Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-12-31
TUESDAY EVENING. DEC. 81, 1sO1.II
ALEXANDRIA IN THE goth
CENTURY.

the Gazette has endesvored 70 snow
that the present condition OF Alexan'
drIa should be regarded ss especially
satisfactory from the fact that work
can be procured by nearly everybody
who wants IL. This is state OF affairs
seldom noted In the history OF
this city. save during the civil
war when an abnormal condition exist
cd which Ike high tide left the city
bedrsggled and not efectually benefit
ted. From the close Of hostilities up to
q year or two ago Alexandrians,
realizing the fact that they were strug'
sling 10 q 90 numerical sense while 9TH
er places we're forging ahead, invited
capital here. portrsylng the city's nat
ursl advantages, 60. AS time went on
our people ever and anon became the
victims of cruel sells In the shape OF
promised iron works, new railroads and
dreams superinduced by mythical
steamship companies and other orgsni'
cations which existed on paper.
During ell these years the people had
their hopes shattered-6rst in one 10
stitution and then In another-until 1t
seemed that the place was destined to
become the graveyard Of nearly every
thing In the way Of enterprises which
people had the nerve to start here. We
had waited long and patiently for
change In the tide of our affairs, but the
buoy pointed downstream and the
steady ebb continued. Some dreamed
new streets would prove the panacea for
commercial depression, while others im-
agined brass bands. free lunches and
fireworks would attract the attention
OF capitalists. Another class were con-
WINGED that u street fair would put
Alexandria on q manufacturing basis
and prove the nucleus Of great COM
msrcIal career; others we're equally sure
changes In the present plans OF assess
ment we're all that was needed to an
innate Alexandria. Enthusiastic 1850
Citations were formed and cart loads OF
literature distributed, medals coined
and badges prepared, pictures and maps
printed, q day set and Invitations ex-
tended to ell mankind to come to
Alexandria. Many responded. bat af'
Ter day or two of carnival and vanity
fair performances the crowd departed,
probably chuokling over the thought
that "Fools give feasts aud wise men
eat at them" While all this was going
on, however, and this and that one ex-
patiating on what could and should be
done, each 10 the meantime waiting for
the other TO act, a few practical, quiet
and unpretentious gentlemen we're at
s0ork In Alexandra. They were conceiv-
lug modest enterprises themselves,
thoroughly tired of dresmers, theo-
rists and takers, and were working
assiduously to place on q sound footing
enterprises which results have shown
are destined to become Alexandria In
situations. They we're not waiting for
Others to come here and develop the
city, bat were convinced that If any
thing was to be realized in the way OF
naHufactories 1t must bs done by Alex
audrlans aud with Alexandra capital.
They employed no brass bands nor
participated In any Punch and Judy
performances 10 order to further their
purposes, and by their efforts 10 short
time placed the city in a position it
seldom enj Dyed before-that ia making
1t possible for every man, woman and
child who desired employment to OBJ
tain 1t. Certainly this had been the
great deslderatum for many years, and
now that it has been brought about
advantage should be taken of 1t.
The Gazstts recently called atten-
tlon to the fact that ten years ago,
when everyone supposed the city was
nearing the end Of its rope, an invent
DRY disclosed the fact that more bust.
ness was being transacted here than at
any other time since the place was In
corporsted. Daring the decade which
has followed 1t is known that the busi-
ness Of the city has forged ahead Won
derfully, more so than we had any
reason to hope for. There Is no neces-
slty to enter into details 10 order to
prove this. The wholesale merchants,
glass, shoe, overall, hosiery, fertilizer
and other manufacturers, Is we'll as the
proprietors OF foundries and planning
and sash mills, will attest the truth
OF the observation.
But the most encouraging feature oil
all Is the fact that it lie no longer neoes.
ssry to "stsnd all the day idle" as was
once inevitable. people having rlsked
their capital and put machinery 10 mo-
ton which affords employment to the
many dependent upon their daily labor
The railroads alone which centre here
keep a small army of men In regular
employment while the many local enter
prises locAted here and there, each en-
ploying from a dozen to one hundred
hands, form in the aggregate large
hodv