Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-04-13

BUSINESS MEMS LEAGUE.-Tht
monthly meeting of the Business Men,
League WAS held last night with Presi
dent Harlow in the chair, but with s
small attendance Of members.
Secretary Carne stated that he ha(
received communication from the
land agent of the Southern Railway ii
reference TO Alexandria, which infor
nation was to be used in the company.
circular to be distributed at the Nash
vile centennial The secretary also
stated that he had received communica
lions from several persons asking in.
formation concerning locations for
manufacturing plants, etc.
The president stated that in answer
TO request made TO the Southern Rail
way officers 10 sell half rate tickets from
the Valley to this city, the officers had
replied that reduced rate tickets are
now on sale Mt the stations along the
Valley branch.
The president stated that he had ar
ranged with the owners of the property
to continue the lease of the rooms now
occupied by the League at the present
rental.
Mr.. w II. Msy asked for report of
the committee appointed TO ask Coun-
Gil for certain improvements on Came.
ron street.
Mr.. Harlow replied that in view Of
the present financial condition of the
improvements rs the city was not now
In condition TO make them; he had,
however, talked with several Council
men who had told him that the city
could not now make the repairs to
Camsron street suggested by Mr.. May;
the sewer tax, however, had been re-
duced by Council
Mr.. MAY said he thought that since
the sewer tax had been reduced a sutli-
cent number of names could be secured
10 warrant the laying OF sewer down
Cameron street.
general discussion then followed in
reference TO manufactures in the city.
Mr.. Harlow suggested that four or five
hundred property owners contribute
so each year to raise sum of
- 900 which could be loaned to
persons wishing to engage in manufac-
turing on small scale; this money
could be paid back in small sums by the
week and would be kept constantly in
circulation; this might be the means Of
starting several small manufactures,
which would give employment to a
number of people. Heretofore much
Alexandria capital had been invested
in enterprises operated by strangers
and in which the Alexandria people
knew nothing and this was the cause
of the failures. He thought it neces
sary for Alexandrians to start some
thing to give people employment
Mr.. Brockett then gave his expert
ence in operating shoe factory. He
said $l00,000in capital would be need
ed Tor a shoe factory like the late Poto
mac factory. He said, unfortunately
this factory was started at bad time
when the goods of so many factories in
the north were then on the
market at any price and the
shoes made here had to come in CON-
petition with these goods. He then
told of the difficulties he had had with
his employees, of strikes, etc, and OF
the discouragements with which he had
met. He would like to see manutac-
tories started here, but did not believe
that much money could be raised now
for such plan as that proposed by MIR.
Harlow, as people now in business
needed all the capital they had at their
command.
Mention was made of the shoe fac
tory now in successful operation by
Mr.. Pail, and it was said the secret OF
success was that he confined his bust
ness to one line of goods-children's
shoes-the manufacture of which did
rot require large capital and the COM
petition was light.
Mr.. d. J. Howell suggested that the
spoke factory at New Alexandra
might successfully engage in the manu-
facture of wheelbarrows.