Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-11-23

aueclallOn RDOuG 6oStOn IN favor OF most
other countries except their own was de-.
plorable condition for sef-respecting Amer.
lean citizens to be in. I asked Mr. Barbour
what he thought of Washington City and its
development He said it was unquestiona.
bly, one of the handsomest cities of the
world, and he noticed nothing abroad more
agreeable than its streets, trees, squares,
eminences, &c. But" said he, "wbile
Washington is becoming place of social
resort, there Is not much bottom there in
the way of industry or manufactures to sus
tain town. 1t depends very much upon
the attractiveness of the Government" Mr..
Barbour did not seem TO think that the
present Government was as attractive as
some others. | referredsto Gov. Hill as a
favorite amoug the New York rank and file
of democrats for the next nomination. Mr..
Barbour aaia:
i don't See how our party can drop
Cleveland aHd then nominate another New
York democrat. fla democrat from some
other part OF the country were nominated it
would he natural enough. But the refec-
lion would be too palpable to set aside one
New Yorker for another
asked Mr.. Barbour why the railroad in
tcrests he had 20 long managed had left Bal
llmore and become the property of New
York capitalists.
II suppose that Baltimore let go of the
Virginia Midland Railroad" said he, she.
cause the Baltimore holders of its securities
found an attractive opportunity to SELL
| They thought that by selling their Virginia
| interests they could build railroad to Chi.
cago, which would earn them more money.
do not understand that to have been the
case. The Virginia property they held was
of the greatest value to the city of Baltimore
because it brought into Baltimore a large
race of customers who under the present
system find their way to New York and
Northern places. Baltimore was the termi.
nation of the Virginia and North Carolina
| lines until the DanviIle combination ofNew
York men bought the Baltimore & Ohio
people out. When the elder Garrett lost
his health he lost q corresponding interest
! in the active management Of his property
! His associates and subordinates had net the
same tenacity, and SO they let 60"
| Said l. Baltimore appears to have been
afflicted with failures of late"
THAT may arise" said Mr.. Barbour,
from living too high. The normal condi
| tion of affairs in that city has been to save
money only by the exercise CT closeness and
| care. The rewards OF mercantile activity
are not as fast aud as large as in some other
cities. think" said Mr.. Barbour that
the true policy st Baltimore would have
been TO make that port a rival t. New York.
| Instead Of carrying their cargoes and goods
past Baltimore to New York, to ship them
| there is no reason why they could not have
| been sent from Baltimore direct, which is
very we'll situated toward the centers of
productions
The conversation running into historical
channels, l asked Mr.. Barbour if Thomas
Jefferson had the same influence on the
Virginia of the present day az he once had.
Mr.. Barbour said that there was no compare.
! son between the influence he exercised in
The first quarter Of the century and the
example TO the present generation. Every
thing had changed in that State, as in the
rest ofth country. The mat erial spirit, the
ambition Of individuals and towns to trade
and get rich, had completely supplanted
the old spirit Of political suggestion and
philosophy and theory by which Virginia
for period of years had been governed al
most like new faith or sect.
Not having made these notes very prompt
y, they are perhaps inadequate to represent
Alr. Bsrbour's views. 1t was plainly ap.
parent, however, that he did not admire
the combination of Mr.. Cieveland's public
qualities, He thought he was not leader
of men, nor calculated much to incite men
to lead themselves.