Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-06
BUSINESS OF ALEXANDRIA,
Secretary Preston Compares Ship
menfs Of Years Age With
Present Time.

That this city at one time, probably
transacted a greater volume of sea-
port business thsn any other city or
the Atlantic coast, except three ane
that, Notwithstanding the fact that
| other cities have since forged ahead
! of it, the business of Alexandria to-
day is so far ahead Of that time as
to be beyond comparison, was the
statement made by James T. Preston
Secretary Of the Chamber Of Com
mcree, this morning.
"Some time ago. continued Mr.
Preston, "a gentleman spoke to me
of the halcyon days when the
port of Alexandria was crowded with
vessels from nearly all parts of the
world and the little town was hustl-
ing and full of life. He deplorcd the
comparative absence Of teams on the
streets, the shouts of drivers and the
noise and the business Of many sail
ors.
Now as matter of fact, the city Of
Alexandria sent out over the railroads
33,541 cars Of freight during the twcl-
We months Of last year. In the same
time 14,16S cars were rcccived-mak-
ing a total of 47,7O9 cars carrying
merchandise and freight to and from
this city. If these cars contained an
average of 20 tons Of freight each, it
would amount to a total of /, All, 2f0
tons and supposing that a two horse
team would carry one ton over 70
miles of our roads in one day, it would
require 1872 teams to transport that
tonnage each work day in the year
over that distance.
If the gentleman who spoke to me
of the business of oldcn times could
see over $500 teams on the streets
of Alexandria in one day he would
probably imagine that this city had
moved.
prior to the advent of the railroads
inland cities located on conyen-
lent waterways were at great advan-
tage. Vessels then could come far in
land and discharge their cargoes for
transportation by wagons at a point
nearest their destination. But the
railroads offered an easier and cheap
or means of transportation that by
water and wagon and consequently
with their advent came the passing
Of Alexandria as a port of entry and
the growth of cities nearer the coast.
This result, of course, was gradual
The farmers from far off in the noun
tains came to Alexandria for their mo-
lasSes and other freight from the
West Indies and for their supplies of
all kinds. Also they came for fish and
for sometime after the railroads first
started the rents OF the fish wharf
ran into thousands Of dollars yearly
now $500 would probably be d large
amount for a years rental.
"Back before the time Of the rail-
roads it was not unusual to sec a
large number Of square rugged vessels
at this port with a carrying capacity
of from SO to $50 tons and carrying
large crews. Naturally things looked
busy. Yet VIC think it nothing today
when ono steamship carrying more
than all the freight Of 10 Of the larg-
est OF these sailing vessels comes 10
Alexandria with a load of phosphate
for ono concern. At one time it
probably was not unusual to see l00
wagons from distant places on the
streets. Today, four railroad cars
would hold all those teams could car
~ and on busy day we send $50
railroad cars loaded with the products
o! this city outward hundreds of miles
to buyers everywhere.
"The point is .this-A few vessels
now bring to this city more than
many vessels did and before the rail
roads, handled a volume of business
that wagons could transport through
tho streets without driving over each
other but the railroads and steamships
and the use of electric power for un-
loading have done away with the nee
cssity of great volume of men for
loading, unloading and hauling. Con
sequently there is less jingling of bells
on the streets and not so much mus
cular activity on the part Of the lab
orcrS.
mo, the old times are not what
they are sometimes cracked up to be
Life is not only more worth the liv-
ing nowadays, but business is better
| and we have more-far more to look
forward to than ever could be seen by
looking backward. Alexandria is
buster today than she ever was, but
| 80 l,,,e;or thon che will he some day