Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-31
THE DYING YEAR.

THE DYING YEAR.
The sands in the glass of 1902 are
about run out, and when the clock in
the City Hall steeple begins its twelve
strokes tonight the Christian era will
have passed another mile post. The
dying year has been an eventiul one
The country during its latter half has
been harrassed by the miners strike,
and on the last quarter as the temper
AZURE grew cooler and the fuel problem
became preplexing, anxiety has been
broadcast. We therefore enter the year
1908 under anxious conditions although
hoping for the best. There are three
months of cold end uncertain weather
to face, and before the mellow sunshine
of next spring shall have chased away
bleak winter some may be inconven-
fenced; Others may suffer.
The Gazette at the beginning Of
new year, however, has always en-
deavored to be optimistic, but has often
had no more to present than what was
left in Pandora's jar (Hope). But there
is, with all our disappointments, more
than Hope to bank on at present.
There are many things visible around
us which prove conclusively that Alex
an dria is in better condition than IT
was a few years ago, and there is much
to inspire courage in us all and convic-
lions that the tide, at any rate, is not
likely to recede. Throughout the year
which ends with tonight the Gazette has
watched vigilantly the inception and
birth of industries, infant though some
NAV have been, and has labored dill
gently to fan into flame anything
which could in any way tend to increase
the commercial Importance of the city.
The beams of the new years sun
will glisten upon the main street of the
city now paved in the staunchest and
most modern manner, as well as places
on other thoroughfares which we all be-
lieve will spread Besides these i'm
provements, of which we are all justly
proud smoke will be curling from
dozen manufactures Of more or less i'm
portance which were unknown a few
years ago. Others are said to be in an
embryonic state and many believe there
will be additions before the death knell
of 1908 shall have sounded.
The fact that the bulk of our people,
young and old, and of both sexes, find
employment at one occupation or an
other is gratifying, while it is the COM
mon observation that strangers are ap-
pearing in our midst almost daily.
The best indication that the city is
growing is the steady and increasing de-
mand for dwellings. This has been
noticeable throughout the year, and real
estate agents have had numbers of APP
plicants for dwellings booked during the
past few months. In many cases houses
contain more than one family in conse-
quence of the demand for suitable resi-
denuos. This state OF offoirs 10 sure 10
stimulate building and this means an in
crease in population and better condi-
ditions generally.
We know there are many who magnify
the order of things which prevailed two
score or more years ago and feed mostly
upon the past Their "reminiscences
carry them back to the river front of ante
bellum days. Many who remember
those scenes, of course, deplore the fact
that they have passed away, but they are
not blind to the advent of more vigorou:
successors. The bulk of the business Of
the city in the fifties was conducted on
the east side. There were numbers Of
stores and commission houses of more OF
less importance, but compared with the
modern wholesale houses of Alexandra
at the present day they were insignifi
cant. One or two clerks and horse
and dray in charge of colored driver
composed the working force of the ma
jority of them. In our time one house
alone is compelled to keep thirty-si,
horses, with numerous clerks, drummers
stevedores, typewriters, &c. One O.
two such places amount to the aggrega
ton ofthose ofold times II business il
more concentrated it takes as many PEG
pie to conduct it now as ever.
Besides while the Strand and Uniol