Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-13
Council Orders
Gas Cost Study
In Alexandria
Possible Doubling
Of Rates Is Seen
In Chongeover

Inc alexandra City Council
moved last night to investigate pos
sible higher rates for gas If the
Virginia State Corporation Com
mission approves a new schedule
filed several weeks ago by the
Rosslyn Gas Co., In view of a
scheduled changeover from manu-
factured gas to natural gas on
July /.
City Manager Budwesky was di.
rected to employ a gas engineer or
consulting firm to survey the prob
lem. City Attorney Joseph M.
Pancoast was instructed to study
the city's agreement with the gas
company to determine whether the
new rate schedule, If approved by
the State commission, would result
IN rate boost inconsistent with
original provisions of the agreement.
An official of the gas company
said that the announcement con-
corning the substitution of natural
gas for manufactured gas was made
April rs and that the proposed rate
schedule was filed at that time. He
declared that consumers will get
the same amount of heat at the
same cost but will be billed on a
term basis instead of cubic foot
basis.
The Alexandria city manager
said the present cost of gas per
cubic foot is to be doubled if the
authorization is obtained. The city
sold its plant to the company several
years ago and negotiated an agree
ment whereby the cost of gas would
be reduced if its efficiency were
reduced. He said no provision was
made for increasing the cost with
increased efficiency.
| May Reacquire Plant.
Mr.. Budwesky added that the city
may be able to exercise rights for
reacquiring the plant if the original
agreement is not being carried out.
At last nights meeting, the City
Council received a check for $34,-
1880 from former Mayor Edmund
F. Tlcer, ST., chairman of the Alex
andria Housing Authority, as the
Federal Governments 1916 payment
in lieu of taxes for maintaining 92l
units in Federal housing projects.
Proposed street improvements for
1916 will cost 1882 ,289, according to
program drawn up by City En-
glneer G. Luckett Watkins. His re-
port is being considered for action
at the next meeting, June Is.
| Mr.. Watkins said the work will
cover II miles of roadway, and that
as of June l the city had completed
2,10 miles of improvements at q
cost of s22,548.
The Council reappointed two
members of the Alexandria School
Board whose terms are expiring
June 80. They are Leonard M.
Knight. Is East Alexandria avenue,
and Sidney We'll. 312 King street
road.
i Plans for a 100000 shopping
center, including 10 stores and a
service station to be constructed at
King street road and Braddock road
; near Parkfairfax were brought be-
. fore the Council in a request by
Mrs. Kay May Donaldson for side
walk and gutter improvements.
: Cost Called Prohibitive.
Her proposal to exchange a gift
, to the city of 1000 square feet OF
+. land for right of way to widen
: King street road for the improve
ments was referred to the city man
ager for further lions
f after he reported that the work
would cost the city too much to bs
, justified.
S Maj. John R. Perrine, 25l2 North
!. GUSTS avenue, Arlington, associate
! IN Perrine Bros, Inc, said he ano
: his brother are leasing two acres
!. OF Mrs. Donaldson's property for &c
t years to establish the proposed shop.
= ping center.
:, F. Clinton Knight, representing
= Alexandria's American Legion Pos
S NO. "a, requesting that veterans b.
e permitted to have temporary housins
was informed by the Council thai
J., the city is pushing plans to utiliz.
4 81 prefabricated units which will
l be provided by the Federal Govern.
S ment.
The Council approved appropria
tons of $1,0373 for a car for thu
flre inspector, s6,146.25 for recon.
structing Walnut street from Rus.
sell road to King street road, ano
$7,382.37 for construction of a SAM.
tary sewer to serve Yale drive,