Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-02-20
Alexandria.
From the Richmond Times.


Alexandria has always been known Tor
her conservative policy, rather than for
what some term goaheadatiVeness. Many
say she s slow, and even dead. Washing
ten is to Alexandria very much what Rich
monG is to Manchester, while In this In
stance Manchester has an advantage over
Alexandria by being, not six miles, DuS only
one mile distant Such AeXanGrisns as
John P Agnew & Co., Frank Hume, Col.
D. A. Windsor, Harry Stamford, Alfred G.
Uhler. F. A. Reed & Co, Francis Hufty,
Glenn Brown and Wash DanenhoWer com
prise some of WashingtoD's principal bust
ness firms, and tho several thousands others
who are engaged at the uavy yard, ia the
manufacturing concerns, general and gov
ernment Offices, banks and work in various
trades tinsmth and iron workers, painters
and printers, ETC., etc, must maze them
YES felt there instead of at home, and they
must spend something there as well as In
Alexandria, their people prohtng now while
hey would not if Alexandria were distant.
Alexandria, however, holds her own. Her
people may seek their fortunes elsewhere
and finc them, agd rscoros have it that In
some time or ether drift back. No gigantic
enterprises have struck Alexandria lately.
Recent Industries completed here are the
iaree tannerY of Messrs @. G. Smoot Sons,
which gave employment to upwards OF 100
meu II was destroyed by fire year OF so ago,
and owing to their having branch tannery
al Sperryvilie. Rsppahannock county,
was not rebuilt, but has besn improved
considerably lately, all the watts be
ing now il use and new machinery ia being
put up as fast as their needs demand it.
Their annual out put is several hundred
thousand hides of oak slaughtered leather
cf superior quality, per annum. Sixty odd
men are now employed by this concern,
which is composed entirely of Alexandrlans,
G. 9. Smoot, grandfather CT the present own
ers, starting the place in 1920. The Capt.
tai Brick concern, with works on Hunting
Creek at "Broomlaw," was closed couple
OF years ago, and owing to the financial com
plicatious, the owners, Northern men,
headed by Senator Sawyer, of Michigan,
ceased work. Messrs. Park Agnew and M.
3. Harlow purchased it week or 80 ago,
and have about fifty men at work at this
writing, and four machines going. This Is
TO be increased. The works at the outlet
locks of the old canal have recently started
I'D again, Messrs. Miller & Roste having
purchased the plant. They had thirty tive
men aud boys st work yesterday. These
works have machines. l think II, 900 is the
number machine turns opt per working
day. The brick works of Col Windsor, ct Fol
Rupyan, are being improved, about $780,
600 is being expended in his work. Ii is un-
derstood that Cen Wm. Malone is interest
ed ia this. The National Compress Brick
Company, and Columbia Company, just be-
low, are working steadily, giving employ.
ment to hundreds, principally negroes, who
live around Arlington township. Messfs.
Corbett & Yohe, who have BRICK yard out
near the Catholic burying ground near
Hunting Creek, have recently put IN ma
ohnery of improved pattern, and are WORK
ing good many hands. Building in Alex
andra and the suburbs since last fall has
been steady, and during the gear there have
been more tenament houses erected for spec
ulative purposes than in any other ilke
period since the war. Rents here are cheap
er than ia Washington aud the cost of living
is said 10 be less. Communicative rates be
tween Alexandria aud, Washington by train
are ten cents each way with reductions for
school tickets and family cards; by ferry
ten cents each way. Boats run hourly
during the day, and there are twenty -four
passenger trains on week days. The Alex-
andria Fertilizer aud Chemical Company
was started last year, running the old Lee
plaster mill o. Princess street and the brick
mill on Union street, turning cut about one
hundred tons of fertilizer and plaster per
day. They are now erecting an annex l0ox
Sc feet on Princess street near the Midland
freight yards. Il will be as feet high and of
three stories when completed. and will doubt.
less increase their buaness considerably.
They get their material principally from
Charleston and the West, The plaster
comes to this city direct from Nova SEQ
tia. Messrs. William a. Msy & Son
have increased their facilities for manufac-
turing plows and castings of late, and
Megsrs. Curtin & Butts have purchased the
old Jameson & Collins foundry for their
purposes. They run the Old Leatherand
foundry. The proposed railroad aud street
car lines between here and Washington and
Mount Vernon are as yet only On paper.
The Isesc Harter Milling Company Of Fos-
tcria, Oaio, had representative here some
time ago, end recently one of the firm wrote
here for further particulars regarding In
ducemeuts for locating here. The citizens
will dc their part in the matter when the
time comes. Some months ago the Board OF
Trade. which was formed last fall with
membership of $50, and patterned after the
Richmond Chamber Of Commerce, sent a
committee to Massachusetts to try and get
some Lynn shoe neu TO locate here, several
of whou had been looking around here for
suitable sites. Mr.. g. Powell Hill, formerly
of Richmond, has been active in the matter.
He recently offered to take $4,000 worth of
stock in shoe factory if the citizens would
pony up, 100, and have Mr.. +. Patf take
charge of the concern. The freight
traffic of the Midland road so increased
last year as to require the removal of the
freight yards to the Loudoun yards, aud
two large sheds, in addition to the large
freight house of the old road, are now going
up. The new freight house and platforms
of the a. and F. road has been mentioned.
Some more street improvements are being
considered by the council committees. A
fire alarm system, on the plan Of the Game.