Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-12-15

RUSSELL SUSTAINED
Road in Annexed District to be Call
cd by His Name Instead of That
Of George Mason.

Advocates of Frederick P. Russell
an attorney of this city and George
Mason, author of the bill of rights
locked horns in the city council last
night for honors, in having q road in
Rosemont named after them and Rus
sell came out victorious by vote OF
6 to A, in the common council and 8
to ] in the aldermen, after the mat.
ter had been thoroughly thrashed out
and henceforth the road will be call
ed "Russell road" as it has been
known for several years past.
The action of the city councn last
night, therefore, gives the official
stamp of approval to the name. The
cause of George Mason was espouseo
by Councilman H. R. Burke.
The road in question is being ina
proved and will be one of the three
modern boulevards bstween here and
Washington. For many years it has
been known as Russell Road, Mr..
Russell having given the right of way
for its building through his property.
Recently in a part of the recently
annexed territory someone had placed
signs on the road reading "Mount
Vernon avenue" Mr.. Russell object
ed and then petitioned council to have
it called Russell road, as it previously
was. The street committee recon.
1icntled that it be called Russell road
Councilman Fl. R. Burke, thought
such roads are named for people who
are dead. He added that he believed
Mr.. Russell gave ten feet of the
right Of way and THAI if it was named
after all whose property it passed
through it would have many names.
He suggested the name Of George
Mason, author Of the bill of rights.
The only thing in this section to COM
memorate Mason's memory is statue
in Richmond, he said He suggested
that Mason avenue would be much
more appropriate than naming it
after such young man, and in con-
clusion said he hesitated to object to
Mr.. RusselPs request.
Councilman Bales said he was nsor.
ry he could not agree with Mr. Burke
Tie objected to having it called By
two names, as he thought the coun.
ty people would probably continue to
call the road Russell, while the city
would call it Mason road.
Councilman Pohl, objected to it
being called an avenue and expressed
hope tllke it would continue to be
called Russell road.
Councilman Bryan objected in it
being Gales . road and favored thu
word avenue for a city.
The motion of Councilman Burke
to call it Mason avenue was, ther
carried.
When the matter came to tha hnarr
of aldermen that body asked for q
conference committee, having non
concurred in the action Of. common
council .in changing the name. ane
President Smith appointed Council.
men H. r. Burke, and Bales, and
from the aldermen, Aldermen Brill,
and Fitzgerald, were named. After a
lengthy conference they agreed to re-
commend that the road be called Rus
sell instead Of Mason.
Councilman Bryan again voiced hfs
objection to the word road, thinkin
avenue should be substituted.
A vote: was, then taken on the re
port of the. committee and those fav
oring adopting it were Messrs. Mar,
bury, H. r. Burke, Bales, Pohl, Har-
rison and Smith. and those against
it we've Messrs. Bryan, C. S. T.. Burke,
Desnsea sad Wattles.
A petition of c. H. Callahan, COM
missioner Of revenue, for increase
of compensation for l.vies in annex.
ed territtfy, was granted, the fins1c,
committee recommending that s3Bt
snnSally tsbe paid quarterly be al.
loved! '.*is :
ckssRkA Bryan Bryan sxplaainssa tAa,