The Washington times., 1906-01-28

A little more than six years ago the
city OF Alexandria celebrated its ses-
qui-centennial. Upon the occasion OF
tbst celebration a number OF articles
were written and widely published
dealing with Alexandria's historic past
Among the many things reeounted were
the facts concerning washington
residence near there. and his invest
ments in real estate. There are many
landmarks today standing in Alex
andria which have survived the raw
ages of more than century
The building occupied as the hrst
free school in America still STANDS
This school was the outcome OF Gen
eral Washington's bounty. The church
where Washington worshiped still IN
Vites the attention of the antiquary'
and the lover of tradition. Here the
oldest inhabitant will point out what
. ne knows Of the location Of the prop
erty which was purchased By SeheFal
washington at the first public sale OF
lands far back in the eighteenth cen
turv. even before the War OF the Re
-Dol11tion. Here also is still 10 be seen
the old Carlisle House, where Wash
ington and several Governors held
consultation with the English General
RraddOck the day before the latter
started out on that meAnorabie mafch
into the wilderness which terminated
in. and became known TO history as the
great BraddOck defeat. II was during
the retreat Of Braddock's remnant that
the future idol OF American hearts
first came into prominence as soldier
and a strateg1st.
Looking to the Future.
All these facts. connected with Alex
andria's past, are interesting ana IN
suiring, but we could not dwell upon
them too long for fear that the peo-
nIe Of the country Will think that here
is a city which dwells only in the past.
AS a matter of fact, there are rev II
p any communities in America which Of
fer as manifold advantages TO the gen
eral public as does Alexandria And
these advantages viii inevitably be re
cognized sooner or later, resulting IN
the upbuilding upon the south side or
the Potomac of one of the greatest
manufacturing centers in the country
It is true that for many years Alex
andTia did live in the past, and upon
the achievements of the past but the
last decade has marked a decided
change in public sentiment ana IN me
progressive ideas that have dominated
the business element. The entire sec
ton has taken on new life, Alex
andria's interest in herself dates back
10 the time that Washington first
awOke to her possibilities OF growth
and expansion
Though for many years part or the
District Of Columbia Alexandria IS now
independent of all political affiliations
,4yao Inn
the two cities is still indissolubly
bound together by the closest ties of
friendship as well as commercial and
financial interests As Washington de-
VeIops so will Alexandria ana the
growth of each section will materially
affect the other in most favorable de-
gree
Alexandria, like Washington, for
MANY wears Law in a cOmatose state, so
10 speak Her advantages were there
to be utilized, but no one seemed to be
willing TO take the initiative. This is
today all past history. Now there Is
an active board OF progressive COM
mercial men with modern ideas, who
have organized the Business Men 5
League. \ body of alert representative
citizens wh1 have done mucn ana are
destined to do vastly more in bringing
their community TO the forefront in
the great struggle for commercial sup
remacy in America
The Germ of Progress.
An incident which occurred in Alex
andria ten or twelve years ago is worth
relating for the reason that, while 1t
did not result III any advantage to the
city per Sc, it was the cause of bringing
to the attention Of some of the most
progressive spirits OF the community
what great possibilities really lay at
the very doors of the city. The occur
B renee was as follows: A group Of sub
stantiaI English capitalists learned by
chance that there was a city OF $4,000
or $4,000 inhabitants Just six miles be-
low Washington. at the head Of deep
water navigation on the Potomac river.
that was practically dead. The fact
struck them as truly startling, and inn
mediately visions of vast manufacture
ing enterprises arose in their minds.
They Immediately dispatched to Ameri-
ca one of their most astute representa-
tives, who was instructed to go care
fully over he field, and report as soon
as possible.
This representative went to Alexandria
and spent several weeks there He met
some of the best-known and most sub
stanti1 citizens. and was accorded the
cordial hospitality for which the city is
so justly famous. One OF the business
men who took an active interest in
pointing Ol-t to the English representa-
tive the possibilities of the section was
the present head of the Business Mems
League. A number of views of the
water front and OF the possible sites
for manufactures. having been secured,
the representative departed, with the
instructions that the photographs be for
warded to his London address as soon as
as they should be completed. This was
done. but for months nothing was heard
Finally the photographs were returned
with the notation that the party "a
whom they were addressed had died al
Z sea on the return voyage from America
II As he was the only member of the syn
4. dictate whom the people OF Alexandra
II knew. the matter was forever closed. as
= far as English Investment was con
cerned.
The "0pen Door" Slogan
This apparently small incident vii
affect the entire future of a commu
nifty, The idea dawned upon Alexandra
generally that If opportunity was knock
ing so loudly at her door that tn,
sound reverberated TO the coast of Eng
land, and attracted the attention o
Londoners who were surrounded Will
the hum and noise of possibilities 70