The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-22

ALEXANDRIA, March 21.-THE HERALD, in
venturing into this new field, has but afforded
another proof of its wel-earned claim of be-
ing paper of progressive and liberal ideas
1t is undoubtedly entitled to, and will receive,
the gratitude of all who have the interests of
this city at heart, for the love of Alexandrians
for their city is famous. The many readers
OF THE HERALD here will rejoice to know that
each Sunday newspaper will be brought to
tnelr doors containing complete enumera-
ton OF all matters of interest, both personal
and otherwise, that have happened in their
midst They will also read therein complete
enumeration of all the amusements that will
occur in our neighboring city during the en-
suing week And why notP A city of $4,000
inhabitants, at one time part of the District
OF Columbia, and not as far from the Capital
as some of the suburbs, should indeed be an
object of interest to all Washingtonians. This
been brought to their notice by the
journals. For example, the majority
of the people of Washington are igno-
rant of the fact that within twelve minutes,
inhabitants, town better lighted by electri-
city than Washington, with drinking water as
clear as crystal, and so pure that even some
of the Washington druggists procure it in bar
rels, as it needs no filterihg or distilling This
is one of our objects of pride that an mex
haustible supply of the finest water in the
world is distributed through the city in pipes,
and can be had for nominal sum- They do
not know that this city carries on a general
business OF over $40, 100000 annually. city
built on beautiful site healthy, and filled
with not merely dwellings. but homes. in the
true sense of the word, with fower-gardens
that are not only beautiful, but that allow on
the hot summer days free circulation of air.
Many whose rents take the greater part of
their earnings do not know that for much
less rent they can have a more comfortable
home without interfering in any wav with
their business In Washington. The trains and
boats run every hour during the day, and the
fare is only from one to two cents more than
the street-car fare in Washington.
The immediate result has teen to call into
existence the organization of wage-workers.
composed of clerks and workingmen whose
object is to second the endeavors of the hoard
OF Trade in advancing the city's interests.
What can withstand the united efforts of.
labor and capital? The first meeting was held
on last Monday evening and was we'll at
tended. Mr.. 5. " Rishell, in well-written
paper, explainea the objects of the meeting.
1t was proposed to organize a manufacturing
and loan association on the same plan as the
building associations, of which this city has
fourteen. There are about B. 900 wage-workers
IN this city, and small monthly assessment,
which would not be felt, would nevertheless
amount in toto to very large sum- The idea
OF workingmen becoming capitalists and em-
ployes at the same time and thus avoiding
strikes partakes, indeed, of Edward Bellamy's
theory and is quite unique. Mr. Harlow. fhe
city treasurer made neat speech, encourap
ing the workers, and read letter. in which
pennsylvania capitalist desired a site i'm
Alexandria to establish knitting factory to
employ 200 hands. Mr. F. A. Reed also
stated that four distinct schemes were on
foot to bulld the short strip of railroad that is
necessary to connect Alexandria with the
West Virginia coal fields. Two of the com
panies are already organized. This will make
Alexandria in ten years the greatest coal
shipping port on the Atlantic Coast. as If
Will be the nearest port to the coal fields.
Speeches of encouragement were also made
by Mr.. Park Agnew and Mayor Dowpham
After the meeting many subscribed for the
stock Committees were appointed for Alex
andria and Washington. There has been
fever of excitement in this city for the last
four months, and there is q general belief
that Alexandria's many advantages are at last
10 TO pe utilzed, Or In other words, that it is on
the verge of boom.
The facilities of communication between the
two cities are daily increasing and now one
can leave Alexandria in comfortable car
and reach the Sixth street depot in about one,
the Boundary.
The Board of Trade last week issued IFS an
nual reports. This shows that the grocery
business of Alexandria amounts to So 600 000
per year; year 10 Jour brick companies manufacture
about 20, 600, 900 bricks annually: the shoe fac
tory has at no time since it began Operations
been able to supply the demand for its shoes.
ana IL has monthly pay roll of 81 ,2OO the
machine shops, ETC., of the Virginia Midland
Railroad employ from $50 to 300 hands with a
monthly pay roll of $4,000. These are but
very few OF the many industries. and do NOT
include George r. HIPS large bakery and
crackery factory, G. G. Smoot's Sons tannerv
and innumerable others. The splendid renorf
opened the eyes of not only our croakers. but
even OF our progressive citizens.
The most decided step in the direction of
street improvements was taken last week
when Mr.. Louis Kraft introduced into council
resolution creating the office of city en-
gineer, which shall be filled by competent
engineer who shall have complete supervision
of the repairing grading, and paving of the
streets. Much money has been wasted In the
past, and the city has suffered from many law
suits owing to this branch of the city govern
ment being in the hands of persons lacking en-
gineering knowledge. This matter has been
heartily indorsed by all who have the city's
interests at heart. The huldng of the Wash
ington and Arlington Electric Road, which
will be extended to Mount Vernon, the char
ter having already been procured, is looked
forward to with much interest. One of the
magnificent iron steamers, City of Washing
ton, has had its trial trip, and attained
speed Of over nineteen knots per hour These
steamers, which cost $25O,000 each, will ply
between Washington, Alexandria, and Nor
men of Washington, who are residents of
this city, are looking forward to the new
steamers to be put on the route between the
two cities in June. AS these steamers will
make the distance in twenty minutes the trip
will he one M nlaeSura instead Of in1Datiapaa