Evening star., 1941-10-29
Referendum
Authorized on
Water Bonds
Alexandria Council
To Set Dute for Vote
On 81, 500, 900 Issue
BY q Staff Correspondent OF The Star.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, Oct ga
referendum on issuance of $4,000 900
in bonds to finance municipal ac-
QUESTION of the Alexandria Water
Co. system has been approved by the
City Council. the date to be set for
the near future.
On motion of Charles l.. Burgess,
chairman of its special Water Com
mittee, the Council last night ap-
proved the referendum plan, 5 to 2.
A similar resolution was defeated
last spring, to A.
The American Water Works &
Electric Co., holding company of
the local utility, has offered to sell
its common stock for $l,300,000
plus actual cost of all net addi-
tions to the property of the Alex
andria Water Co. since August /,
1910, and it was on these terms
that the resolution was passed.
Because at least 80 days notice is
required for referendum, the bal
loting on the bond issue cannot be
conducted simultaneously with the
regular State elections on November
4. Mr.. Burgess said. A date will be
discussed at special Council meet
ing Friday night, he added
The referendum procedure was
approved by Councilmen Burgess.
John D. Matter. Charles D. Stump.
George K Bender and Mayor Will
liam T. Wilkins. 1t was opposed by
Councilmen Ernest D. Mankin and
James Armstrong
Move for Apartment Made.
Gardner L. Boothe presented a
rezoning petition to permit the
construction of a S7,000000 apart
ment project to be erected by the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. of
New York. City Manager Carl Bud
Wesky previously told The Star he
understood the project to be valued
at about S27 900 000 but Mr. Boothe
told a reporter last night the lower
figure represented the approximate
cost Council set November Is as
the date for a public hearing on the
rezoning request. which seeks to
change about 1877 acres bounded by
Four Mile Run, Seminary road and
Beverley Hills subdivision line. from
residential Al to residential C-1
and CO.
A special meeting will be held
next Tuesday on a petition from
residents near the Virginia Public
Service Co.'S plant asking for an
abatement of an alleged smoke nui-
sance
Council made available to the Fed
eral Government a site at Mont
gomery and Pitt streets for a recrea-
ton center for white soldiers at 81
annually.
Frame Building Planned.
1t. Col. J. H. Burgheim of the
War Department said the Govern
ment has about $4,000 available to
erect a building, plus $4,000 for
equipment The lowest bid received
on the type of structure desired, he
said. was s87,744 and he suggested
that the city might wish to supply
the difference. The Council declined
to make this move. A frame building
probably will be erected on the site
if ground conditions are suitable,
Col Burgheim indicated.
On motion of Mr.. Armstrong. the
Council accepted s93 500 offer from
the Federal Works AGENCY for per-
manent additions to the city's
schools by approving a resolution to
match it with s45.9O0 from city
funds. The Governments grants are
to provide facilities for defense
workers children. A previous alloca-
ton Of s35 900 for temporary school
and 100000 for general maintenance
Of all institutions, had been approved
by the F. w. A.
A petition signed by 130 persons
living in Westover subdivision asked
the Council to revoke the license of
the Martha Washington Trailer
Camp and declared I'VE deem it
undesirable to the neighborhood"
Several persons appeared to de-
fend the camps reputation, with
G. L. Upton acting as spokesman.
Letters from the North Ridge
Citizens Association and E. H.
HaWes were read urging the crea-
ton of public utilities commission
as an advisory group to the council
The civic body also asked the council
to take steps leading to an emer-
gency connection between the Vir-
ginia Public Service Co. and Po-
tomac Electric Power Co. Council
indicated it would study the pro-
posals.
Ask Action Before S. E. C.
Glenn U. Richard, president. and
Wallace Burgoyne, member of the
North Ridge Citizens Association,
asked council to intervene officially
in Securities and EXCHANGE Com
mission hearings on a plan by "
P. S. to recapitalize its corporate
structure, emphasizing the S. E. C.
probably would determine a figure
representing valuation of the COM
pany holdings and that this figure
might be influential in determining
subsequent rate schedules to be
established by the Virginia State
Corporation Commission.
City Attorney Armistead Boothe
was instructed to intervene at his
discretion after comforting with the
State Corporation Commission.
Zoning petitions granted included
request of Yates Gardens. Inc,
to change two squares bounded by
jefferson. Church. Alfred and Co
lumbus streets, from residential A
to C-1, and a request by the same
applicant to rezone the area south
Of Church street and east of Patrick
street, running to Hunting Greek,
from residential A to CO.
On the request of Ben I. Berman
to rezone a tract fronting 800 feet
on Ebert avenue to a depth of 2O1
on Park street from residential A
to CO, council voted to change all
of the property north of Presi-
dental Gardens Apartments to Four