The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-16
HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA

old historic city Of Alexandria' Hlny
properly be called a suburb Of Wash
ington. It is but six miles by rail from
the capital, ana many Of It's Inhabitants
ana their business interests centered IN
thlszcity. An Immense throng Of De-
nartment clerks make their homes in
the quiet old city, that seldom finds her
peace disturbed, or the monotony OF
her life broken, by the din and uproar
Of the outside world. But Thursday Of
last week was an historic occasion ana
the quaint old town woke up hump
ed' herself, donned her gala dress, and
got ready for an up-to-date eelebra-
tlon az heP one hundred and ffheth
hIrfhdav And the spectacle which the
city presented did credit to the unspar-
inrf energy Of time and money expenu-
al bv the committee, during the past
few weeks. to make this occasion ms
toric for success Early In the morning
crowds OF visitors began pouring INTO
the city from Washington baltimore,
and the surrounding country hNe.
steamers and electric cars were taAeu
10 their utmost capacity. The THOR.
oughfarea were crowded and 1ammeu
BY every conceivable mode OF convey
anee. Even the old ox-cnrt was IN eVl-
dence with ."Uncle Toby ana Aunt
Dlnah" and their numerous progeny
ali mixed In with the masses ana
the '.classes'' that were thronging the
streets, waiting for the show to begin
BY arrangement with navy depart
ment, three Of our gunboats lay at
anchor in the harbor. The boom from
their guns was the signal that the cell
ebratlon had commenced, that the brll.
liant procession was ready to move ana
the Ceremonies prepared for the ocen-
Eion were on. The autumnal haze that
lowered In the emily morning, dlsap.
peared by noon and the sun shone out
in all his glory to smile upon the scene
The spectacle was without parallel In
the history OF the city. A continuous
line OF streaming banners, hags anu
bunting was stretched from the river
front to the end Of King street the
principal thoroughfare, and throughout
the whole town the citizens seemed 70
vie with one another In artistic decor
atIons and picturesque display In honor
Of the event.
were the gorReously decorated floats,
representing the civic and industrial or
PLANTATIONS OF the city. In the hre-
mems display was seen the old hand
engine, bought one hundred and twenty
years ago by George Washington, and
drawn from Philadelphia 10 Alexandria
by four oxen. This viewed in contrast
with the modern "fire-hghter" hydra
lie engines, and the hook and ladders Of
the present day, together with the vet
eran flremen in long white coats, fire
proof hats, and heavy axes showed the
evolution that has been going on In this
Important factor In civilization since
the day that the father Of his country
took so active an interest in the ahairs
Of the city.
Then there were the historic floats. IL
Illustrative Of the history Of Alexandria
begInnlnS with the landing OF Captnin
John Smith, three hundred years ago.
when he sailed up the Potomac, to the
site where Alexandria was founded n
century and half latec. The progress
and development OF the city, illustrated
by realistic representations OF the stir
ring events and Incidents through
which the cary settlement has passed
was an education to even children OF
adult age. For many had either for
gotten, or had never known that the
city's history began so many years ago.
In the procession were George and
Martha washington, seated In car
riage modelled after the one IN which
they rode from Mount Vernon to New
York. when Washington was inaugura-
ted President of the United States. The
slow old coach offered suggestions OF
the growth and expansion "of our ter
rItoFiaI possessions" and the immense
railroad systems, and water ways that
have developed, for the comfort and
convenience of travellers, and the eX-
tension Of the nations home industries.
Why, that float contained volumes OF
history, all on the line OF expansion.
There Is our stupendOus postal sys-
TEN, telegraphlc facilities, telephone
connections, with all that has grown
out OF them. to make this among the
foremost nations Of the world, II not
the foremost And all this comes from
the expansion policy started by our
forefathers, when we were only thlr-
teen states, occupying a very narrow
strip Of land between the Atlantic and
the Alleghenies, There were floats nlso
that gave n picture OF our Immense ed
ucatIonaI growth since the first free
schools founded by Washington and
Lee: these floats were filled with chill
iren from the public schools of the city.
By the time the pageant had passed,
night began to spread her mantle, and
yet the crowds were augmented by
thousands from the District, who could
not leave their business during the
day, but were engor to witness the
brilliant evening displays.
Then It was that thousands OF cleo
trlc lights shone upon the gorgeous dis
play Of flags and bunting. presenting
most brilliant and dazzling picture.
that brought forth vncIferous cheers
from the multltudes that crowded the
streets. II Is supposed that not less
than %. 900 visitors were entertained by
the various clubs that had organized to
offer to outside friends the freedom OF
the city. and the princely hospitality for
which Alexandria has ever been famed.
A court OF honor had been erected near
the monument TO the Confederate SOL
oilers, and this was nblnze with various
colored bulbs Of incHndescent light,
that 1T up the faces Of the statues of
heroes who fell In the lost cause. Never
since the troops were in possession OF
the city during the civil war has Alex
andrin been so thoroughly and enthu-
Blasticnlly alive rs on the occasion OF
her seSuul-centennlal natal day, every
feature OF which told Of the dead past.
and pointed the finger OF hope toward
further expansion In the future.
Not until midnight when guns belch-
ed forth their warning that the day wns
done. did the vast crowds dispense to
seek their needed repOEe, and perchnnce
to dream Of n stu brighter future for
the old and cherished city whose natal
anniversary had been so glorious a
success. NJ. s. II.
TEN LIVES LOST