The times., 1899-10-13

the Sun Fire Engine Company in l14o-
Alexandria sent to the Continental
Army many OF her sons 10 die On the field
OF battle. Washington was honorary cap
tain Of the volunteer company formed in
ITS. which offered to follow him to Cam
bridge when he was chosen Commander
in Chief OF the United Colcaies. and. later
amid the darkest days OF the war, there
marched away to the Jerseys company
whose flag red with a yellow centre. IN
sersbed with black. s1x Virginia Rsgi-
ment-Alexandria Company" was burned
at the coniagration OF the market house
in 1871.
Alexandria soldiers died at Quebec with
Wofe at Princeton under Mercer. and
during the war with Mexico
Before the Revolution closed the new
principles demanded new political organi-
zaticns. and after Saratoga and before
Yorktown, while Clinton was beating at
the gates Of Charleston the present mu-
nscipai government was organized On the
9th CT March, 1850. the new government
went into operation. with Robert Towns
bend Hoce as mayor. David Arell as re-
ecrders John Fitzgerald. James Hendricks.
William Bushby. Robert McCTae. alder
men; William Hunter. John Harper.
Josiah Watson. Peter Wise. Adam Lynn
and Robert Conway. common counciimen.
The town at that time stood on a level
from ten to fifteen feet higher than at
present. II was laid out on a hilltop.
which extended IN a nearly unbroken plain
from Ororoco creek and marsh on the
north and northwest to the river shore on
the east and TO what was called "Whise
Oak Swamp" that ran along the south
west and south Very low meadows and
swampy lands separated this hilltop from
another beyond the marshy grounds. To
the east the contour of the hill on which
the town was built cOrresponded with the
river beach. 10 which ii had originally
| ascended prscipitousIy. but which had. by
1176 been cut away for all of the streets
between Wolfe and Oronocc. to run down
an inclined plane TO the river. The river
F.! then formed a cove in front of the hill.
similar TO those 1t yet makes north and
south CT il. II curved in from Fishtown
TO Lee street at the foot OF the Mansiol
| House hill. and then away in a curve
southwest to the Long Wharf On this
/ hilltop lay the scattered houses which
/ made up the town. All the shipping busi-
ness was done at the two points at the
end OF the eeves. where warehouses and
| whaFves extending to deep water had been
built Cameron street was the principal
! street: the courthouse and market were
upon 1t, and crossing Oroncco creek at
| Pitt Street. by a bridge. it extended TO
Christ Church, then twenty years cid. On
4 the same street. opposite the market, az
| the northwest ecrEer CT its intersection
| with Royal Street.. stood the Royal George
I Hotel a frame hcStelry then used as
| recruiting station fer the army OF inde-
pendenee. To the east CT the market tae
large stCne HerbsTt House dominated the
smaller frames that lay around and over
topped the modest courthouse and Jail that
stcod on the market square opposite. King.
Queen. Princess, Primes. Duke. and Wolfe
and Wilkes Streets in one direction and
Fairfax. Royal, and Pitt and st. Asaph
Streets in the other were the only strests-
There was net a pavement on any OF
them.
The town thus founded was designed to
be commercial town; 10 make faF-eG
shores and distant people the ministers Of
It's prosperity \ ship was deemed its
proper device and in selecting an emblem
to be placed upon its seal. the council de-
pictsd there the good ship Alexandria
every sail set and every pennon flying. with
/ an even balance at her mainmast head,
( setting out TO cruise for fortune.
The first business OF the new govern
ment concerned the grading Of streets. so
that the river might be reached on easy
grades through all of them. for. in 1ISo,
! except the roadways By which Oronoco
! Street reached Point west and Duke Street
/ slopsd TO Point Lumley, there was no way
/ TO rsach the river shore except the rough
| and precipitous irclines cut through the
| high blum which overtopped the river side
| Ths earth cut from the hills was used IN
! filing up the cove in front Of the town.
"banking out the process was called.
While this grading was in progress. be-
fore porches could be completed. temporary
steps and ladders furnished access TO the
doors.
The town having been graded and the
streets to the west OF ST. Asaph Street,
south Of Wilkes Street and north Of Or
onOco Street having bsen laid of by the
proprietors, John Alexander. and his exec
uters, the paving Of streets was begun In
1875. This work OF grading and paving is
still going on
Granted n Charter.
It was during this form OF govern
ment that the territory of Alexandra
was ceded to the Federal Government as
a part OF the District OF Columbia. but tbs
provision having been made by the United
States that none of the Government build
ings should be erected on the Virginia sids
of the river, Alexandria became dissatisfied
The site was eeded in 1889. but the Govern
ment did pot extend its jurisdiction over
the city until February. 1862.
Alexandria's commerce grew ap9ce after
the close Of the Revolution. The Fedora
Constitution by establishing a uniform
tariff of duties, relieved the town from tbs
annoying competition of Georgetown aat
Bladensburg under the low State ta-i1 o
Maryland, and placed the foreign trade o
the town on what its fathers believed u b
! firm basis. Soon came the quasi wa
with France in 1873. and many Of Alexan
| dria's finest vessels were captured BY III
cruisers of France. This was the frs
| blow at Alexandria's ocean commeree
France afterward paid the United State
for these vessels. but the money. it IS said
| was never paid to the shipowners- TheI
came the terrible yellow fever of 1909
which made lazar house of the rive
front and carried off one in ten OF tn
e Alexandrians that dweIt between Fairfa,
4 Street and the river. The shipping bust
: ness had scarcely recovered from thi
when, in 1903, the embargo OF Presiden
$ Jefferson tied up the laden ships TO tn
4 wharves. whence business had ceased
e In a few years more the war waged wit
. Great Britain for free trade and sailors
q rights made the port and its commerce
= prey TO the British frigates Euryalus an
Sea Horse, which in August. 1914, sale
up the Potomac with bomb catches an
captured the town.
This surrender was censured by tn
needless. President Madison gave his OF
fetal sanction to the imputation upon IN
municipal government. but a committee @
the common council presented an array @
facts which il is said silenced the critics
1t was shown that the town relied upon il
defence against an attack by water upc
Fort Warburton, situated where For
Washington now stands. and that the mil
ftia of the town and neighboFhood had
days before, been called out by levy e
masse and marched away; that the Unite