Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-09-16
THE ELECTRIC RAILWAY.
THEIR PROPOSED CONNECTION WITH
WASHINGTON, D. C.
The Washington, Alexandria & Mount Vernon
Electric Railway Has One of the Best
Equipped Roads Known

1t is generally conceded that Alex
andria has the finest equipped cleo
trio railway in the country, both as
regards roadbed and rolling stock.
1t passes the most interesting spots
in the city and through the principal
streets, connecting at depots and
ferries. 1t has been in operation
only since September of last year,
and its success is phenomenal. The
city division is but a branch of the
main stem, which passes through a
most interesting, beautiful, and his
toric country to Mount Vernon-the
objective point of all strangers. In
taking this route they necessarily
pass through this city, taking in
Christ Church, the Marshall House,
the Braddock House, and many other
places made famous and interesting
in connection with Washington, and
events of our civil war
After a ride down Fairfax street
the city's limits are soon reached,
when the car plunges through the
old Yeates Garden, waving willow
trees lining the bank of the road UNI
til Great Hunting Creek (the stream
into which Captain Kidd is believed
to have cast some of his treasures)
is reached. This tributary to the
Potomac is spanned by a bridge
$500 feet in length, and the car rolls
over it at a thirty-mile hour gait.
New Alexandra, with its power-house,
the colossal brick factory of the Deis
Manufacturing Company, the basket
factory, Mount Vernon Hotel, coy
cottages and beautiful level country,
next attract the eye. After a brief
stop the cars are again in motion and
the speed is soon accelerated to about
80 miles an hour The level country
and the beautiful Potomac on the
left and the green hills on the right
delight the tourists for few minutes
when, with dart, he is plunged into
q thick forest through which path
way has been cut for the tracks of
the road. After emerging from this
clump where natures scenery can be
enioyed for all it is worth, the car
climbs the hill and the blue Potomac
is once more in view. The country
at this point is beautiful to behold.
Neat farmhouses, villas, orchards,
growing crops, and lowing herds al
ford feasts for the eye until you find
yourself at another bridge-this time
Little Hunting creek, the northern
boundary of the original Mount Yer
non estate, and where Washington
tishcd and gunned and meditated on
the birth of great nation and the
part lie was destined to play in its
history After quick passage over
this stream another hill is encount-
cred. up which the car glides with no
more difficulty than on level road.
The summit having been reached,
the gates of Mount Vernon are in
sight, and after two or three minutes
run a halt is made at the Mecca OF
all patriotic Americans.
Cars arrive and depart all day, at
intervals of about thirty minutes.
At present tourists reach Alexan-
dria by the Washington Steamboat
Companys ferry and the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, and connect via the
electric road, but efforts are now
being made by the company to OBJ
tain permission from Congress to
bridge the Potomac, from Arlington
Cemetery to Observatory Hill in
Washington. 1t will be granted of
course, and in short time the
road will be extended to Washington,