Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-03-17
Alexandria.

A correspondent of the Chicago Land Owner
gives the following account of Alexandria.
Alexandria, Va, is situated on the Potomac
river, six miles below Washington city. The
river is navigable to this point for ships OF the
largest class. The river in front OF the city Is
forty five feet deep and one mile wide. The
harbor is one Of the best in the nltcd States
and has front Of nearly two miles. We have
water communication with every part Of the
world. The city is regularly laid out in squares
of two acres each, the streets running at right
angles, due north south; east and west.
| For many years Alexandria formed part OF the
District of Columbia 1t was ceded to the
| United States, by the State OF lrglnla, IN
100, and remained part of the District until
about the year 1916, when, by petition OF the
State and citizens, she was retroceded. During
the fifty years she formed Il part OF the Dis
trct she made no advancement in popul aton
and lost most Of her valuable trade and com,
merce by the building OF the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad from Baltimore which tapped
The ,,' rraat and productive valley of Virginia,
a , tiftv miles west Of Winchester, and the
Central. now the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road, which was built from Richmond. 1t
struck the valley ut Staunton about one hun
lred miles south of Winchester. These two
rrcat roads stripped us Of nearly all the most
valuable trade In 1916, when retroccdcd to
Virginia. We had population OF 1000 As
soon as We obtained representation III the STATE
LEGISLATURE, We at once set to wcrk to regain
our lost trade, by applying for charters 10 build
railroads.
The first charter was obtained for the Orange
! Il Alexandria r. r., designed totap the CheSa-
peakc l. Ohio at Gordonsvie, lightweight
miles from Alexandria, and crossing 1t and eX
tending to Lynchburg, one hundred and ninety
miles, there connecting with the lrglnla ant
Tennessee and the South Side Railroad. Thu:
line has been completed and is now being cx
tended to Danville and will there connect witt
the North Carolina Railroad, and give uS ;
connection through the Southern and Western
States from the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. -
Next is the Manassas Railroad which Is com
pctcu to HarriSonburg, one hundred and forty
miles. and HOW runs through the best farming
sections of our State. Then the Georgetown
Washington and Alexandria. which Is com
pIct ID. The Washington and Ohio Railroad,
starting from this point and destined to run t
=. Point Pleasant on the Ohio river. The Who'll,
line has been surveyed and nearly fifty miles Is
in running order. This road will be Of great
Importance to Alexandria and this section, j.
we'll as to the West, forming. Us 1t will; al all
line road in connection with the Pac!llc anu
other roads. the shortest line from the tactic
to the Atlantic oceans starting at San francisco
and touching at st. Louis Cincinnati and Other
important Western towns on the line
The following is a table Of distances iron
Cincinnati and Chicago TO .Alexandria anc
:, Washington City. as prepar.cdly the engineer:
and presented to the Chamber of Commerce O
Cincinnati by their committee. and ad"pted, by
them 1t their meeting in October last. emiors
ing this route. -.
Approximate distances from Cincinnati by
railroad. to various SEA board town>:
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