Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-10-13
SACRED TO THE MEMORY
GEORGE WASHINGTON,

GEORGE WASHINGTON,
A member and vestryman of this parish
The other is exactly similar except tina
the name of Robert E. Lee appears. The
church is surrounded by well kept GENE
terry containing the graves of many old citi
Zens, and an inspection of the quaint in
scriptions will well repay the trouble. The
only thing modern is a mound containing
! the bones Of number of Confederate sol
diers who died in the federal hospitals ir
Alexandria during the war. The city au
thorities gave permission for their interment
within the city limits, and the Confederate
society has erected monument, and takes
good care of the grave.
The old Braddock House, q fms and we'll
preserved colonial mansion, still stands. II
is, however situated in the courtyard of the
Braddock Hotel, and is entirely hidden
from view. 1t was in this building that
General Braddock. after landing from his
ships, established his headquarters, and in
one of its wainscoted rooms, surrounded by
his lieutenants, planned bis famous and
disastrous campaign against Fort Duquesne.
Washington, then q young Virginia colonel,
was one of his advisers, but the naughty
Briton spurned his counsel. to which was
probably, in great measure, due his mem.
orable defeat
The City Hotel, an ancient hostelry, still
stands. Although now occupied as an auc-
ton house, the roomy ballroom still remains
intact, even to the small but ornamented
orchestra balcony. On the waXed floor Of
this apartment Washington and others of
the old courtly cavaliers were wont to dance
the stately minuet with the Virginia danes
of the long ago.
ls.o
Washington Lodge, A. F. & A. NJ, Wash
are still preserved and can always be seen
by the visitor.
The town suffered greatly by the war,
both financially and socially. The flower Of
the youth went South and Joined their for
tunes with that of the confederacy. With a
population of only $4,000 (now about II ,O0O)
there was raised full regiment Of Infantry
(the famous Seventeenth Virginia) and q
battery of artillery (Kempers). Many of
them found a grave on the battlefield and
the others suffered an exile of four long
years.
The town is lighted by gns, the city owning the
works and deriving profit therefrom Of about
O,00O after lighting tho streets and public
buildings. fine supply of water is obtained
from Cameron run, q stream of about the same
size as Jones falls. Before tho introduction of
water the town pumps had to be relied on, but the
water was not fit for drinking purposes, and the
writer we'll remembers how, years ago, this indis.
pensable fluid was cartcd through the streets in
large hogshead and sold at cent a psilful. The
police force is we'll disciplined and drilled, and
very effective.
The fire department consists of two cpgine
companies and a hook and ladder company. The
engines are drawn by horses, and the drivers and
engineers ara paid by the city The hose car
riages, however, are drawn by hand, according to
the old volunteer method. The department, how
ever, is equipped with all the modern improve
mcnts.
Perhaps, at some future day, the fond wishco
of the inhabitants may be realized and the town
become n great place. but it will be in the way of
a suburb Of Washington and bearing the same
relation to that city as Brooklyn does to New
York and to further this end tho moncycd people
of the town should invest in the erection of COM
Portable dwellings, The closer connection they
have with the nations capital the better it will be
for them. NATIVE