Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-12-02

NEW ALEXANDRIA.-This adjunct 10
old Belle Haven is forging ahead Mt a
perceptible gait, and every day changes
in the old farm lands on which the place
is being built are noticeable. a dredee
has been engaged for some time in re-
claiming the swamp property at the
dyke, streets have been laid out, trees
enclosed by boxes planted, plank walks
put down, the streets and avenues
iettercd and numbered and many evil
dences Of real business and enterprise
are 10 be seen. To see q dredge high
up in the run known to US so long rs
Hell Hole" is interesting of itself.
This swamp, portions ofwhich were I'M
explored, the abode Of innumerabc
water moccasins, where for centuries
nothing had occurred TO disturb the SOL
itary reign of the owl and kingtisher, is
now the theatre of busy activity. and
ere long the entire river front will have
been reclaimed. The enterprises which
have sprung up at New Alexandria are
not of spasmodic character, nor the
result of booms or any other unhealthy
or transitory growth, but are the fruits
of sober business venture, the concep-
lions OF practical men. capable of divin-
ing the results to follow from their
enterprise. The spur of track which
runs 10 the power house from the main
road TO Mount Vernon is now being ex-
tended to the Deis building and 10 the
basket factory adjoining, and an arte-
sian well is being bored in the vicinity
OF the site ofthe proposed hotel. Every
morning about Il quarter 10 seven
O'Clock electric cars crowded with men,
women, boys and young girls who are
employed in these factories leave here
with their Luncheon for the scene of
their daily work, and al six in the even
ing are brought to their homes. About
an hour later the same cars return to
New Alexandria with an equal number
of operatives OF both sexes who, III con-
sequence Of pressing orders, are forced
to work until ten o'clock at night,
after which hour they are brought to
their homes, numbers of which are To-
Gated OH the thoroughfares through
which the cars run. Besides all during
the day and night the work ofballasting
the road and making other improve
ments affords employment TO many,
both white and colored. All these
things combined have impaired to our
city and ncighborhood an activity
which all rejoice to see. The new
bridge over Hunting creek, which is
surmounted by a substantial railing,
apart from the space occupied by the
railroad track. affords l. l:na promenade
and carriage way. 1t is rapidly app
preaching completion-in fact, but
few yards or It are open, over which,
however, pedestrians can easily pass,
and no more tempting locaiity for
stroll is offered hereabouts. On sun
days hundreds women and child
ren-avai themselves Of the oppor-
tunity thus afforded tof g walk in the
country to the south Of the city, OF III
watching the working of the ponder
Gus engines In the power-house.
But it will be during the summer
months when New Alexandria and The
electric railway will be more appreci-
ated. Then, when we tire Of the city,
we can in few minutes be whirled into
the woods and enjoy natures scenery
anywhere between here and Mount
Vernon, and can return home I'd lib
tenn, as cars will be passing every ten
or fifteen minutes. And then, too,
during the sultry nights following the
dog days no more cooling process will
be presented than round trip on swift
open cars 10 New Alexandria. The
long ride over the bridge .,il conducc
no little to the cooling of the biood, Is
the refreshing zephyrs from the Poto
mac can then be felt and enjoyed for
all they are worth,