Evening star., 1909-05-19
FEW HOUSES TO LET
Great Activity in Alexandria
Real Estate Market.
OPENING OF THE SUBURBS
Cobblestones Being Replaced With
Modern Pavement.
RENTS ARE NOT EXORBITANT
Establishment Of Many Factories
Projected - Communications Re-
ceived by Chamber Of Commerce.
RENTS ARE NOT ExoRBITANT
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

With the wheels of commerce revolving
rapidly, Alexandria promises to become
one of the most prosperous manufacture
ing cities in the Old Dominion. The de-
mand on the real estate market Is now
being felt Within the past few months
there has been unusual activity among
the dealers.
The increase Of population caused by
the recent establishment Of numerous fac
tories has practically filled every vacant
house in the city with employers and the
employed. AS result there are today
less than dozen houses in the city with
modern conveniences that have the sign
ito let' on them, and there are not more
than fifty houses without conveniences
which are vacant.
There is not a single store for rent on
King street from the river front to the
city'S limits on the west, more than
mile in length. ]. T. Preston, secretary
of the chamber of commerce, accompa-
MED by Elmer NJ. Spaid, Geneva, N. Y.
today visited every real estate dealer in
the city and made an ineffectual effort to
obtain storeroom on King street for Mr..
Spaid, who contemplates opening In Alex
andria within a short time.
1t is generally believed here that there
is not another city of the same size In the
state of Virginia that can point out such
record so far as it's realty is concerned.
Moderate Rents.
1t is pointed out that this condition is
largely due to the fact that Alexandria
landlords do not ask exorbitant rents.
A house in a good residential locality can
be rented for from $3.50 to So a month,
and good houses without modern con-
veniences can be rented at $3.50 a month.
Food products can be bought in Alex
andria cheaply, bringing the living ex-
penses down to q comparatively nominal
figure.
Alexandria has recently taken to the
apartment houses, and investors In these
enterprises have thus far met with much
success. Alexandra now has two modern
apartment houses, both of which are al
ways rented, and a third is now in course
of construction, to be known as the Cam
eron, at King and Alfred streets. 1t is
also understood that a stock company is
now being organized for the construction
of fourth apartment house.
Growth Of the Suburbs.
With most of the city's available resi-
Dental section aready built up the city is
now beginning to branch out, and it is
astonishing to note the rapidity with
which numerous suburbs in the north
west have sprung up within the past few
months. A walk to the top OF the old
OuOOIeT OF ZIG hOod VI 1Aih6
street, will reveal many suburbs dotted
with modern houses.
Looking directly southwark one can see
Duke street extended, better known as
West End, with its mile of modern houses
on each side, all of which are occupied.
This suburb has been rapidly growing and
has city water, and other improvements
are contemplated in the near future.
The site Of the George Washington
ceremonies April 80. is regarded as ideal.
It commands an excellent view of both
Alexandria and Washington. This site
was originally chosen for the United
States Capitol but owing to it's close
the plans were changed by order Of Wash
ington. Most OF the lots adjoining the
park have already been disposed Of to
Alexandrians, and it expected that some
modern homes Will be built thereon In
the next few months.
At the base of the George Washington
Park stands Rosemont, regarded as one
of the most attractive of the new SUBJ
divisions. with Its granolithic walks and
other Improvements. In this subdivision
water, gas and sewers have been INSTALL
ed, and the residents will enjoy all the
comforts of city life. Six modern brick
houses have already been built by lot
owners, and in the present week six ad-
ditional houses will be constructed.
Northward are the subdivisions known
as Braddock Heights, Del Ray, ST. Elmo
and Mount Ida. The last named has just
been opened, and the owners already re-
port a large sale of lots. At this subdi-
vision granolithic sidewalks are being laid
and other improvements made.
Practically all of the subdivisions men
toned are now equipped with city con-
veniences including the telephone, which
was placed therein largely through the
untiring efforts of the chamber of COM
merce of this city. OF course, there are
numerous other subdivisions In the coun-
ty, but these are all within close prox-
unity to this city and show that the city
is rapidly expanding.
Influence Of the Railway Yards.
Perhaps the Potomac railroad yards,
also in Alexandria county, are largely re-
sponsible for the rapid development Of
both Del Ray and st. Elmo, which have
been extensively built up since the install
lation Of the yards
Real estate dealers report that avail
able houses and lots in the city and ad-
joining territory are very scarce, and
those which are being disposed OF are
bringing good prices, and they add that
money invested in Alexandria realty is
bound to increase within the next few
years
While the chamber of commerce is as
sisting materially in pushing things to
the front in this city the citizens gener-
ally are aiding in every way possible to
show the outside world that the historic
guide to the traveller, is thing Of the
past A visit to the old city will prove
that the city is again gaining its former
prestige as a commercial and industrial
port and will within a comparatively
short time be able to take it's place among
the leading cities of the state.
Many factories which will add mate
rally to the wealth of the city are now
projected. The chamber Of commerce is
almost daily in receipt of communications
from manufacturing concerns which con-
templatea change in location, and, as Mr..
Preston said today, they could not do
better than to locate in Alexandria" With
its unsurpassed railroad and steamboat
facilities and its close connection to the
United States capital there is perhaps no
other city in the country better equipped
as a manufacturing city than Alexandria.
Replacing the Cobblestones.
That which has added wonderfully to
the city laurels, and which will for all
time rebound to its credit, is the modern
street and sewerage system. The former
has within the past few years taken the
place the prehistoric cobblestones,
which are being rapidly relegated to the
background. and which are being sup
planted by modern vitirified brick and
macadam roadways. With the advance
that the city is now making, 1t will be
but a short time before the sight of a
cobble street will be thing Of the past
movement has just been inaugurated
for the extension from the city's limits to
the union passenger railway station on
King street Of the vitrified brick road
way. Upon the completion OF the exten-
sion the city will have q complete vitrt-
fed brick-paved street from the river
front to the railway station. a distance