Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-06-14

1fTiAAF -
TIE MOUNT VERNON RAILWAY, &c.
Mr.. L. w. Spear, secretary OF the
Washington, Alexandria and Mt. Yer
non Electric Railway Company, and
secretary and general manager of the
T,ud and River Improvement Company
Of New Alexandria, and the organizer
ofthe above named companies, when
asked by a representative of the Ga
grrrE to-day IF there was anything
new" had the following to say
Yes. you may say to the people Of
A~lcxandria. and especially for the ben
oft Of the doubtful ones, Of whom | IN
dcrstand there are q good many, that
the electric railway in this city, and ex-
frpding to Mount Vernon, wiU be baiit,
and that the same will be completed
and ready TO carry the travelling public
totHc tomb Of Washington by Septem-
her 10Th. lis true, the work on this
road has been delayed somewhat be
yond the expectation of any inter
e..ed. but the reasons of the delay were
entirely unforeseen by the officers ofth;s
company. We have doubtless had the
usual experiences that all companies
have in arranging the preliminary mat
tars incident to the commencement ola
work OF this kind. 1t is the intention
ofthi> company TO push the work from
now on in Il way that will convince the
neoplc of Alexandria that we mean bus
!nes-.
iwish to say that when this road is
completed it will be one of the best of
it, Kind in this country, and that the
company will spare no expense to make
dis road the very best of its kind, and
when completed Alexandria al truly
bg,.t of having the finest electric road
and one that will probably be the most
talked of and written about in the
Tniled States, not only from the fact
tbat it will be aroad patronized by pco-
pIc from all parts Of the world, but for
The fact that it will be the only road
operating at q speed of % miles per
hour. This high speed feature will be
watched with great interest by all com
mnics and electric engineers interested
in work Of: this kind.
have heard it said by many that
thi- road would never be built, that the
organizers really never intended to
complete ii. that it was their intention
~ only make a start to hold the fran
rhi.e granted by the Council of this
city tail then sell out.
am sorry that any good citizen of
Alexandria should be so SO skeptical
and 50 willing to doubt the intention
and integrity of this company. 1t may
he. however, that the people of Alex
andria are justified in jumping at sach
aconclusion, but l think not.
wish to say also that do not think
the people Of this city fully appreciate
what the result of building this road
means to Alexandria, or what great
benefit might accrue TO this city
if the opportunity which now
presents itself, was fully under
stood, and the right steps taken
BY her citizens to improve the same. In
this connection l would like to say q
word for New Alexandria. | under
stand that this enterprise is looked
upon with even less favor and the same
spirit of doubt us the Electric Railway.
PERHAPS this is because il is not fully
understood or possibly because the
good people of Alexandria do not care
10 understand it. As to New Alexar-
dria / wish to say that it is the inten-
ton of the company, who now own
that site. to build there Il new town.
This will surely be done, not in Il day
ora year, however, but during the COM
in wears there will grow up 4 prosper
Gus manufacturing town south OF hunt
iug Creek.
Two large manufacturing plants have
already been established there and the
work of constructing the buildings has
already commenced. One company Is
under contract to build so houses, and
can safely say that thrice us many
more will be erected before winter; OF
this the people of Alexandria will know
more about as the work progresses.
Again permit me to say that | do not
thihk the business men and citizens in
general of this CITY realize the great
benefit to accrue to Alexandria from
this great work, and the building of the
street car line.
doubt ifthc citizens of this old city
ful!y realize and appreciate the advan-
tagcs of this location for a large city
Surely nc city in this country possesses
amore beautiful location, and few most
natural advantages. Why not improve
these advantages? Why not develop
the resources at this location?
| find in the few business men 1t has
been my pleasure to meet, q spirit OF
enterprise and progression equal to any
thu; may he found III any city. They
are wiling and determined enough,
hut there is a great lack of interest IN
the business men as Il whole, and not
sufficient union of action.
The companies which | represent
propose to push their work and spend
a large amount of money in this city.
They propose to do all they can to re-
deem the old time business reputation
of Alexandria. They will bring much
business and large in%creasein popula-
ton iii this city. Are the citizens OF
Alexandria In sympathy with this spirit
o~fprogrcss? If so, there is much they
can do to aid in the development that
can he done, and now is the time to
start. You have % Board of Trade,
that is the proper medium through
which to work. Think of the thous-
andS and thousands of strangers who
will visit Washington this fall, OF this
number thousands will visit AL
ey0ndria, will pass through this
city via the electric road to Mount
Vernon. With the opening of the
street railway and the commencement