Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-09-12
WEATHER PRoBABILITIEs.--For this
section showers, easterly winds.

AN UNEXPECTED ADJUNCT.-About
year and a half ago the GAZETTE in a
series of articles pointed out the fact
that Alexandria had been steadily but
quietly forging ahead in area and popu-
lation for some time, that its growth,
while slow. was healthy and would
prove enduring, and that this was not
the result of artificial stimulus or BOOM
ing. In one of the articles it was stated
that the opposite Maryland shore would
one day become thicllly settled and
that with suitable ferry communication
Alexandra would naturally become the
purchasing market for much OF that
tract of country lying south of Eastern
Branch. 1t was said, however, that we
should not dream of Hoboken or Wee
hawkcns for Alexandria. but merely ex-
pect the trade Of a thicllly settled agri-
cultural country which it seemed we
could secure. Many new houses have
been built since that time on the shores
and opposite hills, and in some places
they thicllly dot what were formerly
bare fields and hills But for the pre-
sent we will drop the curtain on what is
going On outside our Commonwealth
and take survey ola locality which q
few years agG could justly have been
regarded as the least likely place here
abouts on which to found q city--a
place over which flocks Of blackbirds
cast their dark shadows and crows
cawed: where seinehaUlers sang out
landish sonnets and hunters trapped
muskrats OF 5hot ducks. SUCH was the
place on which now stands New ALEX
ANDHIA. with It's square-long brick fac
tory. basket factory. electric power
house with its ponderous machinery,
and where, with those engaged on
the railroad and bridge which spans
the creek from shore to shore, small
army of men are employed. Such an
adjunct TO Alexandria q year or two
ago on the southern shore OF Hunting
creek never entered into our widest
dreams. and yet here il is to-day. visit
ed by hundreds, examined and where
soon the whirr OF machiney will be
resounding over the sWamps which
heretofore had their silence broken
only By the croaking OF the frogs or
the discharge Of the hunters gun.
Throughout Yesterday until after sun
set steady streams OF AieXandIians,
some in boats and vehicles, but the ma
iority on foot, were coming from or
going to New Alexandria, though 10
pedestrians the jaunt was rendered TN
pleasant by the dust which in the
absence of rain has become very thick.
A representative of the GAZETTE was
among those who visited the embry-
onic city. He was piloted around by
Mr.. William Murtaugh, one of the
genial employees of the Deis Company,
who explained everything and pointed
out the sites for the StorehoUses and
dwellings to be erected. The rapid 2d-
vance made in the work on the build
ines nj New Alexandria is noticeable.
The Deis factory is more than a square
long and is rapidly approaching com
pletion. while the basket factory is in
operation. The huge machinery in the
power house, or most of it, is in posi-
ton, and few days only will neces-
sarily elapse before its steady hum will
vie with that of the machinery of the
other structures. Many of the visitors
took a survey of the surrounding count
~ from the roof Of the Deis building,
and tested the quality ofthe water from
the fifty-feet artesian wells. All who
went to New Alexandria seemed con-
WINGED that the capitalists who were
spending their money in these enter
prises and in the electric road to Mount
Vernon mean business.