Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-07-20
FRIDAY EVENING. .. ......JU Li %, 1871
T,IrRE's LIFE IN TIE "OLD Town" YET

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The times are unieniahly hard. Business Is at
stand. still, and labor at discount. Money
j. quoted plentiIu! in the "monltary circles,
but only obtainab!c upon government bonds, or
their OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES that people who have
daily use for ready money don hayc-ard to
the Respondent things look blue enough. Ii
it is consolatou, however, to know that our
neiyh5ors are as badly off IS ourselves, then
", should not despair, for in looking round
the same state Of affairs exists 10 every AMI ali
directions, and comparatively speaking. alexan-
dria is no worse eff than many other cities /;
indeed, everything taken ioto consideration, her
position to-day is far better than many OF which
We wot.. Her taxes are held up By some as
presenting insuperablc obstacles to her future
prosperity, while, aS compared with the bur
deus imposed upon the citizens Of other places,
they are moderate, and, with proper reduction
10 the current expenses of the municipal gov
ernmeut, they can. and will, be reduced. while
the bondholders will have no cause to complain
of the good faith ADD credit of the city.
Property all over the coustry has materially
deprecated 10 value. 10 the new and flourish.
ing cities Of the West, as Well as in the great
commercial "eentres" Of the East, the value OF
realty has "shruok' from coc third 10 ore half,
and 10 some instances even more. while here,
when forced" uader the hammer, the decrease
has not been proportionately as great. As an
Instance, in point, and t. show that this de-
probation is greater elsewhere, We observed 10
one Of the Washiogton papers, OF Sunday last,
an item stating that gentleman OF that city, a
few years ago, purchased residence 10 an
eligible location, for which he agreed to pay
$1,000 10 monthly instalments. Upon his pur-
chase be paid $1,000, but few days since be
went TO the man OF whom he bought the house,
and asked to be released from further obliga.
tons. telling him that he was welcome to keep
the s., OOJ paid; but his offer was refused, as
the previous owner considered that the property
had deprecated 10 value more than S., 900 10
the last Two or three years. This 10 Washing
ton, the Capital Of the country, and considered
one Of the safest places Of Investment in the
United States.
So far as improvements arc being made here,
we note more 10 progress than for several years.
Besides many new aod very handsome build.
ings that have bceu built and are 10 course OF
construction, We note 40 unusual number o.
houses being renovated, and in various ways
improved, and while wages are lower than for
a long time back yet workmen arc thus enabled
t. keep the wolf from the door, and prepare,
to some extent, for the winter. The trale in
grain has opened with ialrer prospects, and the
receipts, 80 lar, compare most lavorahly with
any season since the War, Will: ASSURANCES arc
given that, notwithstanding additional facilities
ard Inducements held GU. by other cities. q
greater extent OF territory will make this the
market for g7aia, than has been the case for q
long time. The lines of railroad leading here
are aiog materially, by their tariffs, 10 increas
log trade with tho country, and could the
natural expectations Of the benefits TO accr le
from 40 extensive coal trade, by the canal. be
realized, there certainly could be but little
cause fox. despondcocy, aud none ior 'croakiug.
Let oar people take m7rc hopeful view Of the
situation. and look more irtq1eutly upon the
bright side of the picture. and it will be better
for them, b., ter for the city, and better every
say. There's life 10 the old town yet