The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-08-05

was couuucCeu uulll July 1917,
when it was purchased by w. G..
Mobloy, the present editor and
proprietor.
1t was a difficult matter during
the war, on account OF the rigid
blockade maintained BY the Fed,
eral navy, to obtain paper and 9th
er printers supplies. An illustra.
tration of the straits to which the
inter. bellum editor was reduced. by
reason of the failure to obtain bis
weekly quota Of paper, can be yer
fled by reference to the war files
OF the LOUISIANA DEMOCRAT,
wherein is to be found an issue
printed upon wall paper.
The Daily Town Talk was estab-
lished in 1883 by Il. Ii. McCor.
micky This was continued until
lSb5,Twhen the daily ceased aud IA
triS weekly was instituted. In 1886
the ~tri weekly ceased and the
Weekly Town Talk established in
1884 took it's place. Both the
Weekly and Daily are now issued.
The Alexandria Daily Times.
Vidette and Louisiana Reformer
were papers Of short duration.
Columbus Lodge No. % A. f. &
A. NJ was chartered in 1919 and
continued work up to lS49. Even
III 1928 when so many Of the Ma
sonic bodies passed out OF exist.
ence, old Columbia lodge was pre-.
served. It was the first Lodge in
Alexandria. The Lodges now ex-
listing in Alexandria, are: DIV, r
Lodge No. 81, r. & A. NJ; Key
stone Chapter No. Al, r. A. Nj j;
Alexandria Lodge No34lO; knights
Of Honor; Phoenix Lodge No. IS,
l. o. o. F.; Alexandra Lodge No.
80 Knights of Pythias; Ret,ecca
Lodge No. 240, l. o. B. B.; Rap.
ides Camp No. II, Woodnen OF
the World; fe'; lean Lodge No. IL,
a. q. U. w.
II Q first lights nsed on the
streets were gas in 1850. The
town was in darkness except a few
oil lamps here and there for pc
Rod of years, till the Vapor lights
came into use in 1890. The city is
now lighted by electricity and it
is claimed that Alexandria has
more electric lighting proportion
ately to its population than any
other city in the State.
In 1892 the Press Association
met here.
The first public school building
was erected in 1872 IS. Prof. w.
j. Calvit was first teacher in the
school. The schools of a Alexandria
are carciuiiii.; graded graded and conduct
ed. Mr. w. j. Calvit is principal
of the Alexandria public school.
In addition to the public school,
there is a college under the man
agemeut Of the Catholic Brothers.
There is also a Convent conducted
by the Sisters Of Divine Provi.
ience.
Tie Rapides Agricultural Fail
Associ ton was incorporated June
%, 1873 with power 10 consolidate
with the Rapides Jockey Club
There were forty. six members.
The first telegraph line was com,
pleted in 1876.
The fire of 1879 was the most de
stru:tive known SINGS it's destruc
ton by the Fedelals in 1864. Tht
fires of 1850 and 1887 caused mucl
devastation in The town. In 1892
tie old Exchange Hotel and Gus
Gehr building were destroyed by
fire.
The Alexandria Street Railwa,
Co., was organized in Juue 1891
In 1882, the Texas & Pacific aut
Southern Pacific Railroads were
completed to this place.
The New York Lumber Com
pany commenced the erection O
their large saw mill near til,
month of Bayou Rapides iu Nov
1882. Owing to some mismanage
nlent this mill is idle.
The Red River Oil Co., was in
cOrUOrated in 1899.
The building in the lower sub
urbs OF the CITY known as the Hos
pital, but never used as such, was
erected in 1885.
The Rapides Bank was estab
lished in 1856, with &. w. Boltol
as president; Charles Owen, Cash
lei aud j. w. Bolton, Assistan
Cashier. 1t has a capital o
| 100000.
On Feb. 5, 1887, the first meet
ing to, consider the erection of
compress was held. The building
press, ETC., were completed all,
the first cotton was compresse,
Sept. II, 1887. The capacity il
sixty bales per hour. Mr.. TLeu
N. Miles is Superintendent.
The Rapides Teachers Associa
ton was organized in Sept. 1896
The Alexandria and Pinevill
Building aud Loan Association. o
Alexandria, was organized Octo
Der 10th, 1890.
The Public Library, of Alexand
ria, was established III 1887. 1t i
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