The Washington times., 1895-05-10
New Alexandria Before and
After the Boom.
MIDST MARSHES AND MIASMA
Croaking of Last Nights Frogs Still
Ringing in the Ears of Her Only
Cttizen-Two Manufacturing Con-
Germs That FIourished There for
Awhile, Then Quietly Petered Out.

New Alexandria, of which L. w. Spear,
with real estate office at Thirteenth and
G streets northwest, is the leading aud
almost the only citizen, started several years
ago with tremendous prospects-on paper
OF becoming a great manufacturing center.
New alexandria this morning sits on the
Potomac Flats beyond Hunting Creek, with
the gliasma of the marshes rising about
her, and the croaking Of last nights frogs
still ringing i, ier ears.
The place was started as sn accompani-
ment OF the Mount Vernon - .ctric Railway,
and Dr.. Spear pIayeG ii important part
in the inception of tie enterprise.
He got two manuiactur. .ng concerns to
locate their plants On its low lands near
a supposed r.yer front. These were the
Deis Chair Factory and the New Alexandria
Woodenware Manufacturing Company. The
former came llom Ch.o, lie latter was
organized mainly with Philadelphia and
Alexandria capital.
The concerns got TO work and d. some
business. The maraeers piotabiy lad lot
made the discovery that the two miles Of
beautiful curve forming the river front
there Were only a few foCIes of yards
that would afford good Wharfage, and
that fire could not Ice readily reached by
the Alexandria fire companies.
BRIGHT HOPES BLASTED.
But after running with apparent success
for time the Deis factory was burned, and
the bright hopes of the opening OF the
town Were not realized. The Deis owners
rebuilt, however.
Then business depression appeared and
soon began 10 be felt in New Alexandria
Both factories. though fresh with the
yigor of youth, became weary and decided
10 take n rest. That was many months
ago. and they are still resting 1t teens
likely the habit will grow OH them.
DR.. Spear. who was for time. about the
beginning of the New Alexandria boom,
treasurer of the Mount Vernon Railway
Company, got out OF that He then gave
his attention TO getting franchises for an
electric railroad that would run nearly all
over Alexandria
There was good deal of protest against
the charters he obtained from the city
council of Alexandria. and much gossip
and shaking of heads OF the means he was
thought to have employed in securing the
CONCESSIONS He went North after get
ting the charter, to organize a company.
be said no
His critics said his purpose was to dis
pose OF the franchises he had obtained to
anybody who, would pay for them
However that may be the time limit,
being made to use the privileges conferred
and the charters became void. Then DR..
Spear came TO Washington for time /, but
about year ago reappeared as the chief
promoter ofthe inchoate town.
The place lad been started by the Land
and River Improvement Company of New
Alexandria
DIR. SPEAR GOT CONTROL.
DR.. Spear organized a new company, got
control OF the enterprise and gave a big
Fourth ofsJuiy barbecue, with public speak
ing and other trimmings, and advertised
n sale of lots. There was no enthusiastic
rush to get in on the ground rloor.
But on the strength of the advertising
three other manufactures promised TO
come. Two of them came, and one of them
a few days ago was running with two
hands; the other has raised steam once.
The third has on its ground the skeleton
OF Il building, but the owner was taken
sick and operations on it are suspended
II is said by some he will not bring his
business to New Alexandria.
The buzz of machinery and the hum of
industry We're taking siesta when a
Times reporter called on New Alexandria
in the busy part of the afternoon yesterday.
Two men were lounging on the steps of
the hotel as the reporter stepped upon the
10 by 90 open platform of the electric
road.
The proprietor of the hotel, Dr.. Spear,
was in Washington at his real estate
office, where literature regarding the
town might be had, they thought There
was no one in the office. and not even the
drowsy humming of blue-bottle TO make
the silence audible.
Two billiard tables were closely COW
cred. In a back room two men Were talking
TO the barkeeper.
ABOUT A DOZEN FRAMES.
There are about dozen frame houses on
the low, level grounds that fall away to
the Hunting Creek marshes and lily pads
and shallow Potomac waters on two sides
of the hotel Most of these are in various
stages of incompletion and weather stains,
showing bare rafters and frame work.
Little or nothing was being done to COM
plete them.
The chair factory was sold at auction
recently, and was bought in by one of the
originators of the town for $4,000. IL
is idle, as is every other place, except the
factory that is said TO have been running
with two hands the other day, and the
electric road.
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Baltimore Markets.