Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-01-31
ALEXANDRIA:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 81, 1874.

nj Vno LAIn IV0ts
the quantity Of -four inspected 10 inns pace
has. for several years, decreased IN a moeo
greater ratio than in Baltimore; ma mat
while their gain, from 1879 10 1879, was
.4575 barrels, our loss in the same pe!.ou
vas 69, 74a barrel.: and have "slteo
with anxiety Tor an explanation Of tne
causes. AZ requested in that communica'
tom. Az. however, no n has uDderta.
Ken the reply, and considering it a su1)ec'
of much importance 10 every tiass OF Inc
community 10 understand the reasons ola
reduction of the supply Of its staple arl'
Gle. on which, 10 . very great oesFee'
thsir prosperity Depends - beg leave
70 suggest such as have presented then'
seIye, 10 nv mind, and it would give me
Satisfaction, 10 have the matter thoroughly
investigated In an impartial n csndlu
manner, and the proper remedies aPPieo:
j am informed, on good authority, tnat
much OF The -four manufactured 10 me rlch
counties 'ot Berkely, Jefferson and frede'
rick, which formerly came 10 this market,
,s now carried TO Baltimore, although the
distance is greater to that market, % mat
we are chiefly dependent tor supplies Oh
the counties Of Shenandoah, Fauquier, Lou.
DOM. Fairfax. Prince William, Hardy and
Hampshire: il may also be remarked, that
more of the Shenandoah -four goes to Free
dericksburg than formerly. and That lte
county of Rockingham, which now senos
10 Richm ond, heretofore sent 10 thls place.
The facts are, that Baltimore having ex'
perienced the disadvantage OF its detective
standard, several years since, raised II,
and have, by s~alutary laws, sustained a
high and regular inspection tor the des'
criptioo of -four denominated Howard.
street. lin contradistinction 10 the wharf
]our.j 20 that it has gained a character IN
all the markets of the United States, and
in almost every place to which 1t is snip.
ped: aud, in consequence, it is sought a.
ter at every point. at prices c~onsIderaoly
higher than car by eIertisn be ootaIned
for Alexandra, which, unfortunately, ow'
inr to the want of uniformity in its stand .
ard. the abuses of a certain class OF the
deaisrs;in, delivering old -four for new
and BY The shipment Of old -four, has 20
DESTROYED the reputation in the markets OF
the United States, and abroad, that, while
other -four can be had. and especially the
Baltimore Howard.street, ours 10 neglect:
ed. unless it be sold at a very reduced
price; and, in many instances, 1t has re-
NAMED on hand in the Eastern markets
until injured, and has then been sold at a
great sacrifice, 10 the serious loss Of the
holder, and exported to foreign markets,
which gives additional notoriety and de-
graduation 10 its character. The conse-
ouencs is, that many Of those who former
" gave orders to this market, now prefer
to pay in Baltimore the extra price De.
handed, which al this time is about U
cent Der barrel, while the actual differ
ence Tour standard having, been lately
raised) does not probably exceed IS cenis
Der 5arrel.-This, however. considerably
exceeds the average difference OF tho lest
I'VE years, winch may be a,,rit.,ed to the
increasing attention 10 that market, and
the competition thereby produced.
In view Of these facts, II 10 entirely req
sonable that those millers who make 81.
perior -four should send il 10 Baltimore,
though the distance be greater, and the
expense of carriage increased, and that
Others should improve their grade and send
il to that market, where they. can Obtain
a price to more than compensate the add.
tional labor and quantity OF wheat; and it
IS 10 be a%pprebended that unless something
is promptly and efficiently done 10 raise
the reputation OF Alexandra -four abroad.
the quantity will So decrease as to make it
no longer an object ior any suitable person
to hold the office Of Inspector, or the town
a desirable situation for a commercial ss-
Enlistment!
The shipping merchants can furnish the
most unequivocaI evidence OF the low cha.
racter of our -four in almost every market;
and | would appeal to the families in this
place. il they do not find difficulty in pro.
curing such as is suited TO their use? |
would not be understood, that there ID no
superior -four brought here: but it must be
evident TO all who have any experience j n
the market, that the proportion OF this
kind is rapidly diminishing; and it requires
no remarkable spirit OF prophecy to deter.
! mine, that unless there be an immediate
and thorough remedy Of the evils mention
ed, that we shall have even less than now
| and that in a few years we shall not have
one half the quantity OF any description TO
which cUr situation entities US.
Rave, for several years, considered the
defects OF our inspection law as a most Sc
| rious evil which would bring upon Us the
suffering w already realize ; the decline
Of business here is, | am convinced, in a
great measure attributable to it, and ! can
not doubt but all who will take the time
to inform themselves on the subject, will
come to the same conclusion. II il be so.
then let us act in concert to devise f. efecl
an immediate remedy. Whether it is
best to apply to Congress to make an in
spectich law for Us, o r;to give the pow
er to the Common Council. requires our
consideration /; but it is very desirable
that all should unite in the one or the
other: and | hope a meeting will be held