The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1886-06-04
HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA.

INC passage Vi Tue Oil LOT Tree DTiuSe
connecting Washington with the Virginia
shore and the queer, historic city of
Alexandria, five miles below, opens
Hood OF "reminiscences of that ancient
mart which century ago riyaled Balti-
more. General Washington, Governor
Lee, and other prominent Virginians, in.
terested themselves in it's early develop
ment, and. at one time, many thought it
would become greater city than Balti.
more. Its claims were strongly advanced
as suitable place for the location Of the
permanent seat of the Government. A
large trade was done with the West In.
dies and some with China from Alexan-
dria, though where now stands Washing.
ton city went long trains of four and six
horse teams loaded with sugar, tea and
salt, fish, tobacco and coffee for Indiana
and Ohio. The old stone taverns are
still standing in many places along the
route pursued to the then far West. The
country around Alexandria then, for
many miles back from the river, was set
tied by the descendants OF the early
English colonists, Lord Fairfax owning a
large estate. Mount Vernon, ten miles
below was an estate of over 5000 acres,
and the Arlington estate, seven miles up
the river, contained several thousand
acres, acquired by a royal charter during
the reign of George ii. The Lees,
Minors, Bolts, Berkeleys, Fitzhues and
Dangerfields all owned large estates and
hundreds of slaves, raising large crops Of
tobacco and wheat, all of which were
shipped from this young city. West In
dia rum and fine wines were largely i'm.
ported, for all the nabobs were high liv.
ers, and spent much time in entertain.
ment and fox-hunting. But, like many
other prominent cities in the early years
of the nation, Alexandria failed to achieve
the prominence that was anticipated.
The causes were many. The channels of
trade and commerce turned in other di-
rections. 1t is now city of about fifteen
thousand inhabitants-a dull and unin-
teresting plsce-all of it's ancient glory
departed. A special object of interest is
its old Christ Church (Epscopall. 1t is
constructed Of brick brought from Eng
land, and dedicated in 1865. Here
Washington and his family worshiped
for many years, and he was member o!
its vestry. The family pew is still pre-
served in its original form. 1t has high
back and three seats, two Of which face
each other, and the third is against the
wall. Washington always occupied the
one against the wall, and it is stated that
his custom was to sit bolt upright and
face the congregation instead Of the
preacher. The plate with his name is
still on the door of the pew, as is also
the name OF Lee on the pew opposite,
which the Custis and Lee families always
occupied. The building is plain, a bell
tower in the center of the front, peaked
roof, and surrounded by the old-time
churchyard, in the English style, filled
with old crumbling headstones and di-
lapidated monuments, some dating back
$50 years. The only hotel 10 the city is
the Braddock House, good sized, well.
built, old time house, famous in it's days
for it's good table, and for the gatherings
there Of rich country gentlemen. The
rooms are still shown that Washington
and General Braddock occupied before
setting out on his ill-fated expedition that
cost the headstrong Braddock his life,
and gave the youthful Washington his
first military renown. These are the
principal points of interest in the old
town. During the Civil War Alexandria
was an important depot for supplies for
the Army of the Potomac, and every
thing was hustle and activity. The
house where Ellsworth was killed was
destroyed by large fire several years
after the war. Outside of the city limits
are still to be seen the remains OF the
earthworks and Notifications, the linger.
ing traces of the great conflict, although
there was never any fighting in the i'm
mediate vicinity, but from there cut to