Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-12-31

S6 4o2 .1S. and 1894 $6,334.Oe.
The business at the city postofice increases
annually and this year there is no e1-
ception to the rule. Alexandria has
now all the facilities for receiving and dis
tributing the mails that are accorded to the
larger cities.
Notwithstanding the atringency OF the
times the number of failures recorded Ibis
year was at the minimum and the amount In
volved was comparatively small. This ls an
indication of the strictly business methods OF
our Alexandria merchants.
Since last yesr another telephone exchange
has been established and now more telephones
are in operation in this city than ever before.
Telephone communication is also had with
the larger cities and with all the surrounding
country.
The fire department is in excellent shape
and ready for any emergency. The en-
gines and truck are equipped with the latest
appliances and the 6remen are ever ready for
active and efficient service.
Alexandria's crack military company does
not seem to have prospered during the year
and many of the members have lost interest
in its welfare. The men think that as they
give their services free the State should bear
the expense of keeping up the organization.
The company is composed of excellent ma
beers and can be relied upon in case OF
emergency.
The several building associations report
fair business for the year despite the hard
times In some instances the dividends will
be fully as large as those of last year while
in others there will be slight falling Oft
. As was the case last year there have been but
few, if any, forced sales, most Of the borrow
ers OF managing to meet payments when due.
The collector OF customs for the district OF
Alexandria reports the total value of imports
for the year at 81 ,S52. SO, as against So, 800
last year. Number of vessels built during the
wear 9, as against last year; number of YES
sels sailing under marine papers issued at this
port 112, rs against 12O last year, and total
tonnage 3,776 tons, as against 1882 last
year. He also reports that several vessels
hailing from this port have been wrecked or
abandoned and passed OFT the records. Many
dutiable goods have been Intercepted at the
ports of first arrival, and hence this port has
been deprived of the duty on same. Very
many improvements have been made in the
customs building including steam heating ap'
paratus new furniture, repairing, etc.
The sales at tn. U. s. internal revenue
office of beer and cigar stamps for the year
were: Beer, S42,927 40; cigars, So, 323' 80,
and the amount collected on whisky, brandy
and special tax WAS about S26 600, q falling
off since last year.
Seventy.one licenses have been issued for
| the sale of liquor at retail, and the amount OF
! such licenses WAS 80, 2OO.
Alexandria has eighteen licensed physicians,
| four dentists and twenty one lawyers.
Only seven persons or firms are now en-
| gagged in the businers of commission mer-
chants
There arc 43 insurance companies licensed
| to do business in the city, one less than last
year, two of the number being local, The Alex.
| andria and The Mount Vernon.
During this years session the clerk OF the
| City School Board has issued 2,270 permits
| to children TO attend the public schools, TOP
to white boys. GAL to white girls, 421 to col.
ored boys, and 5O6 to colored girls Last year
| the number of permits issued was 2,274.
There is an increase in all the schools except
the colored boys school, where there is de-
crease of 36.
The construction by the city during the
summer months of the King and Pitt streets
sewer put in circulation III our city some
| $4,000 or $4,000. This sum is increased by
the construction Of the Prince-street sewer
and the placing of new gas mains by at least
$4,000 all of which was done at An oppOr-
tune time, as the money was earned by the
very poor, who could have found no other
employment.
Notwithstanding the dull times, tn collec.
tion of city taxes during the period in which
discount OF 10 per cent. WAS allowed
amounted to $77,4O7, as against STI, l3o
in 1895
The licenses collected by the Mayor since
the beginning of the fiscal year, June 1, 1896,
amount to $1O,271.2S During the same
period in the year 1895 the amount was 49,.
992 80; in 1894, $9,27379 and in 1898,
So. 291. %. The increase during 1895 and
1896 is made up partly by an increase of S15
in each liquor license and closer scrutiny as
to tho unlicensed.
The receipts from fines collected by the
Mayor during the calendar year 1895
amounted to $2,321.7O. This year ST.,
46S.56.
The number of dog licenses issued in 1895
were TAO; 1896. 731. 1t is not known how
many dogs are unlicensed, but the number is
in the hundreds.
There was in Alexandria, as elsewhere,
decline in house building, so 1896 will not
show as much having been spent in new
buildings as many years prior. Most of the
buildings erected were frame, and small. In
the First Ward frame cost 5000; 5 bricks,
cost Sd, 900. Second Ward 4 bricks at cost
of $3.50 Third Ward 20 frames cost
Sc, 5000, and - bricks cost $14, 500. Fourth
Ward Ia frames cost Sd, 800, and bricks
cost So, 500. Total, 81 frames cost $40, 100;
26 bricks cost S23, 750-total $34, $50. The
amount expended last ye,r was $104, 200.
There was slight increase this year in the
mortuary report, as compared with 1895, and
a decrease as compared with 1893 and
1894. In 1895 3S7 persons died; this
year Alp. Permits were also issued
tor persons who died elsewhere and were
inferred here. The deaths this year were, !
white males II s; females 1O9; colored males
80; females 96 During the four years,
1898 to 1896, inclusive, the total deaths were
1910; an average of Al 3 yearly; just about
what it is this year; showing that even as to
so serious thing as death, Alexandria is con-
servative. The remains Of 81 persons who |
died elsewhere were brought here and in.
TERED, of which 81 were from the District |
Of Columbia.
In the Corporation Court there were 80 |
chancery suits instituted, 43 common law |
suits 16 wills admitted 70 probate, 18 admin.
istrations granted and SO charters and amend |
granted In the Circuit Court for the City IL |
common law and 2 chancery suits were en- |
tered and charters granted.
the year issued TIA marriage licenses, 1913 to |
1877 were issued.
The number of deeds recorded by the clerk
Of the Corporation Court during the year was
$40, as against 655 last year.
The total amount of flour inspected during
the year was 25, 961 barrels, as against 2S,-
97S last year. This does not include all the
\ t l. -