Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-05-20
THE ARTERIES or THE CITY.
street Car Lines, Water Mains, Drain
age and Telephone.

There are no anomalies in the layout
Of Alexandria. Without rugged hills,
the founders of the city found site
that nature had prepared, and planning
accordingly, the city is a pretty square
proposition beginning at the river
and paralleling It, is Union street. then
in order westward we find Lee, Fairfax.
Royal, Pitt. st. Asaph, Washington
Columbus. Alfred. Patrick, Henry, Fay
cite. PAYNE. West and Peyton. King
street. the principal thoroughfare. is the
dividing line. the streets named being
either North or South. North Of King
street and parallel in order are Cam
eron. Queen, Princess. Oronoco (the first
street named in the original settlemenD,
Pendleton, Wythe, Madison. Montgom-
cry and First South of King and par
allel in order are Prince, Duke, Wolfe
Wilkes. Gibbon. Franklin, Jefferson,
Green and Church.
Street car service Is supplied by the
Washington, Alexander & Mt. Vernon
Railway. and good service It is, too.
one hundred and twenty-six trains are
operated between Washington and Alex
andria, with stops at various suburban
stations. The direct local service is on
King street, between the Union depot
and the steamboat landing.
Alexandria, of course, has its water
works The company was organized
in 1850. This necessary feature or the
aitys life has been carefully fostered
ma is well equipped. The water comes
from the distant hills. and is held Tor
use in two reservoirs, SO feet above the
mean tide, having a total capacity OF
10000 900 gallons. The pumping ca
Dacity is 100000 gallons a day. The
system has a total of over % miles OF
mains from four to 20 inches in size.
The pressure is from 25 to 35 pounds
70 the square inch. There are over
1000 water takers, and the city has
$50 fire hydrants. The water Is un-
excelied for purity and crystalline clear
ness. The company has had 1t fire.
quently analysed by chemists. and the
various analyses are on file. The pres
ldent of the company is Walter Roberts.
while George Uhler Is secretary and
treasurer. Alexandria is fortunate In
having such a supply Of pure water.
The configuration OF the city adj
mits OF an excellent sewerage system.
The matter of drainage is one of i'm
portance, ard the superior sanitary
condition Of the city is largely due to
the thorough manner in which the
plans Of the engineering department
have been carried out. The total length
Of the main sewers is now over $4,000
feet in all 26 sizes, ranging from a
half-foot to five feet nine inches. If
telephone and electric light wires are
considered among the arteries. Alex
andria is well supplied. The lighting
II the streets is noticeable to all visi-
tors, King street in particular putting
on a big city appearance, from the
brilliancy with which light blazes from
arc lamps store fronts and signs.
There are two telegraph and two tele-
nbone copnnanias the pioneer and chief
telephone concern being the Southern
Bell Co.. organized In 1881. When
Wythe White became manager In 1894
the company had 112 subscribers. Now
he has $50. The central office is at
21e King street, with Miss 3. p. Keys
in charge as chief clerk, having been In
the office since its organization, q years
ago. She ably seconds the efforts of
Mr.. White in his work.