Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-12-31

finds ready market.
As has been reported for several years
in succession the wholesale drug bust
ness continues to increase and now the
retail trade of this section and of many
of the towns at distance is supplied
from this city. The Washington drug
stores are supplied almost exclusively
from Alexandria. Adealer reports that
in the past month he has shipped goods
to Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland,
Ohio, louisiana. and has done business
also in North Carolina, frequently.
The fertilizer business shows an in
crease over that of last year. The two
big works have been kept busy making
fertilizers of unsurpassed quality and
shipping them to various points
throughout the South. These works
have every facility for the manufacture
and shipment of fertilizers, being
equipped with the most modern ma
chinery and appliances. In connection
with one of these works is 6 large acid
mandatory, and as the acid made on
the spot is used largely in dissolviDe
bone and phosphate rock the cost OF
the fertilizer is lessened and the farmer
receives the benefit.
| Alexandria Lost most of her bitumi
nous coal shipping trade years ago
when the Alexandria canal was de-
ls,royed, but her trade in anthracite
coal is increasing daily and the mar
chants Of this city are now shipping
coal over wider territory than ever
before, extending to many of the
southern States.
The -four and grain trade shows g
falling off both in receipts and in ship
ments. This is accounted for by reason
OF the increasing number of mills being
operated all through this section of the
country. These mills buy up the grain
raised in their respective neighbor
hoods and supply the people thereof
With -four, thus affecting the city
trade. During the year a we'll equip
ped Touring mill has been established
in this city and its owners have already
huilt up fine trade which is growing
daily. The -four and meal made at this
mill are Of the best quality.
The business of the Alexandra
cracker, cake and candy mandatory
continues TO increase and the excellen,
goods turned out here find ready
market. The owners of the manufuc-
tory are always on the alert to please
their customers and the result is thai
they are constantly putting noveties
on the market.
The Alexandria brewery continues 10
enjoy g large and increasing trade
The several brands of beer made here
J all stand well in the market end their
excellence is attested by the thousands
who nLw drink what has become al
most the national beverage. The PLAN
is y model one and contains the very
latest appliances for brewing, &c.
The cigar manufactures have done
fairly sell and Alexandria-mad cigars
have won favor wherever sold. They
are what they are represented to be
are made Of good material and are sold
at reasonable prices.
During the year the bread baking
business has materially increased as has
also the number of bakeries. The diff
fculty in securing good cooks or o.
having good homemade bread has in
duced many families to rely almost
wholly on the bakers and this has
started o rivalry among the latter as to
which can excel 10 bread making.
The wholesale grocery and provision
dealers report their business as fully
equal to that of last year.
The ice business has increased. More
people use ice now than ever before
and in larger quantities. The re-icine
here of fruit and vegetable trains On
their way from the South to the north
ern cities consumes great quantities of
ice, and is new feature in the trade.
The china, glass and earthenware
trade holds its own. Goods are import
ed direct to this city by one of the old
Alexandria establishments and large
business is done through this entire
section. During the past month a new
and extensive establishment handling
this line of goods has been opened in
this city.
The dryaoods and potion merchants
report fair business during the year,
notwithstanding the tendency of some
of the Alexandria ladies to make their
purchases in this line in the larger
cities. The Alexandria merchants keep
large and varied stocks of goods and
make their stores as attractive as
possible.
The furniture dealers report fair
business, considering the dull times,
and state that they are not only build
ing up good trade in the surrounding
country but that they make frequent
sales in Washington.
! cb tro6o hoe ham
fairly good. There are now two man.
ufactories in Alexandria, that make
ladies' and cbildren's shoes, and both
are doing well. The quality of the
shoes made here is excellent.
The receipts of lump plaster were
greater than for several years.
The trade in agricultural implements,
seeds, &C., was fairly good, Alexandria
continuing to supply the farmers in all
this section of country.
The city this year has not been visit
ed by any very destructive fires, such
as were reported during the two pre-.
ceding years, nor have storms or
floods done much damage.
NOTES
During this wears session tho clerk of the
City School Board has issued 2,12S permits
to children to attend the pablo schools, $50
to white boys, 622 to white girls, 367 to col
ored boys, and 457 to colored girls Last
year the number OF permits issued was 2, 1853.
The decrease was in all four divisions of the
schools.
The collection of city taxes during the pc.
Rod in which discount Of 10 per cent. was
allowed amounted TO $76,100, as against
| $40, 494 in 1897.