Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-09-19

Mount Vernon And Camp Humphreys
Railway Co., Granted Permission
by Council as War Measure-COm-
pany Will Start Work Shortly.
City Council last night adopted a
resolution granting the Mount Vernon
and Camp Humphreys Railway Com
pany permission to erect poles and
wires from a point on the river front
at the foot of Wythe street to Royal
and thence last on Royal to King
and after reaching King street
they are granted permission to run
cable southwark on Royal street on
the poles already erected by the
Washington-Virginia Railroad Com
pany to the center of Hunting Creek,
which is the corporation line on the
south.
This road is now erecting line from
Camp Humphreys to Mount Vernon
| and will connect up with the Wash
ington-Virginia line at Mount Vernon.
The current will come by cable
from the power house of the Potomac
Electric Power Company at Bennlng'
The speedy action last night
was done as war measure, and 1t
was explained that later an ordinance
will be acted on giving the company
permission for the work. This ordl-
nance has been pending for some time
past. However, under the resolution
adopted the company can proceed at
once with the work. 1t will be done
under the supervision of the commit
tee on streets and. city engineer.
The meeting of common council was
called to order by President Burke
who explained that the line being built
by the foregoing company is now rap
d!y nearing completion, and tnat
without the power asked for the
soldiers at Camp Humphreys probably
would be taken from Mount Vernon
aboard the steamer Manchester to
Washington. The finance committee
he said favored immediate act:cn. The
proposition he added was an emergency
measure.
The resolution providing that until
final action is taken in the matter the
company be granted permission to DO
the work then was read.
Attorney James R. Cation, repre-
senting the company, upon motion OF
Councilman Lawler was granted per-
mission to explain the proposition.
Mr.. Cation stated that Col. Park
was in the building and said he prob
ABLY would like to be heard.
A Joint session then was held with
F. F. Marbury, president of the board !,
of aldermen, presiding. !;
Mr.. Marbury explained the purpose
of the meeting.
Col. Park was introduced to the
Joint session by Councilman Ruben.
Col. Park told council that the mill
tary authorities want power into
Camp Humphreys and want it badly.
Last spring he said he started to en-
deavor to get the Washington-Vlrginlaa
line to build road from Camp
Humphreys to Mount Vernon. Finally
after considerable effort the project
was started: He asked council to pass
the measure as a military necessity.
Col. Park said there are $4,000 men
at that camp at present and they
must have adequate means OF getting
hack and forth. Steam roads he SAID
we're unsatisfactory as were also the
jitney lines.
Col Park also said that they had
| To get an CleSllN iiilS VI cSeN
transportation and if a boat were OBJ
tanned the men would go to Washing
ton. In conclusion he asked that it be
passed without municipal red tape"
Attorney Cation next addressed the
Joint session. He said the road VIII
be completed in about eight weeks.
The company he added recently pur-
chased fifty-rine new cars and that
the construction of the road cost
s4OO,OOO and its new equipment s44o'-
600. Considerable difficulty was en-
countered he said in financing the
road which he said is entirely inde-
nendent of the Washington-Vlrg'nla
Railway Company. It was anly fnar-
ced through the efforts of the Treas
urv Department as war measure ne
said.
Councilman Baggett suggested that
no unnecessary poles be placed IN
. i