Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-08-01
FACTORIES SHUT
DOWN YESTERDAY
Power is Cut Off Electric
Company Lines Early
in Morning.
BUSINESS is IMPEDED.
Large Loss to Manufacturers by Sus-
pension of Observation-Disclosures
Confusion Among Companies.

!Alexandria's manufacturing plants
were at complete standstill yester,
day as partial result of the big
storm of Wednesday afternoon but
more particularly on account Of the
uncalleI for$ delay and exasperating
Indifference Of the public service cor
porations Of Alexandria who refused
to cooperate with one another and
muddled conditions to such an extent
that the business rrlen of Alexandra
were unable to turn a wheel of their
big plants.
AS a result of the trouble for the
first time since the commencement of
the civil war when the plant of the
Alexandria Gazette was destroyed by
union soldiers regular edition of
the paper was not issued, but late
yesterday afternoon small sheet,
9 X Is inches, was printed on hand
press and distributed to our sub
scribers giving in brief the news of
the day and such storm items as
could be inserted.
There was absolutely no reason for
the condition Of affairs that con-
fronted the Gazette management and
which was felt by other manufac-
turers throughout the city. II there
had been the slightest intimation that
the electrical service would have been
cut out during the entire day arrange
ment would have been made for the
installation Of gasoline engines or 9th
er methods of operating the machin-
cry so that there would have been
no great delay. But one excuse after
another was given throughout the day
that the power would be put on and
not single promise was kept.
At 8 o'clock, when the power was
first cut off it was promised again al
o'clock. At nine there was further
delay and the hour Of ten o'clock was
set. At ten the time was eXendeo
until y. At IL further time was ask
ed for until one. At one the TIME was
again heightened until two o'clock. Al
two the power was positively promls
ed at three, and at three a man was
sent to the power house to turn or
the current. 1t was nearing sever
o'clock, however, whe,: the current
was finally passed over the wires. II
meanwhile business men were fumlbg
fussing and cursing; super
intendents, foremen and Wlremef
ran around in circle and did nothing
the mayor was trying to do his bes
to solve a difficulty which could have
been, settled in a five minutes con
ference between the four companle!
! which run their wires along AleXan
dria's streets in the most unslghtly
dsgraceful and dangerous manner
known to any civilized community.
When the storm was at its helgh
on Wednesday afternoon the powe
was cut off from all the wires in tn
city but it was resumed shortly befor
seven o'clock the same night. Ih
Gazette was delayed several hours bu
the edition contained partial occoun
of the storm! Power was kept on a.
Wednesday night and there was n
| damage, but yesterday morning at
o'clock the trouble began. One of tn
horses of the Mutual Ice Company
was killed at the corner of Falrfa
and Duke streets by stepping on
| wire of the Capital City Telephon
!, Company, which had crossed one Q
the power lines of the Alexandri
l County Lighting Company. 1mmet
! ately orders were given to cut off tn
|, power lines until all the other wire
were cleared. This order was ,firS
given by F. +. Marbury, president c
the Board of Aldermen and after
wards confirmed by Mayor Fishe
, who gave the County Lighting Con
pany written instructions to cut o
the current on account of the DANCE
Mayor Fisher was actuated by tt
/ best motives in issuing his order bl
: he had no idea that as soon as he ha
5 written it all the companies wou
: lay down on the job, that there wou
e be no cooperation batween them az
ut everything would be kept at