Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-02-27
THE ANNALS SOF ALEX aNDEkIA.
BY W. T. CARNE
TIL K ID ) + K ES.
CHAPTER Ill.
CIVILIZATION CROSSES GREAT HUNTING
CREEK.

CHAPTER Ill.
CIVILIZATION CROSSES GREAT HUNTING
CREEK.
1890 When the last decade of the seven
tecuth century was reacked The tide of ropu
lation was steady abnve the Occ; quau, tie 10
dilns too far away to be seriously dreaded, and
as a consequence the land embraced wlthu
Howseu's pateut became capable OF being
made the permanent abode Of civilization. Ii
has been narrated 10 former chapters that
John Alexander, the purchaser OF the Howscn
patent lard dying 10 1917, devised to John
Dry 500 acres on the uppermost portion of the
patent, and gave the residue of his land to his
sons, Philip and Robert Alexander. ln Feb
ruary, $780, Robert Alexander, to avoid the
law Of entail which gave ali the lands to the
eldest SOP, confirmed by deed the molcly OF
the land devised TO his brother Philip, aud IN
1913 Philip executed deed to Robert convey
ur u him all the formers moiety save 500
acres.
As the lauds now grew to be of considerable
value, the first actual survey with chain and
compass was made sometime about 692 by
Theodorick Bland, Que of the most celebrated
land surveyors OF bis time. The line fixed by
him begun at a hicknly tree on the Darsty
land lying 90 the side 0! marsh into which
lIooti' 5 run now cmpties, which century aud
q half ago was called Vests Pocoson," and
within more modern times Pompey Gale 5
Marsh. He ran his lines in direction geuer-
ally north uu,i hereached the mouth OF wv an-
kapin" Run nearly opposite the southcrly
point of Aualostau Island, aud thence cams by
the river shore to Piper'S Island, (Jones' Point
and thence went up the creek to the beglnnl2g'
Old marked trees on this iiue were not uutre-
quenty TO be met with fifty years ago. ibis
1. Il L., i ,t ,ytf
ed between Robert ard Philip Alexander the
former taking the upper portion near Four
Mile Run, and the latter, that on which the
city now sauds, aud near Hunting Greek. a
portion of this land was leased 10 Thomas Pear
son the sou-iD.law Of Philip Alexander, and
1896 by the date of this lease We may hx the
18th day OF February, 1896, as the day on
which was begun the permanent settlements
beyond Huntiug Greek He probably cleared
the river side lands from Hunting Greek TO a
considerable distance northward and left his
name Cd the island now called DaiDgelheld's
but which all the old maps aud charters desig-
nate as Pearson's Island.
This was probably the first permanent settle
lneut in Alexandria county. Thus after much
scouting, ranging, fighting and surveying, clyi.
tiou stepped, 1896, across Hunting Creek
and commenced to clear eff the primitive forest
piSooouA
Alexandria.
The population Of the Potomac region at this
time had grown sufficiently numerous to require
what in modern days are called mail facilities
aud accordingly when public post was estab-
lished 10 l695 throughout portion OF the
colonies the route was made ''trcm Potomac
through Annapolis to Philadelphia" by this
conveyance letters could be sent northward-
eight times gear The rates being after
wards fixed by act of Parliament the people
were made to believe $50 wrote Spotlswood
aiterwards) that the Parliament could not lay
any tax-"ior SO they called rates of postage,
without the consent OF the General Assembly.
The act, however, Was put 10 force without the
consent of the people.
The same year, the Maryland plan tatons
having more than kept pace with those upon
the Virginia side Of the river, the upper por.
ton of Charles county was cut off and erected
into separate shire under the now-famlar
name of Prince Georges Connty.
lG99 At that time the Indians had all
been driven out, Baeon's relentless war upon
them in 1876 having dellv vered the tide
water Potomac counties from all danger OF
their hostility. All that remained this side OF
the Blue Ridge were more like the docile Atri-
cans, then being brought by shil-oads into
the colony than that like their untamable an
cestors. 1t is more thau probable that
remant of the Dogue Indians, on the westward
trail that formerly roamed here, passed through
Indian Thoroughfare' as Thoroughfare Gap
was then uamed, in 1915. There is no recog-
nlzable trace of hem after that year.
How TO SLEEp.-M are often asked for a
prescription for preternaturaly wakctul per
sons. The high pressure principle. On
which many of our business men work their
bralns and and abuse their bodies, begets an
irritable condition of the nerve: and morbid
state OF mind very antagonlstlc to quite and re-
treshing sleep. Such persons will often go to
bed weary aud exhausted, but cannot sleep, or
sleep dreamlly aud htfuly, or lie awake for
hours. unable to sleep at all. We have tried
many expedlents to Induce sleep, with more or
less success, aud have read of many recipes
which prove better in theory than in practice.
The very best method We have yet discovered
is that of counting. Breathe deep and slowly
without any straiuiDg efort,) and with every
expiration count De, TWO, three, etc., up to a
hundred. Some will be asleep before they can
count fifty in this mapuer. Others will count
ten twenty, or thirty, ard then forget them
selves, and cease counting. ln such cases al
ways commence again at once. Very few per
sons can count HUNDRED and find themselves
awake but should this happen, repeat the
dose until cured. = Science of Health.
The revenues ofthe two great English uni
versities are enormous. They are among the
largest land owners 10 the United Kingdom,
owning between them 3l97lS acres scattered
through England and Wales, the land being
generally of an admirable description. Their re-
Venue IRON titles is s270, 225 and from stock
shares s3O6,60O. The combined revenues 10
the wear 1871 Amounted TO So 10 OPS of which