Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-04-18
GREATER ALEXANDRIA,.


[ have in my letters aimed to show
yonr readers tho importance OF the coal
and iron ore territory tributary to the
twin cities cf Washington aad Alex
andria as principal means Of develop
meni OF these cities, Alexandria being
the natural terminus oil transportation
TO those minerals and the point for the
great manufacturing interests that ac'
luslIy should develop in the capital city,
making Alexandra a city Of not less
than one hundred lhclisand population
10 q iew years. :,
A comparison siih tho capitals OF all
The great nalOas shows this 10 he what
belongs TO your city rs her natural right;
result retarded by circumstances, but
Which tho present time * opPortune for
bringing forth.
TO accomplish this, AleKandrians
must. assist: Alexandrisus must prove
themselves what they always have been,
men capable Of doing things; and in
this matter men capable of doing great
things. Alexandra was one OF the frat
cities 10 build a municipal gas works
and establish water works. Alexandra
capital assisted the building of one OF
the first railroads in "tne i'ties,'
The Orange and Alexandria Railroad,
also the Maussses Gap Railroad, both
now q part of the great Southern Rail
way. NV brother. Hugh Thomas Dong
las, started as q rOdmsn on the Orange
and Alexandria Railroad, and he ran
the preliminary survey OF the Manassas
Gap Railroad. What Alexandrians did
10 'Ghe fifties" she can do nov.
propose that promotion company
be oIgsniz.d, with the double purpose OF
booming Alexandria and of laying the
foundation OF an iron and coal company
10 get control OF and work the iron ores
and cosl in the iron and coal territory
tributary to Alexandra, as q means to
the end of assisting your city TO expand
to those proportions which nature and
her relations to the Capital city eighty
millions Of people entitIe her TO grow.
Hundreds OF thousads OF acres OF coal
and iron ore lands arc available for such
corporation: though q good start may
be made with less acreage. and growth
can come IS development and demand
need 1t. This growth may reach
giant proportions providing the man
sgement Is wise and energetic There
tore, snch a promotion company may
finally mean to Alexandra aud to the
promoters pIopOrtionstly what the Equit-
able Insurance Company means, with
its four hundred million assets, to
Thomas f Ryan, J. T. Morgan and
others In their giant industrial enter 1
prlses. il can become the heart, the
circulating medium to the development
OF the coal and Iron ores now lying trib
utary to Alexahdrls; and tho dollars
coined out of these raw materials will
naturally aid directly great industries in
ind around Alexandria, while directly
the work of such company will in other
ways assist the city, as noted in my
letters.
/ will not 90 into details in regard to
this promotion company in this letter.
| state that think have worked ont a
comprehensive plan therefor.
We may expect some to say ait
can't be done" "Where there is
will there Ia a way" have the will
and | propose to marx out way and
find the way. know the great posi-
bilities of such an undertaking, also
know the grest obstacles TO be overcome.
the greatest being a good s'art but be-
lieving have the knowledge and abili-
ty TO answer all critics and objectors and
to build up giant company In due
time tackle the work trusting in my
self and Almighty God and 10 Alex an
dris, the home OF my father.
Respectfully you're,
W. G., DOUGLAS.