Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-10-23
AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT.

AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT.
Efforts 20 Induce the American u
gar Company TO Utilize Old Mount
Vernon Cotton Factory-One Thou
sand Persons Would be Employed
$3,fOO Subscribed.
Business and professionalism OF Alex
andria last night put in motiona plan
which. if successful, will add materially
to the commercial importance of this
city. The old Mount Vernon Cotton
Factory, silent for many years, ano
which will soon be sold under deed o.
trust, is probably destined to show more
life than ever in the near future.
In pursuance of call about forty OF
the representative business men OF the
city met in the Business Mems League
rooms for the purpose of taking action
in regard to an nportantindustry which
if not directly coming TO us Is, at any
rate, looking this way, and which, II Is
believed, can be landed by the prompt
action Of our people Theinterest shown
by those present indicated an earnest IN
tention on their part not TO allow the OPP
portunity of adding to Alexandria
manufactures to pass by.
1t seems that there is a likelihood OF
inducing the American Cigar Company
to locate one of its factories in Alexan-
dria, providing the people Of this city
will vie with the company. Should the
exertions of our citizens be crowned with
success one thousand more factory people
will be employed in Alexandria.
The meeting was called to order by
Mr.. NJ. B. Harlow, President OF the
Business Mems League, who stated that
Mr.. Richards, of the land and industrial
department ofthe Southern Railway, had
recently brought to this city the third
vice president of the the American Cigar
Company. who was looking for place
which offered suitable advantages for a
location, it being the purpose OF the
company to establish another plant IN
the South. Mr.. Harlow stated that he
had shown the gentlemen around the
city and that they were particularly
impressed with the old Mount Vernon
cotton factory building, on north wash
ington street. Mr.. Harlow further said
that he had received a letter from the
concern, the principal office of which IS
in New York, in which it proposed that
il would locate here if the people OF this
city would furnish rent free for two
wears the cotton factory building or any
other building suitable for its purposes,
give it an option On the building for
five years, at cost not to exceed the
purchase or building price, the company
to paw, after the expiration of two years,
rental equal to 6 per cent erannum Of
the cost of the factory. Mr.. Harlow
suggested the organization OF a stock
company to purchase or erect a suitable
building for ihe concern. The cotton
factory building will be sold under a
deed of trust in the next thirty days,
and several present thought it could be
purchased at reasonable figure.
Some discussion followed when the
stock company plan was unanimously de
cided upon in order to raise from $40, 00U
to SIS, 600, and upon' motion Of Mr.. A.
ID. Brockett 1t was resolved to wire the
concern that the meeting was unani-
mously in favor of accepting their propo-
sition. that committee had been ap-
pointed to secure the money and look
into the subject of a suitable building
and that they would be wired the result
of this committees work this afternoon
The names of those present were ther
called. and the following subscribed SlOC
each toward the fund: Park Agnew, NJ
b. Harlow, julius Pelton, W. II. May
& Son, John r. Zimmerman, Swaf
Bros. w. II. Peck, w. p. Woolls, &
C. Carlin, II. F. Robertson, j. G. Mil
burn, Henry Bladder, Charles King anC
Son, George R. Hill, james McCuen
William Desmond, Thos. L. Carter
George L. Simpson, j. I. Sweeney
John NJ. johnson, h. F. Tucker
George d. Hopkins, f. E. Downham
Thomas Hoy, A. d. Brockett, Georg
II. Harlow, Henry Strauss, FRANK :
Harper, JOS. F. R )dgers, Charles X
Hooff, James F. Muir, Gardner l.
Boothe, Robt. Elliott and Rober
4 f. Knight The members OF tn
committee appointed to wait on tn
citizens of Alexandria today in con
nection with the matter were Messr'
IA. d. Brockett, George d. Hopkins
Charles II. Hooif. Henry +. Robertson
and Nj. b. Harlow.
Mr.. Harlow wired today that the con
mittee had been appointed to conit
with the officials Of the American Ciga
Company for the purpose Of making tn
contract.
parcOnal