The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-04-19
ALEXANDRIA'S NEEDS.
IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD BENE-
FIT THE CITY.
Candidates Astir as Election Time APP
proaches-Costly and Useless Expert
ments-The Chain Gang-The Social
Season Over.

Correspondence of THE SUNDAY HERALD.
ALEXANDRIA, April Is, 1S91.-As the day of
election approaches numerous candidates are
coming forward to solicit votes for the munich
pal offices. Judging from the number of can
didates, this city ought to be able to select
government that would bear the closest criti-
csn,. At present the only candidates who are
announcing themselves are those whose nom-
nations win be subject to the primary election
of the Democratic party. Those who stand on
the Citizens or Independent ticket do not an
nounce themselves usually until the Demo
cratic primary election is decided. This has
been thought by many mistake, as number
of voters enter the primary election and are
pledged to one party simply because they do
not know what men will be brought forward
by the opposing ticket. 1t is to be hoped that
on both tickets will be found only those per-
sons who will pursue liberal policy as le-
CARDS AleXandria's interests
The money that has been squandered by
past councils would have placed the streets of
Alexandria in much better condition than
they are at present In the past five years
our streets have been much improved, but
more especially in the past year. The people
now demand good streets, and a small special
tax levied for that purpose would not be felt
u
source of pleasure to all. The particular OBJ
ject in view now is the establishing of the
office of city engineer. AS long as the super
vision of our streets is placed In the hands of
incompetent persons just so long will the
money that is appropriated for the
streets be squandered. The first step
should be taken in the direction of estab-
fishing grade for the CITY, Property y-own-
ers scarcely feel like improving their
property before legal grade has been es
tablished. Unfortunately, past councils have
been too willing to experiment where expert
ments were unnecessary and slow to profit by
the experience of large and more successful
corporations. Not long ago, when the gas
plant needed thorough repair and partial re-
newal, in seeking for new ideas, such cities as
Washington and Baltimore were passed by.
Following the example of some small almost
unheard-of town, our Solons thought it neces-
sary to experiment upon the manufacture of
gas from oil. The result is well known, but
the cost of the experiment will never be made
public.
Another practical reform would be the ap-
pointing of police commissioners, and remove
from council branch of the city government
that is rendered subservent to political pur-
poses. The example has certainly been set us
by all the larger cities One would suppose
that with Washington City as our neighbor
we would be able to find cheap and at the
same time excellent paving for our streets. If
our sages thought proper to send a committee
to examine the streets of our sister city they
would find every sort of street from graveled,
| macadamiZed, and Belgian block even to we'll
laid coblestones. The graveled and macada-
| mized streets of Northeast Washington are de-
| cidedly preferable and probably much cheaper
| than our cOblestones.
| For this purpose our chain gang could be
| utilized to great advantage. 1t has been the
! custom in the past to send this illustrious
! body OF gentlemen upon the streets, when the
| members did not object, to rake up the dust
| in u leisurely and lackadaisical manner, occa-
| sionally stepping TO the sidewalk to take
| drink OF water and beg the passer-by for a
dime, which is spent In glass of whisky or
| tobacco Upon leaving the jail at the expira-
| tion of their sojourn they were presented with
| new suit of clothes and almost invited to re-
| turn again, for certainly such treatment places
| a premium upon crime. How much better
might this class be shut up in the jail walls
and set to breaking stone, with which we
| could soon have nicely macadamized streets at
| a nominal cost.
Thanks to the numerous building associa-
| tions, hundreds who before took but little in
| terest in this city, now being property-owners,
| will not permit such gross Encouragement
| There are many practical reforms and meas
| ures now brought to the notice of the people
which have been rendered absolutely neces-
| sary. The extension of the streets in the
| northwest section is now necessity, owing 10
the great scarcity of building lots in the WELL
| paved portions OF the city. This fact has
caused the subdivision of the land northwest
] of the city, which lies beautifully for the pur-
pose. This property known as the Northwest
Improvement Company's lands has greater adj
vantages than any land around Washington,
owing TO Its contiguity to and close communi-
cation with that city, as well as to the fact
that the duly accepted survey of Mt Vernon
Avenue passes through the property, as will
! also the Washington and Arlington Electric
| road.
1t is with reluctance that the winter gaietes
are surrendered by society here. However, the
| boating, tennis, and other summer associations
are now preparing for the warm weather and
| dancing must yield to the season.
A ''bal poudre' will be given by the ladies Of
this city next Wednesday, and this will prob
ably close such pleasure for the season. Under
the preset management il must prove great
success and the event of the season. Mum
bers of visitors from every section Of the eOun-
try will be present.
The Presidential Itinerary.
Mr. Robert A. Parke, OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad, sends neat pamphlet containing
the itinerary of the Presidents tour to the
Pacific Coast The covers are of stiff white
| hain tad wit a