The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-08
manuscripts VI IN Old 1aehelsr.--Ks II,
RrNINtscKNcEs oF ALEXANDRIA

i. manuscripts VI IN Old 1Ashelsr.--xs II.
Hrx1stscKscEs ~ ALEXANDRIA.
'Stare super Was antiQwes."
Aess nave . talk about the old streets and the
OLD roads. Frees 1raasla:io~.
lbavs been much insJsss,ea, in mn ,.t I
rambles oystSfhs towss ID, CON pairing ~
appearance Of tho ..rds am houses, Wild
what Irecolltct OF them, more than thirty
yesrs ago. Save in PORTIONS of King street,
and in the Northern suburbs, there is not q
great deal Of difference. And, as to the
pavemsnts, sides and centre. they are 60
like what they used to be. that can actual.
~ see identical breaks still remaining
which We remember when las boy
and that is a, long time ago. King street
had always = very bad road way--and, it is
NV, from wear and tear, worse than ever
but the other s.reets remain pretty much
"in statu quo" h..'
The names Of the streets in Alexandria
have often puzzled strangers. as to their
origin, and in consequence of their apparent
Jumble of homogeneous nomenclature. But
in truth, the names Of the streets are of
themselves only brief history of the old
town, and every way appropriate. The
town was laid out and commenced when the
States we're British Colonies-and, hence.
as was very natural, the streets were named
after British titles or British statesmen or
generals:-of course, the first built up was
called KING-the centre and chief-then Us
the tS%o extended and increased, there were
added, Royal, Prinse, Duke, Queen, prin.
cess, &c., &C.; then Fairfax, Pitt, Cameron.
Wilkes, Wolfe, &c-Then came the Reyo-
luton, and as the town expanded, the new
streets gave ON opportunity to have them
honored with the names OF our own distin-
guished men-Washington, and Franklin,
the two widest Patrick Henry, Montgome-
~. Jefferson. &C., &C. Columbus, as the
discover Of the continent, had a street in his
honor-and when the Constitution of the
United States was adopted, Union street was
added to the list tho street nearest TO the !.
FLYER when tie town was first laid of was !
Water, subsequently, the made land, and
The filing up Of the shores of the river gave
room FOR another, which took, as have said.
lie name Of Union. ! remember tina. some E
years ago. gentlenaan' in . crowded assem- ?
bly,, in some popular speech, which wa. re- !, \
'eived with great relish, for the most part. !.
ouched upon the names Of the streets, and
q s'rather ad captanaam manner, objected u
y them, and proposed, at least for consider
Mon, the project IF substituting for them a a
thor nsmes-such' as Presidents tor King "
Republican for Royal, and 50 on. mingled -
nth the crowd. sitter he had finished, and 10
card tho subject discussed. It was q Zeal CT
Alexandria crowd Almost to a man, thew
Or. Is much anti lnonsrchissi,is as to
ur speaker; vs. love our country 4 as much vi
> he does--ws are as much opposed to the 80
,stitutions Of royalty VI he is-bus .'names mi
70 not thing the nameS Of which he a.
peaks were given to our streets by our faith 10
9, who wsss true aud good men; whether nS
ssbjeets Of King George, or citizens OF ma
irgiuia- .h;Sy represent the changes ID in our al
Of them were TO the honor Vi .rc
eat men--snd, therefore, %. say nothing tai
'cut the inconvsniencs and confusion Of 81
wans~no change, and will w. W,
We no cbahks."a The ,ubjees was never AZ
ain preached. IT,
Edo mos see that, Of late years, the town =. .a'
sle1tended much in any direction, except 0 "0
the Nhr,h end, towards the Canal. The ..ec'
ut Of tho '.bailt up part" in that direc. nsa
. wssi the street at the cornor of which 'ne
:. Lee and>Mr. Fsndall ived-for Mr.. tne
'sns's honss vas beyond The town, and op. yea
Dits to thatswas the old Muster Ground '"o'
zee the time Of which speak the Cotton ss'-
story has been srected--and some rows sie'
small holses built. farther on up the ape
lsbing ton Rosd. AT tina South end, the Oh
~ has rather shrunk than iacreaseds- oer
q, beautiful cottages belonging to the now
shers Hamilton, On what il called the nan
aptising Hin" have disappeared --other r rec
dences in shat neighborhood have, also, lew
. DOWN. TIE once beautiful Mall, at the -''
N and f,fIEoitf,v Stsnat .v:kh NeVe