many thousands of dollars was
done here by the storm this afternoon.
The rain was one Of the heaviest in many
years Cellars and sewers were flooded
and streets were converted into rivers.
while roads in outlying districts were
badly damaged.
The worst damage. from a monetary
point OF view, was the wrecking OF the
big hydroaeroplane Clare, which Is a COM
plete wreck at the dock of the old Pho
neer mills.
The storm started at Us o'clock. and
1t was exactly 3:35 o'clock when the down.
pour ceased. Accompanying the rain was
a severe electrical display. Shortly after
3 o'clock largo hailstones fell for several
minutes
Practically all the cellars Of merchants
in King street, as well as in many other
streets, were flooded. most Of the damage
being caused when the sewers became
clogged.
King street looked like a lake Hoof's
run. near Union Station. overlooked, and
the railroad tracks In that section were
covered with several feet of water. All
along the line Of the electric railway
company's tracks considerable damage
was done when the rain loosened I'D the
odhdst- fEoPcTtS IN every low section
OF the city was badly flooded, certain
sections Of the city resembling miniature
lakes.
In Rosemont the roads were badly
torn up and cellars flooded. while In GER
tain parts Of this place sidewalks were
ripped up by the rain and the bricks
were carried a considerable distance by
the downpour
Large numbers OF merchants report
much damage n GnoIa l. thai-
cellars.
In the city hall building it was ascer-
tanned there were several leaks before
the storm subsidized, both the Offices of
Commissioner Of Revenue Callahan and
City Treasurer Robinson being soaked
Small houses on the outskirts of the city
were flooded, especially those in the vi
cinity of Princess street between Fairfax
and Royal streets. where the water came
downgrade like a falls. Everything port
able was carried away in this section
The wind in the city did not assume
any great velocity. although a number
of trees were RACED by the storm. Three
were blown down in Fairfax street, be-
tween Wolfe and Wilkes streets, Roads
in both Alexandria and Fairfax counties
were made impassab Bile in certain parts
It will require a big expenditure before
they can again be put in order.
The retail merchants here tonight unan-
imously decided to test the constitution
atty Of the payment Of omitted taxes on
the merchants tax law. This decision
was reached after H. Noel Garner, legal
counsel for the Retail Merchants Asso-
citation. has made his report. J. W. Mon
roe. president of the Retail Merchants
presided. and Joseph E.
was elected secretary
Mr.. Garner told the merchants he
fhnr he Of
arbitrary as no persons were picked out
to pay omitted taxes for a period of FIVE
years besides the merchants.
The cost of the case. IL was explained
would be about l.o0O Many of the rner-
chants subscribed to the test fund and
the secretary was instructed to see every
merchant in the city with a view of get
ting them to contribute. it being ex-
planned that all merchants will be bene-
flied should the test case prove sue
cessfuL
Funeral services for James E. Legs.
who died shortly after 1 o'clock this
morning at the Alexandria Hospital, az
err a two weeks illness. will be held at
80 o'clock Tuesday night at Demaines
chapel. The body will be
ent Wednesday morning to Upperville
'auquier County. Va. for burial.
Mr.. Legg was so years old and was a
lative of Prince William County. He is
urvived by ]. Norman Legg, this city:
Hrs. Charles Carver. Middleburg, Va.
md sister. Mrs. Cecilia Anderson, of
The body OF Mrs. Frances V. Finn,
i. who died today at her horne, Ills
Duke street, was sent to Strasburg Va.
his afternoon by Undertaken B. Wheat
ey. The deceased was a native Of stras.
,urg, Va.