Evening star., 1909-05-13
|SOUD men At HELM
AIexandrians Indorse Move
for Greater City.
WORKSHOP OF WASHINGTON
Business Men and Capitalists Prom
ise Support to Promoters.
PLAN MANY NEW INDUSTRIES
Real Movement on Foot to Restore
Virginia City to Her old-Time
Commercial Prestige.
PLAN MANY NEW INDUSTRIES
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

the subject of discussion last night and
today wherever citizens were gathered
together. The future of this city as
manufacturing center was painted In
roseate hues and the bringing OF the
plans of the chamber Of commerce to
fruition was the theme Of the hour.
That history will reepat itself is the
belief of many active business builders
They point backward over the lapse
of many years, when Alexandra was
hustling mart and port and one of the
principal commercial cities in the United
States. and proudly predict that the new
city Of the future-greater Alexandria,
they term twill take high rank with
| the twentieth century commercial COM
munities That the new and greater
city will grow from the ashes OF the DID,
New Brand Of Progressiveness.
new brand Of progressiveness is being
developed here which will mean much in
the advancement Of the town. A group
of business men were watching the flames
yesterday as they consumed the Smoot
plant and lumber yard, and at intervals
they discussed the probable results of the
| conf1agration. Sympathy was expressed
| for Mr.. Smoot and the others who are
| losers as a result Of the fire. Suddenly
| one of the men seemed to catch an inspi-
1
| to his companions, he said:
LET us hope that from the ashes of
these ruins will spring. Phoenix-like. the
| first upbuilding of the greater Alexan-
] dria Of the future
]. T. Preston, secretary of the chamber
| of commerce, in referring to the pretty
southern sentiment which attaches to the
| quaint, old-fashioned buildings Of this
city. remarked that in the present strenu-
| Gus age the word sentiment" is too often
| spelled "cent-iment."
Another Armour Plant.
Catching the spirit Of the greater Alex
andria movement inaugurated by the
chamber Of commerce and kept alive and
moving forward by the energy Of its
membership. several important improve
| ments are planned for the near future.
Walter C. Davis, manager Of the branch
house OF Armour & Co., corner of Union
| and King streets, said the company will
commence the erection of large and
modern plant about the middle of next
month at Cameron and Henry streets.
The building will cover 1000 square feet
OF ground and will be modern. fireproof
| and three stories in height. 1t will cost
| between $250OO and $50, 600
The structure will be built of brick and
cement and will be provided with up-to-
date features, including cold storage and
ployes will handle all the meat and
| products supplied by the Armour COM
pany for its patrons in northern Virginia
and southern Maryland.
Speaking of the boom to make Alexan-
dria a great manufacturing center, or the
| workshop Of Washington. Mr.. Davis said:
II believe the chamber of commerce is
working along lines that will ultimately
| result in great good to the city. There
| Is nothing to prevent Alexandria from
growing along commercial lines. Our
business has grown greatly in the past
few years. indicating the spirit Of the
| times. This town is SO situated with rail-
| road and water facilities that 1t presents
most desirable advantages to manufacture
| ers. The freight rates to and from here
are as low as those in effect in any other
| city in the country"
| Mr.. Davis also said the new plant of
Armour & Co. will have railroad switches
| connecting the building directly with the
Southern railway.
Cider and Vinegar Factory.
| Another improvement scheduled for the
near future will be the erection of cider
and vinegar making plant by the Board
Armstrong Company in the square bound
ed by Henry Fayette Pendleton and
Wythe streets. This company does a
large business in it's products. 1t buys all
its apples in carload lots from planters in
Virginia
Still. another promised improvement in
/ a
building on Pitt street between Wilkes
and Gibbon streets by the Bliss Silk
Throwing Company. The structure will
be 100 by 80 feet. Of brick, three stories,
company. 1t is expected the plant will
give employment to upward Of 800 girls.
| So 1t can be seen the greater Alexan-
dria movement Is not asleep at the post.
1t is growing.
Fish Trade Revival.
Some years ago this city was a great
fish mart, but through natural and other
causes there came a decadence. But
with the proper push there is yet fu-
ture in fish-fresh, smoked and salted-
for the old town, according to the opin-
ion of Capt Webster, former chief of the
Alexandria police force and one Of the
Oldest citizens Of this Virginia community.
Capt. Webster recalls when a few years
ago the Alexandria fish wharf brought
5000 In rental for the active fish sea-
son, covering but seven weeks. Now, he
says, 1t is difficult to get rental Of
5000 for it.
With the great catches of herring and
shad made in the lower Potomac he be-
lieves this city Is the logical handling
point and that there should be something
big for the town in the matter OF fish
In the future.
years ago." Capt. Webster said. alex
andria was the largest fish market in
this part of the United States and sup
piled the product to consumers far and
wide."
He recalled interesting "reminiscences of
the old fishing shores on Goose Egg Is
Hand Stony Point and other places, and
said one haul of the long seines then en-
lployed would bring forth from the waters
of the Potomac enough fish to furnish car
goes for several good-sized vessels. He
told of the big sturgeon and rock that
were captured and recalled when large
surgeons could be bought at the fish
wharf at from 25 to so cents apiece. Many
farmers used to purchase them and, at
taching the big fish to their wagons by
their gills. drag them over the roads to
their farms The choice sturgeon steaks
would be served on their tables, while
the residue would be converted into fer
tilizer. The sturgeon are caught now
| for their spawn, which is prepared. cam
ned and in many instances sold as i'm
ported Russian caviar.
| The comparative scarcity of shad and
herring in recent years Capt. Webster
charges to the vast number of stake nets
planted in Chesapeake bay near the
mouth of the Potomac.
North Carolinians Interested.
| In connection with the proposed regen-
Grafton of the fish industry. 1t is said
several North Carolina prospectors who
| are thoroughly conversant with the fish
business concentrating visit tO this