Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-06-19
VOL. LXXV.
ALEXANDRIA.

Especial Correspondence Richmond E quirer.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, June l6 lS74.-ln
my last letter irom this place had to look
at the dark side of the picture and see what
had kept back our city. 1t will now be my
more pleasing task to speak Of what has beeu
accom- pished in the way of Improvement since
the war closed. Oae of the first things doue
upon the returo of our merchants Was to build
the small steamer Virginia, which connects
Us with the Maryland shore opposite. The
management of the Orauge aud Alexandria
railroad, as soon as put 10 possession OF their
road, which was held by Government, went to
work and put 1t iu running order TO Lynchburg
and shortly afterwards the consolidation OF this
road and the Manassas Gap road formed the
Otauge, Al, xaudria aud Manassas Railroad
and this branch wrs rapidly completed to Har-
rlsouburg u the Valley.
But | cannot tax your space to eDumerate
each aud every enterprise undertaken and ac
cumpIished by our cltizvus. TO SUN them up,
we have here now Iu the way OF commuulca-
,ion with the outside world, the Virginia Mid
land railroad formerly Orange and Alexau-
dria) to Dauville; Washington aud OHIO, to
Purcellviile, 10 l. ,udoun county, and being built
surely if not rapidly westward; the Alexandria
and Washington railroad to Washington and
connecting with trains North aud West, by
B & P and B. & D. Railroads. the A. &
+. Railroad to Richmond; the 4. +. d
+. Il. r. and Steamboat Company to
Riclmond the East Alexandria K. r., oppo-
site the city, to Baltimore via b. 4 y. Road,
freight line; the Manassas Brauch OF tine Mid
laud Road, connecting with the the valley
Road at Strausburg to Harrisonburg and Staun-
ton. We have hourly communication with
Washington by the Potomac Ferry Company,
weekly steamers TO New York and Phlladel,
phia; three lines OF steamers to Baltlm IRE, aud
semi-weeky line OF steamers to Norfolk: the
Maryland Ferry; daily steamers to Mount Yer
non aod Accotluk also weekly trip down the
Potomac to Curromau and the Potomac land
inys We thus have ample communication
with the outsidc world. As to our Internal To-
terest, we have the work shops OF the Midland
and the Washington aud Ohio railroads, from
which some of as fOe cars are tur0ed out as are
made in the Union. The Mount Vernon cot
ton factory is one of the largest cotton factories
in the State. We have three furniture manu-
tsctories two planning mills, cracker factory,
spoke factory, two snmac mills, large lager
beer brewery, three plaster mills one bone mill
large iron aud brass foundry, two boiler and
iron wotks, several corn and four mills, large
dstilIery, two soap factories, two natlooal banks
three savings banks, besides several banking
houses, broom factory, large pottery, an
extensive taDnery, wlllow-work factory, aud
two daily newspapers, a weekly religious paper
aud monthly literary and home journal, TWO
successful building associations, two lime kiDs,
and ship yard is being started; also, num-
Der of minor Industries witch can hardly be
styled manufactures, yet affordng work for skill
ed men and women. The city has increased iu
population several thousands. Business gen!
orally is as good as In other localities Over
$1,000, 900 has been spent in buildings, and each
year new interests are started. With all these
land this letter gives but slight idea of the
extent of our work. slgus of prosperity it seems
absurd to talk or write Of dead town.