Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-04-15

Preaching at ii q. III. anu 10Y r. III.
by Rev. VIM. r. \. Palmer.
Howl OF IHDIGNATIoE.-The howl
of Indignation which has Comet up in Al
exandria oyer the recent order OF the
officials of the Mount Vernon Electric
Railroad Company stopping their
through cars from doing local business
in the city is nearly as loud as that oc-
casioned in 1863 when the military au-
thorities ordered all persons who refused
10 subscribe to the oath Of allegiance 10
mack UP and 90 South. Heretofore peo-
ole arriving on any boat or train from
Washington could take car aud 90
anywhere on King or Fairfax streets IN
a few minutes time, and Just as the
community was beginning to appreciate
the convenience, AN order from President
Abbot. whose headquarters are in Phil
adclphia, was posted here directing that
al cars for Mount Vernon must stop at
and start from the Fayette street depot
and the ferry wharf oniy; that persons
from the Mount Vernon neighborhood
or New Alexandria must keep their
seats until the cars shall have reached
either terminal point, procure trans
fer and make q retrograde movement
in the direction from which they came
if their homes or places of business hap
pen 10 be on Fairfax or King street.
Besides, instead of stopping anywhere
on the line between here and Mount
Vernon rs formerly, it is intended 10
slow up only at stations, which action
has raised another spirited remon-
STRANGE from our rura! friends. Indeed,
60 loud are the complaints on all sides
that it is proposed to place the matter
in the hands of the City Council, which
BODY, il is claimed, has the power TO
compel the re-establishment of the old
regime or order the tracks to be taken
ND. The consensus Of opinion seems to
he that the company has no interest in
old Alexandria; that the intention ofthe
officials is TO Use the streets at less cost
than they do the marshes of lower Fair
fax they had to pay for the latter for
the accommodation of northern tourist
uarties; that cars which are not allowed
10 stop are to whiz through Alexandria
at high rate of speed, aud should our
people desire to go to Mount Vernon or
anywhere else in that neigEhorhood
they must walk mile out of their way
in order to board a car, and when
they return be carried to eve
nv quarter of the compass be-
fore reaching their homes. Knots of
people have discussed the matter here
and there all day, and the officers of
the company have been interviewed.
Some of the latter say they were as
much dumbfounded as anybody else
when the order was posted, and, having
themselves come here TO stay, feel the
inconvenience which has resulted IS
much as other people. They say, how
ever, that, as they understand 1t, the
order was not issued in vindictive
spirit or for the purpose of inconve-
niencing any one in this city, but to ac-
commodate large and growing pas
senger business that in running
through the city one minute is lost at
each stop: that time now is money with
the company, as by an arrangement
with the Pennsylvania Railroad eXcur-
sion parties are to be run from Wash
ington to Mount Vernon and return
Cncluding half an hours time for visit
ors to inspect the grounds) in two
hours, and should the car be compelled
to slow up or stop in the city it would
be impossible to make the time; that
cars are now run on a thirty,minutes
schedule and that it is proposed to run
them through in twenty minutes; that
two cars will be placed on the streets,
and that while some time may be con,
sumed in transporting people through
the city no inconvenience to local pas
sengers will follow. The community's
side of the issue, however, it is claim
ed, is by no means weakened by these
explanations, and the Indignation has
grown apace with the hours of the day,
there being decided aversion to Civ
ing up the streets for the accom-
mediation of through trains which are
of no use to Alexandria, and
menace to life and limb, only to be
gazed at by children as they fit to and
fro through the streets at all hours of
the day. In short time, it is learned,
tickets only will be used on the Mount
Vernon road, and before embarking
these necessary pieces of pasteboard
will have to be procured and the other
red-tape trammels Of a Chicago limited
express train be assumed by passen.
gers going to or coming from the
lower country. Some are so indignant
as to assert that others save Wander
bilt are minus the chronological bumps
Indicative of the pro bono publico virtue
and all sorts of suggestions calculated
to remedy the evil are made, some
practical and Others impractical