Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-12-30

admirably and have shown what can
can be done in the manufacturing line.
The shoes made here. are OF the best
quality and find ready market.
The retail boot and shoe trade was
hardly so large as that of last year, the
attractive advertisements of such goods
in other cities having caused some OF
the dealers here who overlook such
things to lose some of their trade.
The wholesale trade in drugs, paints,
oils, &c., shows decided increase for
the year, and this trade has doubled
during the past five years. A crafty
ing feature is that the extensive estat-
lisnment in this city, which virtually
has monopoly of the business in this
section, including Washir 6 on city, is
rapidly extending its sales territory
and now receives orders from as far
south as New Orleans. AS an evil
dence of the growth of this business, ii
can be stated that this Alexandria firm
in addition TO its main store, occupies
five big warehouses, has u force OF
thirty-6ve employees, keeps six men on
the road and uses several large wagons
in handling goods.
The retail drug business has increas-
ed and now there are more drug stores
in the city than ever before and these
are more generally scattered.
The business done in fertilizers hae
considerably increased, both OF the
large manufactures here being now in
the combines" and supply most of the
| farmers in this entire section. The
manufactures are being constantly en-.
larged and fitted with the latest devices
for making fertilizers and give employ
ment to quite large number of men
Phosphate rock from South Carolina
| and Florida, and Zones from the plains
of South America are brought here by
the cargo. converted into fertilizers and
sent of to enrich the fslds of this and
the adjoining States. Aiexandria's
| natural facilities for receiving and ship
ping fertilizers are unsurpassed, but
sometimes complaint is made that the
railroad freights act disadvantageously
TO the city.
The coal business shows an increase,
both in receipts and shipments, and the
Alexandria merchants are pushing their
trade into new and more distant terri
tory where they are meeting with COZ
siderable success.
The Alexandria brick works have
been kept busy throughout the year
and were unable to supply all the or
ders, so active YVES the demand for
bricks. The sales we're mainly out Of
1 Town, however, the shipments being
made 10 several of Lhe cities and towns
of the State.
/ The leather trade has been fully ss
large es that OF last year. Although
no leather is made in Alexandria now,
the tannery having been moved to
| North Carolina IL the midst of bark
region, most of the product of the tan
merry is shipped to this city as the dis.
tributiDg point and the general business
II the tannery is transacted here. TIE
| price of leather has advanced during
the year.
The lime aud cement business has
about held its Owl, the sales out OF
town about making up for any falling
off in the quantity sold in the city. The
high tariff has hurd the plaster trade
and not so much of i is now received
| here.
The hardware dealers report larger
jobbing, but not so large retail business.
The dry goods, notions and carpet
business shows an increase, In addi-
ton tc the home trade the Alexandra
merchants sell considerable amount
of such goods to the country merchants
| in the nearby counties, while the couu-
try retail trade has been quite fair.
| Their stock of goods is large and va
ried add their prices compare quite
favorably with those in other cities. In
carpets this fall, it is said that Alexan
dria undersold Washington right along.
One Alexandria house, especially, has
built up quite Wholesale trade in dry
goods and notions.
The dealers in china, glass aid earth
enware report an increase 10 sales and
An extended territory Of operations.
Ia this line Alexandria has one Of the
Oldest importing houses in the country
and this city sells as good and as cheap
goods as Can be found anywhere. The
merchants are active and enterprising
and bring much business TO the city.
The furniture dealers report their
sales as being equal to those OF last
year, but some engaged in this line
seem to be totally lacking in enter
prise. There was time when the fur
niture business Was feature in Alex
andria's trade.
The wholesale grocery and provision
business has for some years constituted
a large part of Alexandria's trade and
this city supplies very large territory
with such goods. The merchants in
these lines report equally as large bus
mess this year as last, but say the mar
gins now are smaller than ever before.
The retail grocers who have adver-
tised their business and otherwise
shown ordinary enterprise report
equally as good if not larger sales this
year than last, while others who lack
such enterprise report falling off in
trade.
The tobacco dealers report little
change to note in their business-if
anything, slight Improvement in the
sale of chewing tobacco. The cigar
manufacturers have held their own
against constant competition, the ex-
ceilence OF their cigars enabling them
TO do this
Annually the business of the Alexan-
dria brewery increases, as does the con-
sumption of beer The enterprise OF
the owners of the brewery is most COM
mendable and they have established
agencies in MANY of the southern