Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-05-14
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

ALEXANDRIA.-A writer in the Baltimore
dD1srIcqH complains Of the rates of freight be-
tween that city and Alexandria ria the bay
and river and assures the commercial interests
of Marylands capital that unless they secure
a speedy decrease of those rates, they must
resign to Philadelphis and New York not only
much of Alexandria's current business now in
their hands but well nigh the whole of the
very heavy Alexandria commerce soon to grow
out of the completion Of the three important
railroads concentrating at that point; to secure
which New York and Philadelphia have both
made arrangements to run improved lines of
steamers to Alexandria. Not long since we
explained at some length the arrangements
of the New York line, and the trade it is des-
tined to accommodate especially. The COM
pletion of the Manassas Gap railroad can hardly
fail to quadruple its already heavy Alexandria
business; while the completion of the LOudOn
and Hampshire railroad will concentrate at
the same point business quite as large, Of
region Of country which at this time has COM
psratvely little 10 do with Alexandria in the
way Of trade.
1t is to be hoped that this appeal to the in
terests vt Baltimore may not pass UNDECIDED.
But it strikes that Alexandria should be
''nudgei' by the same pen somewhat in the
same connection. Her capital has for years
past for the most part, taken wrong direc-
tion-bcen invested in Northern stocks, in
stead Of in active business Had the AIexan-
dria millions 80 directed been invested in
commerce and manufactures at home, while
with ordinary prudent management it would
have paid heavier interest the population of
the town and the value of real estate within
Its corporate limits would have been well nigh
double what they are at present Alexandria
combines as many advantages as a point for
the successful conduct Of heavy commercial
and manufacturing business as any other city
for Its size and inland position in this country.
Yet nine-tenths Of its people seem to be en-
tlrely ignorant of the fact, and to be disposed
TO keep the world in a similar blissful state
Th~--, Al --VIUlaHts ruonIugIUn auu
Georgetown evidently know rs little of who
are in trade in Alexandria, as in New York or
Philadclphia-far less than those engaged in
commerce in Baltimore, though much money
could be saved by making wholesale purchase
of various descriptions of staple articles within
Elk miles of our own doors, instead of forty
miles of as at present
The loss Is not only that Of the District mer-
chants and traders who buy, but Of the Alex
andria wholesale dealers who sell. The remedy
lies III proper measures on their part t. let the
District public know who they are, where they
are to he found. and what they keep for sale.
Mess they keep up with the business methods
and modes of the times, all the railroads the
State Of Virginia may possibly be able'to build
Tor them viii fail to keep the grass from grow
ing everywhere IN their streets except just be-
tween the lines of the rails transporting pro-
duce and other merchandise not to and from
the warehouses Of Alexandria, but through the
streets Of that venerable burg lined with doze
ing GROWERS over the failure of the costly
works (railroads) to achieve for the interests
OF Alexandria, what Alexandria fails to take
the trouble to secure when brought so within
her reach as that it may be clutched by III.
simple act of stretching out her hand. as it were
to that end.