Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-11-26


Chronicle gives the following description of
Alexandria county:
Left an almost deso!aton by the war, it
r.maioed much the same until the year 1870.
Si5oe that time its development has been al
most as remarkable as that OF the city Itself.
Particularly is this the case with that portion
extending from the Columbia turnpike uorth-
ward 90 the Cnaln BRUCE, and westward TO
.Munson's Hill This embraces 40 area of five
by seven miles presenting an almost level
plateau, sufficiently elevated above the river to
render it exceedingly healthful and unsurpassed
10 natural beauty by the envlrous of any other
city 10 the land. Substantial and attractive
homes are spriugng up all over this uoduIat-
ing plain, and the thrifty young orchards and
vineyards not only demonstrate the adapta.
bility of this region to the growth of fruit aud
grapes, but must soon settle the question OF
the importation OF stale supplies from other
quarters
ITO accomplish this, however, this whole
region should be covered with fruit trees aud
grape vines. There is no possibility of over
stocking the market with good article, and
it has already been shown that this soil and
climate produces the best 10 quality, and abun-
dant in quantity. When We eau supply the
Washington markets with sufficient quantity
of good article to keep out peaches from New
Jersey, apples and pears from New York, and
grapes from everywhere, then will the capital
city be blessed, and we be amply remuuerated.
This can be done. All We want Is lntelllgeNt
and industrious cultivators of small tracts.
There is room for many more, and lands eau
be purchased for from $50 to $3.50 per acre.
1t may be said our lands are poor-so they are,
yet no soil under the sun yields so promptly
and generously to the slightest fertilization.
Their nearness to market justi6es this.
'The region | have named is intersected It
right angles near its centre by the road leadlt &
westward from the Aqueduct bridge, and with
that running uorth and south from the Chain
bridge to Alexandria. This point of intersec-
tion was formerly known as Bali 8 Cross Roads,
but recently posof6ce has been established
there and the name changed to Balston, thus
giving il a N re euphonous name, while pre-
serving the old local identity Of the place. Mrs.
Sarah L. Collins is postmaster. The mails are
carried three times week by Lewis j. Collins,
who also has store here. A public school,
with an attendance of thirty scholars, Is kept
up ten months in the year. A new Presbyte-
ran church has been erected durlng the past
year, of gothic architecture, 2Sz4O feet. with
basement, which for beauty OF design and
finish is not surpassed by any of equal size in
the District of Columbia A new school house
is soon to be erected.
I. O. G. TAT the late session of the
Grand Lodge of the Independent order of Good
Tempars of this State, beld at Harrissouburg,
the reports of the Grand Worthy Chief Tenn
plar aud Grand Secretary showed that there are
10 the State L. ll9 members, ao increase OF 1888
during The past year. The most important SUBJ
jects which the Grand Lodge legislated upon
were the selection Of q State Lecturer, the
adoption Of resolution instructlng the Repre-
sentatives to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge
10 vote for change of the pledge OF the Sub
ordinate degree from life to membership only,
and the acceptance of the Ritual OF the "lrue
Ratormers. submitted by the Right Worthy
Grand Lodge for adoption or rejection The
balotlng for the election CT State Lecturer
was quite animated, there being five candidates
for the position. Mr. Devine, at prescott resi-
dent of Leesburg, Va, was chosen. He was q
stranger to most of the members of the Graod
Lodge, but was represented to be very earn
est temperance maa By those who knew him,
aud as being the peer of John B Cough as a
temperance lecturer. The debate on the reso
lutiou to instruct the Representatives to the
hight Worthy Grand Lodge to vote tor a
change of the pledge of the Subordinate de
gree was especially, very able, and upon call
OF the:yeas and nays when none but represen-
tatives were allowed TO vote) resulted 10 lis
adoption by vote OF Is to III.
The order of True Reformers, adopted BY
the Grand Lodge, is intended exclusively for
the colorad race. They will be uuder the su-
pervlsiou of the GraDd Worthy Chief Templar
until there are FIVE lodges organized, when they
Will be constituted into Grand Lodge, separ-
ate aud distinct from the order of Good Temp
lars.
The German Government is paying part!cu-
lar attention to the forti6caton Of Strasbourg,
aod to the garrisoniug and strength ening Of all
the forts on the French frontier.