Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-12-31

| was QQl6QoQ ana CurneQ over NY tuo
contractors to the city. This is one OF
/ the handsomest and best arranged en-
CINE houses in the country and is fitted
with all the modern conveniences
| known to firemen.
Within the past few months the Office
of the q. S. Internal Revenue Collector
for the Sixth district has been removed
from Lynchburg to this city. This
change brought to Alexandria a num-
Der of gentlemen connected with this
Office, who, with their families, are now
| residing here. This change also brings
to Alexandria as transients numbers OF
persons who have business with the
| revenue Office and has been the means
of the First National Bank of Alexandria
being made United States depository.
These are matters OF no small impor-
| lance.
The officers of the several railroads
centering here all report larger vol
ume of business this, than last year,
both in receipts and shipments. More
trains are run and the merchants are
afforded special facilities by the rail-
roads. The agents Of the various
steamer lines also report an increased
business.
The price of property has, as rule,
declined, but this is the case in nearly
every city in the country, 30 Alexan-
drians should not feel that the decline
here means more than it does any
where else. The number of vacant
houses is rather in excess Of that of last
year and the number of houses built
has been comparatively few, though
more than in 1896. Several of those
erected, however, we're large and ex-
pensive buildings and the construction
of these gave employment to number
of mechanics.
The branches of business which show
q gratifying increase in volume, while
the territory over which the trade ex-
tends has grown, are the wholesale
grocery, provisions, drugs, lumber, fer
tilizers, coal, salt, ice, beer, cigars,
china, glass and earthenware, hard.
ware, furniture, confectionery, crackers
and cakes, sc. In all these lines Alex
andria continues to be regarded the
best market in this section of country
and her merchants will see to it that
no gains they make will ever be lost if
their exertions can prevent 1t. The dry
goods and notions, clothiers and boot
and shoe merchants also report fair
business for the year, and both the es-
Establishments and stocks of goods show
that live men are engaged in these
branches of trade.
The banks have done an increased
business and the amount of deposits
now held by them is in excess of that
for number of years. Some, however,
hold that the latter is not sign OF
prosperous times as under ordinary cir
J cumstances this money would be invest.
| ed in business, which would bring its
owDers an income and give employ
ment to others. The Alexandria banks,
as they have always been, are az &C
| commodating as those in any other city
and lend all the aid in their power to
their patrons and the merchants in their
business enterprises. Their manage
ment is exceptional and their standing
is among the highest. The building
associations have done fairly we'll and
have been admirably conducted in the
interest of both the borrowers and the
lenders. The amount of money bor-
rowed for new buildings, however,
was not so large as during some pre-
vious years.
The fertilizer trade this year increas:
ed very considerably and in several in
stances orders had to be turned down,
the demand being greater than the
supply. The fertilizer works in this
city are constantly being enlarged aud
improved and very large establish
ment is now being erected on the site
of the one burned last summer. The
Alexandria fertilizers stand high in the
market and maintain the reputation
they have won for purity end excel
| lence. In connection with the ferti-
lizer manufactures, to one of these es-
Establishments is being added extensive
acid works which will furnish all the
acid used for dissolving bone, &c.
The Alexandria brewery did larger
business this than during any previous
year and its trade continues to extend,
its territory now embracing nearly all
the southern States. The brewery is
one of the best equipped in the country
and the beer has national reputation
for excellence. With the opening of
the year malt extract department will
be added to the brewery.
The wholesale drug trade shows an
increase Of upwards of Is per cent. over
any previous year and this business is
growing both in volume and extent OF
territory.
There is a steady and healthy increase
in the wholesale grocery and provision
trade. The merchants in this line keep
abreast of the times and have done
much toward making Alexandria a
wholesale market. A large amount of
capital is invested in this business and
the money is Kept in constant circula-
ton.
The lumber trade shows an increase.
While not so many houses have been
built in the city and vicinity this
as during some previous years,
much lumber and shingles have
been used in repair work. The farm
ers who made money on their wheat in
numbers of instances improved their
property, and much lumber was used
in these improvements.
The manufacture of crackers, cakes
and candy at the Alexandria manufac-
tory has exceeded that of any previous
year. During this month the cracker
and cake mandatory of this city has