Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-12-31
The city.s Business of the Wear.

The year 1858 has drawn TO close To
some it has been bright. prosperous. year,
while to others it has brought dis5 ppoint-
sorrow and death. Sill lhe hurry
and hustle of business goes On. with race
to keep in The lead, and those VINO lag be
hind are soon left and their PAGES takon By
others more fortunate. Just at this time
the merchants and business men are Gu
gagged in winding up and arranging the af
fairs of the old, preparatory 10 commencing
anew their labors'for the coming year. which,
it is hoped, will bring 20 oil prosperity,
peace and plenty. Now boUks are being
balanced accounts settled and stock inven
tories taken in order that the New Year
may be begun with a proper understanding
of the trade bearings and knowledge OF
the result of the years business.
A reporter of the GAZETTE, as has been
his custom for some years past, has obtained
from number of the leading merchants anG
business men of the city their ideas and
opinions as to the trade of the city during
the past twelve months, as compared With
the previous year. From their statements
it is evident that the general business OF the
city this year increased over that Of last and
that the trade OF Alexandria is steadily
growing. A number of the more active and
enterprising merchants have greatly ex-
tended their business and brought large
trade to the city, while others have con
tented themselves with staying in the OLD
rut and trusting that trade will come to
them. OF course these latter complain OF
the dizziness of trade, but such complaints
do the city an injustice. and reflect no credit
on the croakers who are seldom prosperous
business men,
Ia no other twelvemon'h Tor many years
past has the city done so much toehske eli
The old conservatism which has SO long
hampered her in the race With ether COM
munities, and not for mary years has her
prospect of future greatness been brighter
Considering the disadvantages under
which Alexandria labors, her proximity TO
larSa cities, her large debt, her heavy rate OF
taxation and the apathy of considerable
and Influential portion of her citizens re-
earding her own advancement her growth
is really gratifying This is strikingly shown
in one direction by the building operations
Of The year. Fully one hundred houses have
bsen erected during the year, at an expenGi
TUE Of $3.50 900, and in many instances these
have been built not to rent but as homes for
the builders.
Turning from the building operations to
tie business of the city the came advance il
manifest. It is impossible to give statistics
relating TO the manufacturing output during
{! year, or the volume of business transact
Ell. hut there il no reason 10 doubt that they
have hpen satisfactory and are increasing.
The c I'll ,ers of.he banks speak encouraRingly
of the business ofthe city and OF tSe imam
cjal standing Of the merchants, and draw
their conclusions from the facts that whereas
few years since most OF the merchants
bought on time, giving notes bearing inter
est, they now pay cash in q majority OF iD-
stances. or discount their own paper. The
banks also report large Increase OF The
volume of business which is good indica
non. TIE wholesale trade 10 -four, provl
sons, oil, hard coal, ice, drugs, dry goods
tobacco, hardware, liquor, lumber, leai her.
cbip0, glss5, &c., has considerably 10
cre a sed, many OF those engaged in such
business having largely extended their ter
ritory and aided materially in building up
the cty's trade.
The retail dealers, as a rule, have done
well and hut few will say that their sales
this wears have not exceeded those OF last.
OF course there ara a few such, but this
does not alter the case and the fact remains
that the general retail trade has increased
And why should it not? There are certain
" more people in the city now than there
were year ago and the population is steedi-
ly Increasing These require food, clothiug
fuel &c., and tee more consumers the NOR
trade.
The general heaihfnlness CT he city, its
good schools, pure water and cheSp cost OF
living are attracting attention from outside
and combine to make residence here de
srabe.
The manufacturers and mechanics, too,
have been kept busy. The manufacture
and sale OF sash, doors, blinds, leather, &c,
this year show lerge increase over those CT
last wear; the machiniss have done more
work tbs brewery made and sold more
beer, The cracker factory manufactured and
sold more goods, aud, in fact, in almost
every instance where an effort has heen
made 20 push trade it has been Successful.
There have been comparatively few fail
ures among the merchants in the city dur
ing the year, and such "a have occurred
were for small amounts, and but few others
were materially burt ny them.
A good hotel is much wanted here. and
The man who cpens and properly conducts
one would soon build up profitable BUSH
ness.
The greatest need of the city is manufao
tories. and it s believed tina! if a few were
started here, even if they were small at first
and employed but few men each, their ef-
feet would soon be felt and others would
follow.
During the gear the infect of city park
has been agilated. nut as yet no defaiie
steps have been taken in that direction.
The fact that desirable grounds cannot be
secured in or near the heart of the city
should not check the movement, but every
citizsn should interest himself in the matter
end see that during the next year the city
should possess such a desirable acquisition.
There are number of sites Immediately on
the suburbs which could be utilized Us
park, and with a proper effort the desired
result could soon be obtained.
New Buildings.
Tha city's growth during the year iust