Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-05-20
THE sINEws OF THE CITY.
Commerce, Capital In Trade, Extensive
Retail Business

In other columns of this issue an
outline picture is given OF AleXandria's
commercial greatness, through its rail-
way, steamboat, manufacturing, whole
sale and banking Inter ests. but a few
brief statements relating to the general
trade OF the city will prove Of interest.
Large sums are Isvestsd here I'm a job
bling and distributing business. whose
stores and warehouses cover an extern
sive area in square feet Some CT our
merchants are direct importers, having
trade relations with lands across the
seas. Ships from all continents have
been at the wharves of Alexandria.
our city, however, as retail center
Is steadily coming into prominence.
There are now about $50 retail houses.
our merchants appeal 10 an intelligent
and cosmopolitan clientele. Purchasers
irOm neighbOring towns and commune
lies Of Virginia and Maryland are to
be seen at the counters of our stores
every day. Neutrality-suspicious. are coming
down too to take advantage OF the
bargains afforded, whore rentals and
other expenses are not as great as In
their home city. Our merchants are
able TO meet discriminating and varied
tastes, the eXacting requirements OF
people who want what they want when
they want II.
There are reasons why the merchants
Of the South should buy goods in
Alexandria.
l. Because freight rates from Alex
andria TO all points In the South are
cheaper than from any city In the
North.
2. Because the goods carried by Alex
andria wholesalers are selected with a
view to Southern needs.
g. Because Alexandria wholesalers
have the capital. and-buy for cash, can
discount bills, and give customers the
benefit
can find in Alexandria what he wants
at all times, at right prices and on sat-
isfactory terms.
5. Because Alexandria wholesalers
are able and willing to favor their Gus
toners, knowing that business is a re-
ciprocal proposition, that the whole
saler's success depends upon the re-
tailer's success.
6. Because Alexandria is the nat
urally located trade center for Southern
merchants.
The merchants or Virginia and
other States Of the South will find in
Alexandria everything he sells. Among
the goods sold are the following:
Agricultural implements, art goods.
awnings, bakers and confectionery arti-
cles, brick. barbed wire, beer, black
Hllllln tDO'St DidIh DDOkS, DOCKS anu Slt-
tionery, boots and shoes. brass goods,
builders hardware. cutlery, cakes and
crackers, candies, carpets, cement,
chinaware, cigars. clothing, coal, cof-
fins, drugs, dry goods, electric supplies,
earthenware. farm machinery, fertiliZ-
ers, fruit, furniture, gents furnishings,
glass, grain. hay, feed, CRATES, guns,
groceries and grocery sundries, hard
ware, harness. hats, lime, liquors, lum-
d 1frla
mineral waters. notions, novelties. nur-
sery supplies, painters supplies, patent
medicines, perfumeries, photograph
supplies, physicians supplies. plumbers
supplies, poultry. produce, proprietary
medicines. railway supplies, sand, sash,
doors and blinds, sawmill supplies,
school supplies. sewer pipe, sewing ma
chimes, show cases. skirts, stoves, tim
ware, toys, trunks, valises, Irvine. wire
goods, wall paper. etc.
If there Is anything not included In
this list and that might be thought
Of, IT is sold from Alexandria 1t is
not meant that there is a mere display
of these various articles, but in boat,
car and warehouse lots, and yet shown
in a variety ample to afford every op-
portunity that a buyer could ask from
which to select what he needs for his
trade.
The wholesalers maintain a Chamber
Of Commerce. II Is a strong organiza-
ton. formed to advance the mutual in
terests Of the jobbing business of Alex
andria- The aggregate capital repre-
scented by the members is millions of
dollars. They have money to do things
on the right scale When bills are to
be discounted they are ready to get the
discount and let their customers have
the advantage
The headquarters of the chamber on
the corner OF King and Washington
streets are in charge of the energetic
secretary, ]. T. Preston, whose familiar
ity with his duties was acquired from
years Of experience in railroad agencies.
Mr.. Preston always extends a cordial
welcome to visitors and supplies them
with printed matter and information re-