Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-29

bOIn DFdISHeS VI SltS SouhSii i"'
night adopted the necessary ordl
nances providing for a white way OF
seven squares of King street, between
Fairfax and Patrick streets. The or
dinances today were signed by Mayor
J. M. Duncan, and now al! is IN readi'
ness for the starting OF Alexandra,
first white way, and indications arc
that the necessary preliminary WORK
will be begun hortly.
In the Common Council the measure
was passed by vote of II to ., those
voting against the proposition being
Councilmen McCaffrey, Ballenger and
Devers.
In the Board of Aldermen the ordl-
nances were passed by vote OF . 10 o
those opposing the ordinance, Deine
Aldermen Robinson, Green and SUM
mers.
Under the provisions of the ordl-
nance the entire cost of installing the
white way will'be bourne by the prop
erty owners ard public utilities, and II II
will cost $4,000. The city's cost VIII
simply be for maintaining the llghts
which will be $4,000 year.
In place of the maze wires now OF
these seven squares and the many un-
slightly poles, there vii lbe neat IRON
poles 35 feet in height, and all OF the
wires will be placed in cable.
After the ordinance providing Tor
the white way had been read Council
man McCaffrey asked the clerk to
read seven petitions bearing total
of f67 Signatures protesting against
the white way ON King street.
The petition was read. 1t follows:
1--WE, the undersigned taxpayers OF tire
city of Alexandria do hereby enter our
protest against the proposed seven
square white way owing to the condi-
tion of many streets, which are almost
impossible. We protest against any
part of our laxes being used to con-
struct or maintain this white way
Councilman Bsggett said that, ne
noticed four or five in a family haa
signed the petition. A number OF
people, ne said, had told him they ana
not understand the petition, otherwise
they would not have signed it. The
city, Mr.. Baggett said, is not furnish
ing the white way. The only thing
that the city is asked to do, he sad,
is to furnish the current.
Councilman Devers opposed the
proposition. He said that he knew OF
four more petitions like the one pre-
sented, signed by approximately 200
persons, protesting against it. People
living in his ward, re said, had pro-
tested to him against the measure
an durged him to do his best to wefeat
the proposition. He said he though:
that if there is any way the voices OF
400 or 500 people should be heard. Mr..
Devers declared the seven squares in
question are the best lighted and best
paved in the city.
Councilman Ruben said that the
same cry was raised 25 or 30 wears
ago, when King street was paved. II
the city had waited, he said, King
street today would have the same
cobblestones. Mr.. Ruben said he had
been informed that the side streets OF
Alexandria are better lighted than
some in Washington. He expressed
the opinion that in the next few years
all of the streets in Alexandria will be
illuminated as we'll as King street, and
he thought a mistake would be made
to defeat the measure
Councilman Ballenger said Com
merce street should be improved be-
fore any white. way was started IT
order that people coming to AleNan'
dria would have an opportunity of get
ting to the main street ......
According to Councilman Devers
most of the persons who had objected
to the proposition were railroad men
and he also called attention to the bat
condition Of Commerce street.
Councilman Lawler moved that i
there were any person present, eithe,
for or against the proposition, the,
would be given the floor, and Counci
would be only too glad to hear them
He said he was going to vote Tor tn
measure because he believed 1t for tn
best interest of the city.
Councilman Baggett stated that !
was a selfish purpose to oppose tn
ordinance and that no logical reasol
could be given.
Some recognition should be glvel
the protestants, Councilman McCaf
frey asserted.
Councilman TIGER said he fearet
that sight had been lost of the fac
that some oppose it and some are TO
# hut he added that King street IS fo
ali. The white way, he declared, would
not molly illuminate King street. bu
remove unsightly wires. In any city
he declared, the main thoroughfare i
better lighted than the side streets
This, he said, is the first time tina