Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-02-24
THE BUSINESS MEMS BANQUET

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League of this city at Odd Fellows
Hall on Saturday night was an occa-
sion long to be remembered. Nearly
every gentleman connected with the
trade of Alexandria was present, ana
everything passed offin the most salts
factory manner.
The members and their invited
onests assemble in the room on the
Southeast corner of King and Washing
ton streets about seven O'Clock, and an
hour later repaired to the banquet
room of Odd Fellows Hall. where the
feast had been prepared. Mr.. George
Appich was the caterer, and his Skill
was displayed to the best advantage;
The room was beautifully decorated
with flags, and ferns, and potted plants
were in profusion. In the west end 81
the room and over the head OF the liable
fine picture of Washington had been
The gentlemen having taken their
places at the table, Mr.. NJ. B. Harlow,
the president of the league, and who
presided, called on Mr.. K. Kemper'
who invoked a blessing upon the
spread, after which the feast began
The following was the menu:
Pocomoke oysters, raw Tangier, fried;
roast turkey, cold roast beef, BAN,
tongue, chicken salad, lobster salad,
potato salad, lemon punch, celery,
olives, sweet pickles, sailed almonds,
cranberry sauce, currant jelly, straw
berry Jelly, wine jelly, ice cream, as.
sorted cakes, fruits, coffee imported
plantation cigars.
The feast proceeded for about an
hour, during which happy conversation
was engaged in, and the substantials
having had ample justice done them,
were removed and the more exhilarat-
ing adjuncts of the feast followed. The
punch, which was pronounced the nc
plus ultra of that species of drinks,
was ouafied, while smoke curled from
fragrant cigars.
Finally Mr.. Harlow called the com
pany to order and proceeded to carry
out the second act ofthe entertainment.
He spoke at length of the objects and
aims of the association, and said it was
the object to make Alexandria the
workshop of the national capital. One
of the first things to be done in this di
rection is to have lines of railway ex.
tended to the coal fields, bringing the
coal to Alexandria. This project, he
said, will receive the immediate atten
ton of the league. With an abundance
of cheap fuel we can stop the train
loads of iron ore that are now going be.
yond our city, and we shall soon build
up iron works in Alexandria, the i'm,
portance of which is manifest. Alex.
andria would also become a great
shipping point for coal merchants
Mr.. Harlow referred with pride to the
manufactures already here, and the
/ large number of wholesale and jobbine
houses, handling all lines OF goods,
Their territory covers the Virginias.
Carolinas, Georgia and the District OF
Columbia for market. He then spoke
of the shipping facilities, naming the
Baltimore and OHIO, the chesapeake
and OHIO, the Pennsylvania, the South
ern and the Norfolk and Western
railroads, which gave rail connection
with all points. Another of the princi-
nal objects of the league will be TO de
wise practical plans for identifying and
improving the streets. The present
plan is to reduce the carriage way of the
streets from forty-two to thirty feet, and
reduce the width of the sidewalks from
twelve 10 ten feet. This will give the
property owners from eight to ten fe, t
| for parking. The league will also make
a vigorous effort TO secure the building
of a memorial bridge across the Pote.
mac, and forever unite the North and
South. He detailed the proposed plans
OF the Mount Vernon avenue. Con-
gress will be asked to make appropria
tons for removing distractions from
the river in order that heavy draft
vessels, including war ships and ocean
steamers, can come to the whsrves at
Alexandria. An effort is also 10 be
made TO secure the location of navy
yard at Alexandria By the 1st of May,
Mr.. Harlow said, we will have in sue
cessful operation the finest electric rail-
way system in the world, and We will
be so closely connected with Washing
ton as to make this desirable home for
people whose business interests are in
the capital city.
Mr.. Harlow's address was listened
to with close attention.
Mr.. F. E. Anderson followed 10 re-
spouse to the toast, "The Day we Cele-
brate," and, as he ever is when called
upon, was equal to the occasion and
with his eloquence sent thrills through
his hearers. Tonight" he said, 1.-THE
light of vanished stars still shines upon
US, although those stars themselves
have sunk into the tideless depths OF
night, to rise and shine no more. But
their lights but fading brightness; for,
when their last rays shall have reached
the earth, the world will cease to add
their failing silver to our store of the
ruddy gold of sunlight, and those stars
will be forgotten, except by the curious
student, who shall find them marked
as lost islands of the sea of space on the
dusty chart of some professor of astron-
omy. And yet this is an appropriate
occasion to dwell on such thought;
for We have assembled here tonight as
sons, faithful to the traditions of our
mother, Alexandria, on the birth-night
of him, who has been called her great
est son 10 do honor to that man, who,
though his body is now but vanished
star, shines on through the radiance of
splendid dseds-like the light of those
other vanished stars in this, that it lives
on, after Washington has passed away;
but unlike it, in this, that it is constant
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