Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-02

future prosperity which Alexandra
presented, made me feel how much
more gratifying it is to observe the rise
of new State than the decline of an
old one"
The people of Alexandria were early
imbued with the spirit of resistance to
the oppressive measures of Great Brit
ain, and 20 town in all the colonies re-
sponded more promptly and continuous
ly for troops and resources through the
long struggle for independence. Here it
was, says another English traveller,
"that George Washington, amid the
plaudits of the inhabitants, first slept
forth as the public patron of sedition
and revolt and subscribed fifty pounds
towsrds the commencement of hostil-
tiles" The town was then twenty.
FIVE years old, and its population about
five thousand. Through the years of
national strife and general trouble and
uncertainty, as every where else, the
industries of the town were greatly de.
pressed, but prosperity returned with
the dawn of peace. The wagon trains
again came down from the far frontiers
and commerce again unfurled her sails
as in the years agone.
In 1910 its population was nearly
eight thousand. In 1916, two years
after it's capilulation to and plunder
by Admiral Cockburn, commander Of
the Bri ish fleet, the arrival It it's pol 5
were nineteen ships, forty two brigs,
ffiy-two schooners from foreign places
and three hundred and twenty-five
cosstwse entries.
Had the conditions of trade and
traffic, aud the various local economic
Industries which then existed, contin.
ued unchanged through the years,
Alexandria today could doubtless
show e population double or treble
that which it now claims. The cou.
atruction CT the Potomac canal, and
the laying of the three several railroads
the Baltimore and Ohio, with its
brauch from Hsrper's Ferry to Win
chester; tho Midland, and the Loudoun
and HAMPSHIRE, ended the old-time
wagon industry over the mountains
and diverted most of the wonted trade
20 other points.
Though the former commercial glory
of the Old town has waned and well
nigh disappeared before the new
er conditions OF trade and traf-
fc which we have above cited
though no square rugged vessels lie
nowadays in her docks, discbareiDg
their csreoes of mclasses, sugar and
other tropical commodities from Bst-
BADGES, Jamaica, Trinidad, Santa CRUZ
and other islands of the caribbean Sea
as in the vesrs long gone. though the
rumble Of wagons which once crowded
der streets has b en- sileDced by the
swifter transit of the railway train,
sill there is prestige remaining for il
which the passing OF the decades can.
uot destroy. II will always be one oi
he places of the Cd Dominion State
to attract pilgrimages from lands afar,
on account OF its interesting historic
associations, and doubtless it will be-
come the pleasant abiding place for
large accessions OF people who love Il 9
quiet and whose business or social incl
aations will keep them near the nation,
capi al. 1t will not lose its mature and
eisureIy way. Its old and substantial
houses will lie preserved with piou
care to afford to coming generations of
patriots fond glimpses of the vanished
past when an infant people threw of
the trammels of kingly power and
sprang heroically into the life of inde-
pepdence.
The cid highway and its branches.
inseparably connected and interviewer
with the towns earliest existence aud
after progress, will remain enduring
and prominent landmarks to remind of
those far away primeval years when
oply the rowing sons of the wilderness
threaded their courses, Of the later
years when the venturing pioneers and
Settlers followed in their tracks and ex-
tended the limits of their civilization.
Over this highway dashed the gallant
Spottiswood and his cavalcade of
Knights of the Golden Horseshoe to
to find pass through the mountains to
the mysterious lands OF the west. Over
it marched the troops Of Braddock aud
the armies of Washington and Ls.
fayette, the legiops of Grant and Lee
and Sherman's men from Atlanta. II
was the first public post road south of
Massachusetts, if not in all the colonies.
A historic road indeed is this old high
way.