Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-25
VA.
FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1873

ALExANDR1A.-A writer in the Loudoun
ENTERPRISE in an article on Alexandria, IN which
he speaks of the apparent Aourishing condition
of the city In lS47, when there were more
vessels than there are now, more commerce,
and more manufactures, such as the making
Of Locomotives" &C., goes on to say
Upon abiding to these facts, citizens reply,
Eyes, but We, in this section have passed
through a long and fearful war which has RUIN.
ed u.s." But you are not ruined unless you
choose it to be so. You have your old natural
advantages Of soil, climate, geographical posi-
ton, and fine river. 1t only needs energy, en-
terprise, combination OF effort, to bring about
a larger prosperity than was ever before known
in Alexandria.
For Instance no Alexandria owned vessel
earns freight on the Potomac river. Vessels
built aud owned in Maine and New York, come
TO the Potomac river TO carry the products OF
the soil and forests of Virginia back to New
York and New England, to the West Indies,
&c. Why would it not pay the men IN Alex.
andria to do as they do IN Maine-iorn JOINT
stock companies to build vessels tor the trade
of their magnificent river.
If it pays in New York.to form joint stock
companies to manufacture agricultural lmp!e-
meuts TO be sent to Alexandria as a dlstrbut-
ing point, why would it not pay to give employ
ment TO your own population, and manufacture
them? All the material is readily accessible.
The only capital needed is enterprise, energy
and combination CT effort.
''Eor all practical purposes Alexandria Is at
the head of navigation upon the Potomac river,
and by her situation is intended by nature as
great distributing as well as manufacturing
point. St. PAUL Minnesota, is somewhat siuul-
iarIy situated, at the head of navigation on
the Mississippi. St. Paul is surrounded ny a
fertile country hut its productions are limited
by the severity of the climate, and her water
COMMUNICATIONS are closed by ice for five mouths
in a year. To 35 years she has grown from u
town of three inhabitants to one OF 2',O0O
She has ten railroads centeriug there with an
aggregate length of ,, $50 milcs-wlth 40 trains
arriving and 80 trains departing daily
The buildings put up in 1872 amounted IN
cost to 81, SAC, 49,, and ten real estate agents
sold over . millions of dollars worth of prop
erty. The strictly wholesale houses sold IN
1872, goods to the amount OF over seventeen
and a-half millions OF dollars, and the Banks
sold exchange to the amount OF thlrty-three
millions of dollars, and her manufactures sup
port over two thousand mechanics in constant
employ. All this has been achieved by comol-
nation and cooperation among her people
What St. Paul has done and is doing Aexan-
dria can do by Continued combiued aud hopeful
effort
alexandria has many natural capabilities
over ST. Paul, in much mildcr climate, more
varied productions in her back country, infinite
ly greater mineral productions close at hand,
easy access to the sea- more valuable timber, in
immense quantities, only needing railroad ex-
tension to be made available for manufactures
and ship-buildiug.
If the citizens of your goodly Virginia town
will only arouse themselves and combine, CO.
operate and act, she would 5000 outstrip St.
Paul in the magnitude of its commercial man
ufacturing, and banking transactions. That
this great good may soon happen is the earnest
wish Of TRAVELLER