Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-01-01
ALEXANDRIA HAS
VERY QUIET YEAR
All Business Except Bank
ing Fails to Show any
Material Increase.
NO GREAT CHANGES
City Passes Though One of the Quiet
est Years in it's History. Big Storm
of July 30th. 1913.

The year 1913 passed into history
last night as one of the Quietest
years that Alexandria has ever ex-
pelienced. With a decline in practl-
cally all of the statistics of the city,
with the exception of the banking fig
ures, and the smallest amount of
builSing that has been commenced in
many years, the official report Of Al
cxandria fails to keep up with the rec
ord of past years. The year 1913 will
be regarded as the year in which
many important building operations
and street improvements, which were
planned year ago were completed,
and will be marked by the commence
ment of two equally important pro-
jects, namely, the planning Of a new
thigh school and new truck house
for the Relief Hook and Ladder Com
pany. Arrangements for the continu-
alton of the street work, which has
been q factor in the improvement of
Alexandria for the past ten years,
were continued.
Statistics for 1913 show that there
has been decided falling-off in many
of the important matters affecting
the community. With the exception
of MARRIAGES there was decrease in
lbe figures reported by Clerk Greena-
way of the Corporation and Circuit
Courts. The deeds in the Corporation
court were only 459 compared with
538 in 1912 showing decided decrease
in real estate transfers. Common law
suits numbered 81 compared with 30
in the previous year, and chancery
suits were so compared with rs in
1912. The number Of wills and ad-
mi6iistration shows u decided decrease
in 1913. The only increase was that
of marriages, which were; 6S3 in 1913
compared with 557 in 1912.
The fines collected by Police Justice
Cation were $3.740, decrease OF ap-
proximately $500.
When a review of the year is made
there are two events that will stand
out as most prominent, First was the
decision of Judge Bennett 7. Gordon,
of Nelson county,> refusing to grant
the petition Of the city for more ter
ritory to be added to its limits. When
the case closed in 1912 it was conf
,dently expected that early in 1919
Uu,ge Gordon would give the city d
present of at least two square miles
of territory. The evidence that hac
,be.n presented to his honor was such
that should have convinced him OF
The necessity of granting the city
REQUEST, but Judge Gordon did not
consider the matter in that light fol
he refused to grant Alexandria
single foot of additional land. His de
,cision came like bomb shell to tn
.city and was a disappointment tha
,was hard to overcome. Later in tn
wear the city council authorized a
,oppeal to the supreme court OF aE
malls which granted writ OF erro
which will be decided within the neS
few months. The city is conhoeh'
that it's prayer will be granted al
that before the end of the preser
wear will have room to accommoaa'
its increasing number OF inhaoitah'
The next event which will IN
probability remain as stronger III
preston upon the minds OF all WI
were in Alexandria on the occasi'
was the terrific storm Of July ~
It was the second terrific dspls
of the elements in Alexandria al
vicinity during the past sevente'
wears. The sultry conditions OF I
early part Of the day were tolio"
by the gathering of black and om'
ous clouds in the northeast in the
+arnoon, and between 3 and o'cio
the storm broke over the city. l
darkness which accompanied the e
mental disturbance was phenon,en
and the hail, rain, lightning and wi
wepe appslling. Tho oldest inhas
ants declared they nesW Witness
Sucb a display Of the powers Of 1
ture. The wind shnieked dsnlonise,
" haiitones homhaNed hous
bssaking windows aud causing no
Ns terror. x-hiie roofs were bio