Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-12-31
lIEyaNDRIA DURING So e.

ofthc occurrences e months and sum
during the pastaess affairs, 50 that its
;. marizes It's Judge of the advance
readers city has made during that
:, me-,
is alexandria during the year 1892. it
will be generally admitted. made the
greatest stride towards becoming i city
of the Importance which hcr location and
natural advantages entitle her 10 hold
than she has for Il quarter OF :: century,
and with the united effort Of her bust
ness men, aided by outside capital,
which is now seeking Investment here.
it will necessarily be bus 4 short time
before the hopes Of hey most sangt!ne
citizens are realized.
The most important event OF the year
was the construction of the electric rail
way through the streets of the city and
on to Mt. Vernon This railroad has
brought thousands of strangers to The
city and has made Alexandria place
OF much more Importance in the tour
lists guide books than she ever was be-
fore. The importance of this is mani
fest. The road, too, runs through
most beautiful country which will soon
be thickly settled and Alexandria is its
natural market. Then there is q strong
probability that the road will be cN-
tended still farther into lower Fairfax
which will bring the people of that sec
ton into still closer communication with
Alexandria. That the road will soon
be extended northward and then on to
Washington there can be but little
doubt, and with an electric railway con
nection between the two cities the aid
vantages resulting to Alexandria could
hardly be overestimated, for then
thousands of persons whose business is
in the capital city would make their
homes here where rents and living are
so much cheaper. Already the urgent
necessity of building an electric rail
way from this city to Washington is
apparent, and that it will be accom-
plished in n very short time is admitted
by every one.
The extension of the city's limits has
continued with increasing strides and
must continue to increase, for so com
pletely have the old sections of the city
become built upon that suitable building
lots are now only to be obtained in wha!
a short time since were considered the
suburbs. Streets are being opened ana
both the gas and water mains are being
! extended to meet the demands OF those
who have erected houses on the out
skirts of the city. The buildings erect
ed during the year in number, size and
magniticence compare most favorably
with those of any previous year in the
city's history, aud the amount of money
thus expended shows that many persons
realize that money so spent i'll AleXan-
dria is q good investment. Attentions
has frequently been called, through the
GAZETTE, to the demand for convent
entity arranged. medium-sizcd resi-
dences, and the increasing number OF
building permits issued by the Auditor
shows that attempts are being made to
meet this demand. The growth of the
city has been hcalthiul and steady,
without any attempt at blooming.
There has been no excitement and ne
rapid aud fictitious increase in values.
but, far better there has been 4 healthy
activity in property. Values have
steadily advanced and the prospects arc
that they will steadily climb the scale.
\ number Of outside people have IN
vested in property that will surely
bring them good profits in the near tII
ture. Many manufacturers have been
brought to investigate the situation, anG
bv M Interchange OF views the plans
have been laid for the establishment oi
new enterprises to be conducted BY men
who have practical knowledge Of the
business to be undertaken. y wood
vulcaniZing works and an ice nanulac-
tory are to be established here at IN
early date.
In Il similar article to this, published
at the close oflast year, it was stated that
prominent merchant had said the
business of Alexandria is growing ana
only wants feeding The feeding
turing the year has been administered
to a certain extent with gratifying re-
suits. and from mercantile standpoiuj
the city has made considerable prog
ress. This is the opinion Of merchants
in nearly every branch of business with
whom the reporters Of the GAZETTE
nave conversed.
The grocery and provision trade OF
the city, which has grown so wonder
fully during the past few years, and
which has brought Alexandria into such
prominence as supply market, contin-
ues to grow through the eXertions of the
wholesale merchants, who are de-
termined to be outdone by no compct-
itors and who are yearly extending
their territory. The retail dealers, too,
keep up with the times and carry
stocks of goods that would do credit to
much larger cities.
The lumber trade shows phenomenal
growth, and the merchants engaged in
this business are leaving no stone UNI
turned to extend the territory in which
they sell. They are not content with
furnishing lumber and other material
for the many buildings constantly being
erected in the city and immediate Vi
entity, but now are successful COM
petitors with dealers in other cities for
supplying such material at points
hundred mills distant.
The trade III fertilizers has grown to
such an extent that mammoth build
incs have recently been erected for
their manufacture and storage, and
these buildings are fitted with the
most approved appliances. The plaster
trade also continues good and the deal
ers get their supplies direct from the
| wives in Nova Scotia some of which