Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-12-31

but the outside sales have not material
/ ly increased. The mills have been
kept quite busy turning out work for
use 10 this city, Washington and else
where, the Alexandria dealers havIng
secured a number of good contracts
after lively competition. The lumber
dealers here buy in the largest
markets, sell Cd reasonable terms and
profits, and have built up large trade,
which they continue TO hold against all
corners.
The Wholesale grocery and provision
merchants report about the same vol
ume OF business as last year. 10 some
instances there was falling off, while 10
! others there was an increase, which
"evened thinss up" This Is one OF AL
exandria's largest branches OF trade
and this city is supply centre for
large territory.
| The retail grocery business shows lit
tie change. 1t shifted about somewhat
among dealers who presented their
goods In the most attractive ways, but
the volume increased but little. The
sale OF high priced fancy groceries is
hardly az large as that OF few years
ago.
| The grain and flour trade shows an
increase. The Touring mill here pur-
chased twice as much grain this year as
it did last, and brought it from much
greater distance than heretofore, while
it made snd sold twice as much flour
and over much larger territory.
( The general commission business was
larger this year than for some time and
farm products, poultry, game, etc.,
came here from a greater distance.
Good prices were secured and general
satisfaction was given.
The wholesale business In drugs,
paints, oils, etc., this year was the
largest in the cily's history and the ter.
ritory supplied by Alexandria with this
line of goods exceeds that OF any other
branch of trade, extending north and
south, east ond west. Cities. towns
and villages heretofore supplied by the
i largest cities OF the country with these
goods, now purchase through statesmen
sent out from this city, which is an evi.
dence of the enterprise OF the Alexan-
drians engaged in this business.
The retail druggists report no de.
crease in their business, and all say
they are making living If they are not
agettiDg rich.
4 The dry goods, notions and carpet
merchants report business in their line
as good, and 10 some instances better
than last year. They have kept large
and we'll assorted stocks of goods, sold
them at reasonable prices and made
special exertions to attract trade. both
within aud from without the city.
Many OF the merchants in this line of
business are as energetic and enterpris-
ing as any in the city and are assisting
very materially in building up the trade
OF Alexandria.
The ice business continues on the in
crease, and during the hot spell in Au-
gust this city supplied points as far south
as South Carolina, and through the
energy OF the Alexandria dealers pre-
vented ice famines 10 several Virginia
and other southern cities. The re-ice.
J ing of train loads OF fruit from the South
and meats from the west continue, and
more men are employed in handling ice
now than ever before. The ice plant
here was run during the season TO its
fullest capacity. and it's capacityis now
being increased.
, The leather trade, an important item
in the business of the city, shows no
material change. Large quantities OF
leather made in the North Carolina
bark region at tanneries owned by AL
exandrias are shipped directly here and
sold all over the country. This leather
is Of excellent quality and finds ready
J market.
The shoe factories have been kept
J busy throughout the entire season, and
greatly increased their outputs. The
: Alexandria made shoes meet with ready
sale, and stand well in the market. The
facilities of the factories are constantly
being increased and the newest machir-
cry added. For their siZs there are few,
if any, better equipped shoe factories
than those in this city. The retail boot
and shoe dealers, at least some OF
them, report an increase in their sales
over those OF last year.
|. The business OF the Alexandria brew.
cry continues to Increase and additions
aud improvements are constantly being
made to the plant, which is already one
Of the most complete in the United
States. The managers are somewhat
hampered for space, and it ia to be re-
GREETED that the recent effort to secure
piece of unimproved land on which
they intended to erect several other
buildings, was unsuccessful. The CON-
pany has large trade throughout the
South, and is annually increasing its
export trade.
Those engaged in the china, glass and
earthenware business report q very
gratifying increase in the volume OF
trade in that line, but say that sales
have now to be made on small MARGINS
and at reduced profits. The establish
ments here carry large stocks of goods
and the dealers are always on the alert
for business and compete with the
largest establishments in the country.
The sales OF furniture have somewhat
increased and some OF the dealers this
year carried larger and handsomer
stocks of goods-indeed, as handsome
as anyone would want. Tner stocks
compare favorably with those 10 larger
cities, as do also their prices.
The wholesale liquor business shows
a slight increase, the out-of.town sales
being larger this, than last year. The
retail business remains about unchang-
ed The distillery near this city resum-
ed operations this year after long close
down and large quantity of liquor has
been made there.
The tobacco and cigar dealers say
there has been little change in their
business-no falling of. The cigar
makers have had to compete with the
cheap but inferior grades OF cigars put
on the market as Headers" by the