Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-02-04
ALEXANDRIA VA TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 1890

standing, haliowed msmento. Here ne
voted and came for his farm supplies. Here
be commenced bis great military career
So it would seem eminently fitting that the
road which is 10 connect the netioDsl capi.
tai With his home and last resting place
should traverse the street which De laid out
and which bears his name. Not to secure,
if possible, this Important object, and 10 al.
low, by neglect of timely and we'll directed
efforts the great tboroug hfure to pass, by
route mile or more west of the city limits,
afar from the D'anY historic land marks,
mereig 10 subaervs The private interests OF
combipntionssnd syDdicates, would be mis.
take sreiIievab.e and forever after to be de.
plored, net ouly by the people of Alexandria
but by al! travellers.
This road ~as Dot proposed as q spe culGt
i've venture ID aby sense CT lhe term. Con
gsess cid not make its LIBERAL appropriation
for ita survey meicly 10 enrich any individ
uel or corporation, aud there should be no
such unwarranted perversioDs of plane as
ore Low sought TO DC made. As every body
is interested in having broad, we'll graded
and smooth highway for easy and expedi-
tious travel, worthy alike Of the great per
sonsga whose fame it-was designed 10 COM
mem0rata, of the magnanimity Of the Amer.
ican people who are 10 construct II, and OF
the admiration of the throDgs of wayfarers
fronl all tbs regions and climes Of the earth
who will in the long generations to come
pass over it, go, think, everybody should
be as mitch interested 10 having it laid SO as
not only to command sights Of Dlang as
possible of The old colonial and other bstor-
c landmarks of tho Intervening cnunry,
and particularly of such as are iiuk With
the life of our frat President, but sso tc So
cure the most attractive views OF nsturel
scenery.
Washington street has width oi one
hundred feet. 1t is almost level from end
to end, and would be more than mile Of
the read bed already constructed and fit
for travel without cost to the national gov
ernment. 1t is we'll built with slightly
dwellings and would give the wayfarer e
view OF Christ Church edifce.
With tho national csptsl, which is fast
becoming through the magnificent prov
sions Of successive Congresses, one OF the
finest and most attractive cities of the world,
Alexandris ought TO be connected by a
grand roadway or boulevard equal to that
of PennsyIvani avenue. Such boulevard
would naturally attract to the building by
capitalists along its entire course, of hand.
some residences with autiful surround
ings, 1nd would bring to our old Virginia
town large influx of permanent dwelers
and visitors. So much briefly in regard to |
the route of the first half, or division, of the |
avenue.
In regard tothe route OF the lower half, or |
division, from Alexandria to Mount Vernon,
think there can be but one opinion with |
competent judges, whether they be precti |
cal engineers or not, after the lay of the |
lard shall have been carefully looked over
and all the Typographical features are care
fully considered
at the scutherD terminus of Washington |
street lies Great HUNTING creek, en- arm of
the Potomac. This stream has there a
channel Of less Than ons hundred yards 10
width Gaa not more than five or six feet in
depth, aud might be spanned by memo-
rial bridge and beautiful connection be
made with the opoo4ite Virginia shore,
from w5iCa there il commanded pane
ramic view OF many milss iu every direc.
ton, embracing the ci.y Of Alexandra, the |
monument the dome OF the Capitol, Semi
nary i:jge; the broad expanse of the Puto
mac, and the picturesqus shores of Mary
land beyond.
From Hunting creek on down to Mount Yer
non. distance of seven miles, route was sur
veyed and mapped out by Mr.. j. E. Sickcla, the
chief of the surveyors of the avenue association,
which, while it is very direct and lies almost en-
tirely over nearly level and sufficiently elevated
lands abounding in sand gravel and rubble for
the construction OF the road affords an almost |
continuous view OF the charming scenery OF tho
Potomac and passes through four miles of the old !
Mount Vernon estate.
dozen different routeJ might be selected for
the avenue. and By each one OF them broad,
hard and smooth wheeling surface could be con-
struc!ed, but beside these essentials important as
they are something more is desirable for this
great national highway Of the nations" Its way
unquestionably should lie so as to afford to the !
curious multitudes of wayfarers who will throng |
it from all the regions OF the earth sights of as
many historic landmarks as possible of the great |
chieftain who is to be honored by the enterprise,
and of as many pleasing views of diversified na-
tural and rural scenery as can be commanded.
1t remains to be whether not the cti- |
zens of Alexandria in view of the efforts which |
are being made to amend tho charter CT the road |
SO that it may be laid mile away from instead |
OF directly through their midst as originally con-
tempated, will tamely submit without so much |
Gs q protest agaips. a scheme which is to wrest |
from them their hirthright without giving in re- |
turn even SO much as the mess of pottage.
W. II. SNowDEN.
ANDALUsIA, Va.
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