Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-25
LOCAL NEWS.

WEATHER War Depart.
meut Office Gfte Chief Signal Officer, Wash
,nqton, d. G., january 25, lS76-lO:3O a. M.
For the Middle States partly cloudy or clear
weather and slowly rising temperature. with
South to West winds and falling barometer.
The FIREMEN's PARADE. The sub com
mittee OF arrangements Of the Firemeu's Con
~veption met last at the Hydrauiion engine
house.
The committee appointed to see about pro.
curing a hall, reported that Mr.. Wm. Cogin
would furnish Sarepta Hall free of charge ex-
cept %janitor's fees.
It was resolved to recommend to the Con-
v~ention that all trades and organizations de5lr-
ing to do 50, be invited to JOIN 10 the process
siop GU the 22i of February; also that three
carriages be procured for the use of the orator,
invited guests, &c. :,
The following communication was received
from VIM. Kilgour, esq:
ALEXANDRIA VA, Jan. "a 1876.
Henri Strauss esq. member Of the COnaMattee
on arrangements Of the Fire Department:
DEAR SIR:-l have observed through our
city papers that your committee have deter
uiDed upon me to deliver a 'Centennlal ad-
dress 90 February 22d.
This mark of confidence and honor, coming
for a second time in the short space OF three
years, and from so large aud intelligent a por-
ton Of the community, is d compliment OF
which I feel proud. Feelings of d~cllcacy, how
ever, even though circumstances did not inter
veDe to prevent, suggest to me the proprlety
of declining the honor.
You will therefore present to the committee
nv uon-acccptancc accompanied with my CRATE
iul acknowledgment.
I thought it best to communicate this action
| mittee would hold a meeting tonight, and
thus save any delay to the full perfection of
their arrangements Tor the 22d.
With respect,
VIM. KILGOUR.
Mr.. Kilgour's declination was accepted and
D. l. Smoot, esq, was nominated to the Con-
| veDtlon for orator.
After directing a report OF their proceedings
to be made up for presentation TO the Conven-
| ton the committee adj ourned.
ARLINGTON TURNPIKE N THE BRICK
YARDs.-For Dearly two years the Arlington
turnpike, from Fort Ruoyon to the canal bridge,
has been 10 an almost impossible condition,
caused by the cut ing dowo of the road bed.
1t appears that 10 March, 1874, Messrs. W.
H. West & Bro, J. w. Woodward, Amos
Wood ward aud Joseph Heiner, brick manufac
turers, entered toto a contract with the Airing
ton Turnpike Company TO cut down the road
bed from the canal bridge tc Fort Ru0yon for
the clay, 10 such a Way as not to obstruct travel
on the road, The southern portion Thirty feet
wide) to be first GU down, during which time
the other halt of the old bed to remain for
travel, and be protected with guards 10 pre-
road, and to complete the cutting down and
gravejipg within one year from March, 1874.
The road bed has been cut down and the clay
made into bricks, and the bricks used in the cree
ton Of some Of the finest buildings III the city
of Washington, but the road has been left 10
al almost impossible and dangerous condition.
Oo the north side of the road several deep ex-
cavations have been dug AID left open, also
several deep pits dug. from which gra7et is be-
ing daily removed, but no light is put near the
holes at night to ware the stranger OF the dan
ger Of driving or falling into them. On the
south side the mud is from one to nearly three
feet deep. The brick-yar1 men appear 10 be
the only persons benefited by the cutting down
OF the road bed, while the real estate IN the
neighborhood has been damaged nearly fifty
per cent by it, aud strangers wishing to visit
the national cemetery at Arlington are unable
to go by the way of the Long Bridge, the only
free bridge crossing the Potomac, and are
therefore compelled TO 60 By the way Of the
Aqueduct Bridge, which is also considered IN
a dangerous condition.