Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-06-02
PRELIMINARY ACTION
Taken by Council on the Petition Of
Water Co., to Increase Rates
Both Sides Heard.

Water Company to increase its rates
in some instances 100 per cent was
up before the city council last night
at a Joint session of that body pre-
sided over by F. F. Marbury, presl-
dent of the board of alderman.
Mr.. Marbury upon calling the two
boards to order said:
"Gentlemen-This joint meeting
of the city council has been called for
the purpose of obtaining an express
sion of opinion as to the most practl-
cal. mode of meeting the attempt
upon the part of the Alexandria
Water Company to make material
increase in the amounts now exacted
bv the corporation for the use OF
Cameron water.
Of course, the State Corporation
Commission will not pass upon the
petition of this organization until 1t
shall have heard the consumers
demurrer. but it has been deemed
proper by the city's representatives
to meet at the time and interchange
opinions concerning matter which
is of interest to every resident of
the city.
The Water Company has its rights,
as have also it's, patrons, and it is
for the purpose of urging the rights
of the latter, that the President Of
the two boards have called this
meeting"
Attorney Gardner L. Boothe, rep
resenting the Alexandria Water
Company gave the company's side Of
the case after the clerk of common
council read the petition OF the
Water Company to increase its rates.
President Howard w. Smith, Of
common council, then spoke on the
matter - championing the peoples
rights in this matter.
The joint session then dissolved
after which resolution of Council
man Bryan directing the finance
committee to continue the ehlpiOy-
ment of the present counsel they
now have to represent the city before
the state corporation commission
when the matter comes up for
hearing. This was referred to the
finance committee.
The Joint session was about to
dissolve when Councilman Lawler
said he would like to hear some en-
pressions from its members on the
water case after which President
Smith took the floor
There were nine members of COM
mon council and six members OF
the board of aldermen present at
the meeting together with most OF
the officers and directors of the
Water Company.
Aldermen present were Marbury,
Ballenger, Fitzgerald, Robinson, Will
kins and Harrison.
Members of common council pres
ent: Evans, Wattles. Kaufman,
Field Poih, Smith, Bales. Bryan,
Lawler and Ballenger.
Attorney Boothe in opening his re-
marks declared he would not under
take to argue the proposition OF
the company's rules and rates. The
substance of his address to council is
that the rules and regulations are
practically the same as existed for
sixty-fve years; there are few
changes, and these were complied
from other rules and regulations
The petition is nothing new ne de-
clared.
Referring to problems confronting
the company he said the company
purchased 1000 acres of land and
built a dam costing S250,0OO which
holds enough water to last for year;
connecting this dam with the city
reservoir will cost approximately
100000.
The company contemplates install
ing a meter system and there are
about 1000 water takers in the city
The meters will cost $S60.0OO. That
the laying of new mains to meet de
mands for fire fighting purposes Wi!
cost $4,000.
The capital stock of the compan!
is $4,000 and he declared it wa
the most undercapitalized compan.
in this section. The par value o
it's shares is $50. On this it ha
paid - per cent which has been in
creased by betterments so that nov
stock is about $125 to S135 a shar
Welding less than five per cent h
said:
In conclusion he said tha law doe
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