Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-26
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
RAPID PROGRESS ON NEW UNION
STATION.
Up-to-Date Arrangement for the Vir-
ginia City-General and Per-
sonal Matters.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, July %. 1905.
Rapid progress has been made in the past
two weeks on the new union passenger sta
ton which is being constructed by the
Washington Southern Railway Company at
the head of King street just outside the city
limits. The exterior of the building was
finished few days ago and force
of mechanics is engaged in erecting an ex
tensive open-work structure above the plat
forms. This consists of long roofs, sup
ported by columns. and adds much to the
artstics effect of the station. 4 concrete
passageway is being laid from the King
street sidewalk to the north entrance of the
depot. on the east side of the main build
ing and Immediately next to the platforms
four tracks are being paced in position.
Over these will pass the numerous passen-
ger trains of the Southern. Washington
Southern. the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac. the Chesapeak Ike and Ohio and
other lines which converge in this city 1t
is expected that the tracks viii he ready for
service some time in September. Close TO
the station large and substantial freight
house is nearing completion.
Work on the bed of the mammoth freight
yard Just 10 the north of this city is pro-
crossing satisfactorily. An enormous
amount of material has been excavated. ex-
tel;sive emhanknentS have been raised and
trestle works constructed. The contractors
have commenced the construction of the
II.
which will span TIE railroad tracks at Poor
House lane and afford an elevated passage
for the county highway at that point. Most
OF the supports for the e.evated track of
the Bluemont division of the Southern have
been erected. AT u considerable height
above the main roadbed this line will trav-
erse an extensive area covele ed by railroad
tracks. There is now continuous roa died
for the new tracks from this city to the
south end of the railroad bridge over the
Potomac Much grading remains to be
done but the work of laying the tracks,
which has already been commenced will
be pushed over the whole distance in a
Short time.
Sanitation Movement Halted.
The movement started by Mayor Paff
few days ago for the general Improvement
of the sanitary condition of the city by
thorough and systematic cleaning of the
streets is temporarily at a standstill, the
may or stating last night that he had not
decided upon what further steps to take in
the matter. The mayor had written to
CITY Engineer Dunn, calling his attention
to 'the numerous complaints of the tardi-
ness with which work is being done and the
general insanitary condition of the city"
He further stated that las the admniStra-
ton receives the censure. and as the work
is under your department, | call your at
tention and ask you to explain" The city
engineer promptly replied, making the fol-
lowing statements:
Il am in receipt of yours Of today and
nCte the contents and request asking eX-
pldraton OF numerous complaints of
hardness with which work is being done
and the general insanitary condition of
the city. AS to the first, this office is not
in receipt of said complaints. The COM
plants that l receive are as promptly at
terded to as our limited force allows, and
much more would doubtless be accom-
plisted if so many of them were not of
nature caused by the property owners
against the established laws of the city,
The condition of the city, in my observ-
alton is not more insanitary than it is
usnelly a. this time of the year; in fact. l
believe it is better. The continued wet
weather has caused a rapid growth of
weeds and grass, but these are not insani-
tary. You are yourself aware of the trouble
of getting good laborers, or rather ANY
latorers at all, and my foremen have had
instructions for some time to hire any men
they could get, yet we have been unable
to get the forces We want. We might prob
ably get a force of negro labor, and on
instructions from you 1 will endeavor to
d. So
He said he had followed up the mayors
suggestion concerning the use of a chain
gang on the street and had found that
there Were only a few prisoners in the city
Jail available for service. In conclusion he
asked for additional instructions. Com
meEting on the reply, the mayor said he
thought the employment of negro labor
might be resorted to If white men could
not be obtained for the work. but he said
he had reached no conclusion in the matter.
General Matters.
Residents on Fayette street have COM
planned of the lack of proper precautions
to prevent the escape of bad odors from the
garbage tanks which are transported over
the Washington Southern tracks through
this city route from Washington to
point in Prince William county 1t is claim
ed that lengthy delays of trains on Fay
cite street often aggravate the nuisance
The Alexandria Athletic Association base
representing the Northeast Athletic Assoc
citation of Washington tomorrow afternoon
at 5:15 o'clock on the old fair grounds Pur-
cell and Kraft will do the battery work
for Alexandria.
The Columbia fire engine company has
decided to attend the annual convention of
the State Firemens Association which meets
in Harrsonburg next month