Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-12-04
COMMUNICATED.
Alexandria Past :,nts Present.

Alexandria Past :ensi Present.
Poor old Alexandria," is an expression
that one frequently hears, not in spirit Of
sympathy and love, but ofrdicuIe.
1t is true that Alexandria is poor, but hers
is poverty that she is not ashamed OF, ana
her age sits as g crown upon her head
which she holds erect, with no stain Of dis
honor or reproach.
Previous to the war, from 1854 t., 1861
Alexandria was on the high road to pros.
perty Ia boo N, as it is now called. Her
coal, iron, cotton and other industries. were
emnently successful Her merchants we're
not only prosperous but were honorable.
having the esteem OF lhe communities with
whom they dealt and both retail and
wholesale were extending their limits in all
directions
-Ibe wharyes were filled with snippinc
from domestic and foreign ports, the country
around was well titled aud productive, aud
the farmers themselves were prosperous and
happy.
The city itaelf, growing in wealth and
population every year, and with spirit of
enterprise that was very laudAhIe, sub.
scribed generously to the Orange and Alex.
andrih railway (noW the Virginia Mid!audl.
the Manassas Gap railway, the Independent.
line to Manassas never completely, the
Loudoun and Hampshire railway lnow The
Washington, Ohio and WesternI, ana the
Alexandria Canal Co., III ell over one
million and 81 half dollars, from which it
expected to he reimbursed by increase Of
trade; and all Of the bright fancies were be.
ing realized, when in the spring cf 1861 the
war between the North and South CON-
menced and Alexandria became the depot
of supplies for the Union army. Her sons
had gone south, and bow they behaved,
their glorious deeds, does not make Alexan-
dra ashamed to own them.
Those citizens who were left were prison
er5 for four long weary years. The city was
enclosed by & stockade, and her citizens
were not permitted to pass the Gordon OF
soldiers unless they had pass, 10 get which
it was necessary that they should take tho
oath of allegiance.
Those who were unfaithiui 10 their trust
one can count on ones figures. Subject to al
manner Of indignliies, utsrlured with in
their religious rites and views, arrested at
all hours of the day and night Imprisoned
because they were suspected, insuiteG on
every opportunity, cXp&trated because
some spy haG garblcd some statement cr
expression, subjected 10 g syste.a Of espor.
age that made life ntolerable-such was
the experience Of poor old Alexandria. :"
Has she not been truly tried and found
faithful?
The war was over, and then what was to
be seen. The country around, that once
teemed with plenty, was desolate for one
hundred miles. Houses, fences and barns
burnt and destroyed. The railroads torn
up and rolling stock worn out or destroyed
The canal in ruin and the coal trade gone
to other cities, and its citizens without
money to carry on their former business.
The State and city bankrupt. 1t vas in
deed poor old Alexandria" All was lost
but honor. But even in her poverty there
yet remained spirit Of enterprise, and pa
tiently waiting, Alexandria has held her own
| in snite Of the obstacles thrown in her way,
and her citizens nave never lost faith in her,
but keep plodding along quietly and uuob
| trusively. Discrimination in rates enabled
Baltimore to take its former Wholesale trade,
which was in turn seized by New York
"poor old Baltimore its retail trade
has gone to the larger and more elegant
stores Of Washington.
These are facts which are beyond dispute,
and yet "Poor old Alexandria" has held lis
own in regard to population The mcrcan.
tile interests arc yearly, slowly but surely in
creasng. and the number of new buildings,
substantial, TASTY and Of modern design, iu-
crease each year. The city, pleasantly situ-
ated, high, dry and remarkably healthy, pre-.
sents the remarkable feature, that with 81
river frontage Of about six miles, extending
| from Hunting Greek 10 -Four Mile Run,
there is not spot that one Can not buiiii
except on good hard, solid, yellow clay;
| practically free from marsh or low lands, Il
bold bluff, extending all along the river
| bank in the limit above mentioned, and the
billy and rolling country west of the city
renders the site as one pre- eminent.
The streets are wide, q majority paved
with cobble stones, and many Of them
planted with shade trees; full sup.
| ply of the purest water. gas works
and the gas of excellent quality, furnished
at q less price than any other city in the
Union, all contribute to make poor ole
Alexandria" as O place of residence, no.
considering the social, intellectual and hos
pitable character Of its citizens, far beyont
in comparison to many Of the boasted huss
ma.ts. Here one can attend to ones bus
mess without the fear of dynamite bomt
exploding at ones feet, and can ley dow,
and sleep peacefully without the nervous
ness and fear that exists, unhappily, il
other and more busy cities. Times are au|
not only here but elsewhere, and when 81
compare our situations with other places
even in our own State, we see the Ugh
breaking through the clouds, and We Pr.
earnestly, "God bless poor old Alexandra
for she has tried TO do her duty honestly
honorabls and faithfully, and she will -
have her reward. RICHMOND.