Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-02
Sold in 1868 90, lS69-'70, 1901.
Richmond l.l71,32S 1929, 236 l,306,GS7.
Alexandria | Las, IOU dol $40 65q OGI.

1870, which reduced the crops ct S0me OF Oui
customers to one fourth their annual average.
Then we received from Baltimore aud New
\ ork the salt required by our customers thu
adding to the cost the expenses OF freight aud
other charges. Now, we fluid several car
goes of this necessary article at our wharves al
the saline time, which had been imported di-
rect tromLiverpool; thus enabling US to sup
ply our customers on more favorable terms than
they can obtain elsewhere, and giving us ton,
mage to ship direct to Europe cargoes of grain
and other products Of our friends in the in.
terror.
This important business has been secured hy
| the enterprise and energy of the few of our
merchants organized as the Corn and Produce
| Exchange, BY seeking far and wide for markets
where they could dispose OF produce to the best
advantage, and thus enable them to pay such
prices as would stop in our city, a trade thai
was being rapidly drawn to Baltimore.
The following will show how
favorably the prices paid here for agricultural
products compare with those of Baltimore.
As Virginia Hour is. rated in Baltimore as
| Howard Street | compare with hat quality:
FLOUR.
Family. Extra, Super.
| Baltimore, $50 to $50, $50 To 20, Gto 6.25.
Alexandria, SS. 25toa.2 1910 7!62, 6.3ot"6.75 %.
| GRAIN. o
Wheat, Corn, Oats, Rye.
Baltimore, 100 TO l1O, 65to61, % to 81, 70 10 lo2.
Alexandria, It's TO Us, t5 to 6S, 5ito56, 30 TO 100.
Thus. Mr.. President; | have shownthe differ
| ence in our condition ana propecrs now aud
| what they We're a few years slncc: When we
We're told that the trade of our city WAS goue
beyond recovery.
If such results could be achieved by the or,
| ganization Of the few merchants engaged IN the
| grain and produce trade, what. SIT, might WI
| not hope Tor, from the continued action OF ali
of our business men meeting daily III tins hall.
whose extensive proportions are calculated t.
inspire than with TAR more exalted Ideas, thar
they have heretofore entertained iUr the future
of their city.
Mr. w. referred to and read extracts from
| the Philadelphia and Richmond Corn Exchange
reports.
la August Of the Year 1867 the merchants
and business men of Richtuond met aud adopt
ed Il preamble ana constitution Tor their organ
izatiou. Their Association was c,'mpased OF
al members ard firms from al! branches o!
business as appears by their list.
We here find commission merchants, manu-
tacturerS, lnachinistS. mllIcrs, sroccrs: banks
bankers, brokers, druggists, Jewellers, %ciothlers,
bre SerS, .tobaccOnlsiS, liquor dealers, sccu ana
implement dealers, lumber dealers, hue ana
| leather dealers, INSURANCE agents. coal dealers,
crorkcry merchants. boot, shoe anu hat dealers,
aurtioncers, railroad and steamship presidents,
| and even lawyers organizing into al association
for the general prosperity oi their city.
Showing. sir, what has been done IN other
cities. | would now ak what Is the ollecI Of
your Association? Is il only to, facilitate the
| dealings IN grain and produce. or has Ii greater
aims in view, which will give 10 A,cAaHdfla u
place where her business men VI every occuia'
| tion may daily meet for the Transaction 81 'uSl'
ness, and exchange views on %lllattcrs pertain
Ing to the general welfare oi our city ana
when 1t Is necessary demand III Il voice lila'
will be heard aud respected by ulr legislators
at Richmond, such measures as VIII conduct IL
her Interest and prosperity. :.
In furthcrance OF such a desirable Object II
has been deemed advisable TO tollow the cx-
ample OF the Philadelphia merchants aud Change
the name Of the Corn and Produce Exchange
to the more omu rrh~n$!ve one ol the Com
nlerclal Exchange.
And | would recommend that you invite into
| the Association gentlemen representing all
branches of business. ,
[ trust, sir, that this meeting will lie an epoch
In the history Of AicXaudr!a, from which VIII
date her onward mach with strides that viii
| neither taiter or slacken until we see ON
wllarvcs lined with shipping, our warehouses
filled with merchandise OF every cline, oui
work shops. with scores OF others, hIleu Will
hardy artisans, anu we able to supply oil gu!
own importation and manufacture ali KINDS u1
merchandise and fabrics to meet the require
meuts OF the people along the tXteLAv: INES
Of the various channels OF Trade winch tins c!ty
is So favored With.
With our Orange, Alexandria and Manassas
Railroad extending through the most fertile
section of our State. 10 the very borders oil
| North Carolina. and on the one hand connect
ing with others passing through the rich cotton
and rice fields of Georgia and illc Caroltnas, aud
on the other with those extending through len.
nessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana aud
Texas: With the Manassas branch trimming
through the rich Shenandoah Valley: With ON
| Washington and Ohio road extending through
another rich section Of our State to the coal tlclds
of Hampshire, thence on IL he where
it will meet the trade Of the great ON" VALLEY
and buunalcSs great West: and "lth a Gala,
running through the most tcrtlle section VI
MARYLAND to the coal fields OF The AllcgahanleS:
wherein is buried countless wealth., to be brought
to the seaboard and distributed tar ANA wide,
also affording us fuel Tor manufacturing cheap
er than ut any other polut.
| w lln all vi lucSC, anu oLhEl "tNauIoS@'' w
should, indeed, expect for this city "a business
that will require fleets of tonnage OF the largest
class, for which the deep waters Of our broad
Potomac afford such an excellent channel to
distribute TO all parts of the world, and these,
exchanged for tea, coffee, sugars, aud Other
merchandise, to be brought here and sold tt
our numerous customers far and near.
Some may say that these are but the Vision
airy ideas of an ilealist if so, [ would ask,
wherein any portion Of the picture IS toe
highly coloreN Have we not all the arteries |
have named !? Have we not IA most fertile
country. with thrifty people along the lines OF
these channels OF i trade? Have We to'
the bold Potomac with her deep channel at ON
very doors We have, sir. and lack nothing
but combined energy and enterprise and |
trust that this meeting iu~augura;csa move
ment that will speedily supply ali that is want
inc 70 make Alexandria a large and prosperous
city. - ~ ::
Ia conclusion, Mr.. President, | will again
express the hope that the company which nave
l- 80, .,nInI IN JrnNl.