Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-04-18

size houses ore 10 demand ia that general,
regarded out ot-the way locality. cerfaini.,
they would be in more eligible situations
Having. as We believe. demonstrated ,bo
fact that instead of rstrogsrding AIexsnd,is
ls making very percept bic advance ma
ment, II Is cur purpose also tc draw sttsr
ton TO certain ra uta! advantage cur rim,
possesses which are loo nitie valued hv ~
native aud to the manner horn. Th- & :,
to De noted IL the pa ent fact that 1t il ono
Of the most central or eligible points in tJs
United States. This may seem an.x ravs
CANT assertion. 1t Is not, bose7er, tat ia m.
truth.
Located az cur ciiy s within fifteen min.
utss' ride of Washington, our people Can en-.
Joy all the Injuries OF great metropolis
without having t. contribute towards tina
cost. This would not be the case if We lived
in Roanoke, Danville or any OF tie PLACES
further South which are using every me,ns
to draw attention 10 them. n matter what
attractions may come to Washington tbev
are lust az accessible 10 Alexsndrians "a r.
the residents OF the capital city, and spv
one can start from Alexandria eary in he
morning. 90 to New York, spend several
hours and return by he'd time, and round
trip can he made 10 Baltimore In conp ecf
hours. Besidee, we have daily commuais.
ton by steamer with Norfolk and the lows,
river, and with Richmond, Frederick ,hu,p
Petersburg and the South by rail.
Thus 1t will be seen that for business or
pleasure Alexandra is q point contiguousto
great centres, aud that manufacture or com.
meroe can he conducted here m Jst exned
ticusy, while the cost of living lie our CITY ia
not to be compared to lhat OF he p,eces
named though we have hourlylccess to ibem.
These ere facts which csDpot fail 10 s,rike
thinking men who are contemplating max
Ing ventures In this section.
The pure water Of Alexandria is proyerb.
ial. Two capsclou5 reservoirs furnish the
city, and during the most protracted drcuths
water famines are unknown.
In regard to the port of Alexandria hu,
little can be added to what has SO often been
said. Opposite the entire city water enough
can be found to q oat and turn anything in
the way of naval architecture ever CONSTRUCT
ed. During the four years civil war the
largest vessels rode at anchor in the stream
and we're moored at our docks, and il was
common spectacle to witness the old Collins
line steamers Atlantic and Baltic psss 20 and
down the river. The water at the docks il
deep enough TO accommodate the largest
vessels, and the wharfage extends for overs
mile.
That this place will surely become al an
early day the port If Washington, Gearee.
town and the contiguous country has 5ug
been on the prophetic chart. Its situation
exempts its barber from he changes going
on yearly In the water fronts Of the two
cities named. It's channel and docks remain
in statu quo. while ron, tiDt dredging il re-
CURED to keen sufficient depth OF water in
the stream north OF us. Washington is
growing enormously and is destiued 10 be.
come the real hub Of this country. While
railroads are contributing much toward the
growth, the port is bound to assert lie claims
| to at,enliou. Twelve or fifteen steamers are
now engaged on The river. and il often takes
hours for them to load aud unlcsd freight at
our vharyes
That the capital of great ration will
eventually develop port of no mean pre-.
tensions is an assertion none will undertake
TO controverf ard when it Is remembered
that the facilities for such an indispensable
adjunct are contracted ard limited In Wash
tDgtoD, the natural Inference liz that city
but elk miles farther south, where every ac-
commodatiou can be found will BE- utihz d.
More earnest enterprise is now being ex-
bib; ed by our own people thon for many
years pact, and the time seems TO be almost
at our doors when AleIsudria will assume
commercial Importance far above anything
II has yet experienced.