Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-05-09
Pushinr to the North

ington-not quite seven miles lopg-over
which forty or fifty trains pass daily. Tha:
this would eventually be the csse was fore.
seen nearly forty years sgo by the late Col.
French end his cosc jutora when they con-
csiyed and built the first railway between
the TWO cities The trains Of that primitive
road would be curiosity In museum now.
The engines vera about OF the calibre BE
those used on the New York elevated rail-
wave, with the exception that the latter
ba7e two driving wheels. while those on
the former had but ore and the tenders we're
of the sizs of dry goods boxes; the baggage
cars were about as large as furniture wagons
end the passenger coaches held nearly as
nany people as street cara. The seats were
arranged in the same manner as the latter,
the passengers peing compelled to face each
other on benches running the entire length
Of the cars, and the rattle end shaking pro-
duced while in motion made travelling on
them NEARLY as comfortable as In carts. The
road was built OF scsntlings, upon which
strips of iron were secured and the corner
of St. Asaph and Princess streets was the
southern and the South end Of the Long
bridge the northern terminus. Arriving 81
the latter passengers We're transferred from
the cara TO omDibuses, and after torturlng
ride over the bridge lin winter as uncom-
Portable as trip TO Sioeria) they were land
ed at their OF jective points in Washington
or taken 10 the B. g. O. depot for another
transfer to north-bound trsine.
The war coming on this excuse for rail-
road was abandoned. and the military su
thorities needing something more stable for
he transportation of troops and supplies,
without leave or license constructed road
between Washington and Alexandria Of q
more substantial nature, not stopping at the
southern bank of the Potcmec, but running
the road across the river and into the capt.
tai city. They siso diverted the course OF
the track from St. Asaph junction and laid
rails down Henry street TO Duke, where q
connection YVES made with the Virginia
Midland, then known as the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad.
The road thus built to meet the contin-
seuc!e of the times has been continued ever
s,ncs, aud, as suggested above, 1t has now
passage TO aud fro Of trains between Lie
four great sections ofthe oountry-the North,
South, East and West. Ia the Last twenty
years this great railway has been tapped
Tor the benefit OF other equally important
COBu6CilUucf huu lulOuBa DCbWCCu
New York, Cincinnati and all points West,
Florida, New Orleans, Texas, Mexico and
California rattle through Henry end Fsyette
streets daily.
Now. while on this sui act, 1t may not be
ipopportune to sag few words to those
generally respectable but illogical fossilsl In
regard to the advent OF the iron horse and
the disappearance of the country wagon. 1t
ia of said thot in fha oar 6aya Alley.
aadris, when her commerce was dependent
upon wagons and pack mules that there
gas more thrift than at this time, when the
steam Car mooopolizss everything. We
never could see the logic Of euch reasoning.
l. takes money to build, equip and operate
rslroeds, and wherever they are extended
they are sure to produce some lasting good.
Oae RAILROAD clone centreipg 10 this city
pays about $500, 600 a year In the way OF
salaries to employees living In Alexandria,
which sum alone is probably fer In excess
of the entire ooun try wagon trade CT by-gone
days.
But we are strsying from our subiect. The
object Was to demonstrate that our city has
bsen in the past, and vii! be much more in
the future, benefited by being situated on
this great railway artery and only seven
miles from Washington. This short stI reich |
of track now has about six stations on 1t, |
and the local trains stop and start up al
most at the same intervals of street cars, |
while throughout the entire road houses are |
springing up almost like magic. Now, who |
cau gainssy or resist the assertion that with |
Ia very few years Alexandria's limits will |
embrace the entire area between Husting |
Creek and the Long bridget Already jack |
son City, at the latter place, Is growing |
amaz ngly, while two or three miles further |
south Brickbaven (Waterloo) is assuming !
the dimensions OF town, and our city is, in |
the meantime, making rapid strides to the |
northward in endeayors to smaIgamate into |
one corporation the towns and villages push
Ing their limits southwark.
The removal Of the local depot from St. |
Asaph street, deplorsd at the time by many
has proven advantageous to
Inc city instead of deteriorating from her,
as was supposed. Il is true, numbers we're
and some i'll are Inconvenience by having
10 walk to Fayette street when desiring to
board the trains; but the fact Ia apparent to
all that had the depot remained In the old
locality the growth Of the northwest portion
Of the city would have been materially re-
.arded. ST. Assph street was already built
up and lost nothing by the change, while
he fslds and commons of tie northwest
we're benefited by 1t. Hence, all things have
worked together for good.
The rapidly increasing demands OF travel
and commerce will not tolerate the present
bridge over the Potomac long. This struc-
ure will 10 the early future be compelled to
give way to Som sthing Notwithstanding
lat will need no renewal and be imprsgn a
Die alike to Ice and food. When this shall
lsye been done, and already the plan Ia 10
Ia embryonic state, additional trains, horse
.srs and other msansIof transit, rapid and
may be reasonably expected.
Ssw boats. 1t lie said, will also bs placed on
he ferry line shortly.
Alexandra (city ard county, presents g
'eautiful stretch CT country for about eight
niles on the bsaks OF Que of the grandest
ivsss in the word Situated upon high
round, the View is interesting for miles
ronrd, while the best water In the world
= 10 hoo 81 ,,o fr,o h.. b 1