Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-09-11
LOCAL H E NJ S.

COMMERCE OF ALEXANDRIA, y mere are GET"
tain localities, which nature points out, as seats
of commerce. Such point is always to be
found at the end Of water communication,
making inland connection with the ocean,
where the same is suitable for large vessels
Such a point exists at Baltimore, and conse"
auently great city has grown up there. The
same causes which have made Baltimore, also
exist to make Alexandria a great city Alex
andria is at the head of sea navigation on the
Potomac. We say sea navigation, because the
channel of the Potomac above Alexandria, is
so difficult tor vessels that the true head
of navigation is Alexandria. The Potomac is
more a great arm of the sea, than river, the
largest men OF war finding no difficulty in coming
up to Alexandria. This city is as we'll adapted
in every respect to be the point of export and
import for the great Northwest, as Baltimore.
1t is only necessary to do for Alexandria what
has been done for Baltimore, to make her a
great city. The thing that has made Balti-
more is the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
give Alexandria like connection with the
Northwest and she becomes a great city. 1t
requires but few miles of railroad to connect
the Hampshire and Loudoun road with the Bal
timore and Ohio road at Harper's Ferry and
Alexandria is in continuous anddirect connection
with the Northwest. 1t would seem, therefore,
that there is great future for Alexandria,
But without waiting for this railroad connec-
ton with the Northwest, Alexandria is now
entitled by her location to be the exporting and
importing city for region of country lying
near her, and for Washington city. The bet
ter to exempify this subject, vessel arrives at
Baltimore with a cargo of coffee from Rio de
Janeiro; there is the expense of drayage from
the ship to the warehouse, storage of same,
and the commission on the sale; and so far as
the Washington people are concerned, there re-
mains to be added the cost of transportation to
Washington, of twenty cents per 100 lbs. 10 OBJ
viate these charges it is proposed to import
coffee and sugar direct from the places of their
growth and manufacture, to Alexandria. The
saving in cost, and consequently the additional
margin for profit. as compared with the Balti-
more importer, are shown by the annexed
statements. These charges are invariably
incurred before the goods are shipped from
Baltimore to Washington; and therefore by
shipping coffee and sugar direct according to
the annexed statements, there would be clear
gain OF ST, $50, upon an outlay of $l64, 900. 1t
is to be presumed at least that vessels could
be chartered at the same rates to bring coffee
to Baltimore or Alexandria. When in addi-
ton to this, we take into consideration that
goods are shipped from New York and Balti-
more, via Washington, to all the country stu.
ated between Knoxville and Washington, the
magnitude Of the business which might accrue
from the undertaking above mentioned, cannot
fail to arrest the attention of any Observer
Alexandria would thus become base of sup
plies for all the country situated between
Knoxville and Washington, and if success at
tended the primary efforts, direct importations
Of other goods would speedily follow, and the
foreign trade would, as necessary consequence
grow with the increase of the population of
the city and neighboring country.
Statement Snoring saving ON import Of coffee
from Brazil to Alexandria, instead Of via
Baltimore
1000 bags of coffee, each bag carry
ing averaging 100 lbs, $40 600 lbs,
at zoe per lb..... 1913 600 90
CHARGEs.-Drayage and
storage, SC per bags 200 60
Commission on sale, per
cent 9S4O co
Fire Insurance. per ct... 500 90
Expenses shipping from
Baltimore to Washing
ton, drayago &c per bag. 40 Oh
Freight from Baltimore
to Washington, zoe per
100 lbs on 640000 lbs. 1880 90
GS EG0 90