Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-08-30
Common Council and Board Of Al
dermen Discuss Proposed Ferry
Line at Joint Meeting Last Night.

city council and board of aldermen
attracted quite an audience Of bus'-
ness men to the city hall building
last night who were attentive lister.
ers to the proceedings.
President Smith called the council
to order shortly after eight o'clocs
and after he had stated the object IF
the meeting in brief speechl lConn-
Gilman Bales was appointed to in
yite the board of aldermen to joint
session. Upon the arrival of the al
dermen President Marbury took The
chair and President Smith of the
council presented the proposition of
the Washington Steel and Ordnance
Company, which is published in full
on the second page.
AS will be seen by perusal of
the document, the steel company
proposes to furnish employment to
men residing in this city. In speaking
upon the subject Mr.. Smith said that
the matter was one which had been
under discussion for two weeks or
more and that he believed it worthy
of their most serious consideration.
Mr.. Edward A. Lyeett, employment
manager of the Steel Company, was
present and was then invited to adj
dress the session which he did. He
said his company had 1886 men now
on it's payroll, CT of whom lived IN
Alexandria, but that they desired
to greatly increase the number. he
said "We need Alexandria and we
believe Alexandria needs US. What
we ask is that you give our men per
manent homes. We will give them
the work. And we need your help to
aid us in getting the men,. he next
gave details in regard to what the
company proposed to do in the way
of securing a proper steamer TO oeI
used as a ferryboat to ply between
this city and Giesboro Point by
which the men can be transported TO
and from their work. He said tnat
six men would be required to operate
Il estimated that five tons OF coal
ner day would be needed and that
the total expenses OF running
,yonld amount to $50 per day, OF
which Alexandria is asked to pay
one third $50, or total OF $500 per
month, approximately, until the mum,
her of men carried. reaches 500 and
makes it self sustaining. It is pro-
nosed to make the fare five cents
each way.
MI. vcett said that, the Depart
nent of Labor officials in Washing
ton Would: .assist Alexandria in the
effort to obtain the required number
of mon wanted, for which, by the
wav, meeting will be held here next
Tnesaav night. Mr.sLycett stated
that the 81 men now employed by
his company from sAlexandria are
drawing at: the rate Of $45,ooo a
wear in wages at present, and tnat
the total payroll: of his company IS
s2,5OO,Oo0: per annum. ;: ~
Brief speeches were made. os
Messrs. ]. w. Bales, W. W. ballen.
DER and several of the members OF
the council in which they expressed
themselves as being heartily in favor
;of the proposition: In order to bring
+ba onestion before the house Mr.
Smith made motion that a COM
,n;ttee of three be appointed to
draft a resolution in favor Of the
nroposition. 1t was carried and Mr..
Smith and GeoFge7H. Evans from
the common council and W. W. Bal
lenper from the board of aldermen
wore named as such committee. A
short recess was taken after which
n. re1plution was presented and
Carried without a dissenting vote.
The resolution recommended that
three members of the common coun-
c;, and two from the board of al
dermen be appointed to draft the
necessary resolutions for which Al
darmen Ballenger and Wilkins and
councilmen Howard W. Smith. Law
ler and Bales were named.
This committee is to make its re-
mort to President Marbury of the
hoard of aldermen after which 9
meeting of the aldermen will be
called and the question acted upon
Three days later the common coun'
80, ~lal "a tal.a nctin,, az, 4