Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-28
LOCAL IT z II s.

M I,h Of July, 1881, was day OF UMPIRE
inc f., interest to the citizens of Alexan-
csa7"sU shutting, as it did, the commence
u '.nt Of ''new era" IN her commercial ana
n"oonnfacturing history. On that day she
m ,;.od with her patriotic devotion, the cere-
un "n;;as attendant upon the opening OF that
NIon ,, work-the construction OF her lateral
S,,a1 These ceremonies were accompanied
'" :.t unusual spleudor and magnihcence, and
N S.,.,I :, pageant which engaged the atten-
t;nn Of thousands. g
49," ringing of bells, and the display OF
S S,D fron, the shipping. The published pro-
n' '!,,,ne assigned positions for the Wishing
Tr,on Of Cavalry: Civic Escort; Artll-
; ;O~ independent Blues and Volunteers;
inS''!',;.,nnt and Directors Of the Alexandra
d'nal Company; Civic Officers, with Plough
G ;.n,rn nv horses, and supported by citizens,
U ':.h indictments Of labor; Officers of the
,rmv and Navy; St. Andrew Society, with
LAWYERS: Mechanic, Relief, and lllbernian
SI.;aties, with strangers and citizens, all be-
~. under the command of Gen. Hunter, as
nc r;t95a5 Nv Major Duany, officer of the day,
sS~;sted by Aliutant Brent. Sixty of her
|,.t ,;tizans. mounted with blue scarts. and
o,,n,,ndel by DR.. Carson, formed an escort
s's This briliant pageant. I. +. Mason ad-
Ir.sspd the assembly. at the conclusion OF
which, the spade" was presented to John
pnbnrts Mavor of the city, who delivered
~ address, and Said-"We are assembled,
E.IInw-c;tzens, on this suspicious day, the
a.'n;varsarv of our national existence, to
Snmmnnre the Alexandria branch OF the
Cbas,ncake and Ohio Canal" He then
1hr,le ground" and was followed, in con-
cusion, by the eloquent GUSTS, who appro,,
nrjately addressed the assembly. y national
s,Inte closed the ceremonies, and our citizens
returned, u devote their energies 10 the
,,rasarution of a work 50 auSpiciously begun.
We'll have they fulfilled this pledge, and after
thirty wears Of toll and labor, have now the
nride and pleasure Of reaping the "rlpenlng
frai," of this stupendouS enterprise, IN the
r;rh minerals now 50 abundantly flowing In
upon them. u.. E
With q view to revive the recollection OF
the past, and to arrive ut II just appreciation
Of the claims Of this Improvement To our
support, an excursion upon It's waters was
projected, and formed the employment OF
we'll spent day, on Thursday last.
The "Flviny Cloud" with streamers float
mo in the breeze, Il tairy-lnoking craft
pronelled by steam, received Us, and ut the
apnointed hour, steamed away, and soon lost
us to the pleasant view Of home and trends
in the rich and fragrant foliage which lines
the solid banks Of this lovely and plctur-
esquc work.
Aspinwal! Hall. with its lofty splre; the
Seminary. with its bclfry; Shutters Hill,
Federal Hill, and the classic shades OF
Mount Ida, doomed up in the highlands be-
fore Is: whilst Lockhnrbor, Preston, Oak
Hall, Abingdon, Sunny Side, and Strawberry
Hill, spread out their green and ample heluS
beside us, inviting the eye to repo>e upon
their green and lovely slopes. and tllllng the
mind with pleasant memories OF the past
Sebastian Springs, with the ruins OF Its
Hotel, once place OF resort; the spot where
the body of the murdered Sewer was found :;
the "elparineutaI town Of Brownsville,
undertaken bv one OF our citizens; with the
Telegraph, Turnpike, Railroad River, and
Canal which meet in conjunction at Four
Mile Run, with the Aqueduct and It's stu
pendous arches, served not only to delight
the eye and the fancy, but also to awaken
the most pleasant emotions, lis we gazeu upon
the triumphs Of art and science, IN the con
structon of this great highway of thought
and avenues OF trade, all tending to the
moral, physical, and intellectual improve
lnent and development Of the race OF man.
Columbia Factory, once the scene OF active
labor, where the loom and the shuttle were
Hrard costing in its construction, in 1872
,9ore than $4,000. but now desolation; ;
with sundry brick yards, and other I'M
proyemcnts, We're successfully passed and
nur gallant steamer announced our arrival
ut "Arling ton.
40 Discussion Of Politics allo,ced here, y
on sim boards prominently displayed, at
tracted our attention, while sundry mud
machines" in the river, reminded US that
We yer. approaching the Capital, where the
counterpart OF these appropriate elnbiemS'
throwing up political mire and filth III great
abundance. can be found.
The grounds at Arlington were approprl-
atelv pledged during the lifetime OF the
venerated proprietor. to the free and unre-
stricted use Of the surrounding cities-thc
Sabbath Schools and other charities. The
remains of the odd oak" from whose an
cient roots the refreshing waters of 4 never
failing spring continue to flow; the payll-
lion, IL by - feet; the gymnasium, with
the cooling shades Of the elm, the sycamore,
and the oak, but above all the pleasing
memories Of the Old Man Eloqucnt' the
Child Of Mount Vernon, the venerable Chs
It's, the ''laSt OF the Romans, . whose feet So
often pressed the soil, in sweet and patriotic
intercourse. at Arlington. Here his patrl-
-. tln iSIr l.