Evening star., 1916-07-15
WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT
OF ALEXANDRIA COUNTY
Part of Original District of Columbia Ceded
Back to Virginia Ranks as Richest,
Though Smallest, County in State.

That Alexandria county outside the
city of Alexandria will in compare
lively few years be solidly built up in
one urban community, and that the
population of the county, as indicated
by the census of 1910, will be doubled
by the time of the next decennial CEN
sus. are predictions of residents of the
county Calling attention to the fact
that the entire county is rapidly becom-
ing built up; that population slightly
more than doubled between the census
of 1900 and that of 1910. and that road
improvements. sewer facilities. light
ing. schools. etc. have kept pace with
the growing community, Alexandra
county people, members of citizens as
sociations recently banded together in
a federation of such organizations. are
engaging in a campaign designed to
draw attention to the desirability OF
this former portion of the District of
Columbia as place of residence.
"A resident of Alexandria county"
saws a statement prepared by an Alex
andria county man. enjoys all of the
advantages of residence in Washington
without its disadvantages. He is citt-
zen in the community in which he lives
He has vote and has some say in his
own affairs. He is free of the burden
some restrictions and regulations to
which District residents are subjected.
His taxes are materially lower than
taxes in the District of Columbia. I'm
provement of the roads. and streets are
made by the county and the resident is
not compelled to pay an assessment on
account thereof. and yet he lives within
a few minutes ride of the National
Capital Its theaters, stores, libraries
gN, sx.,.a Ix.r.
cessibIe TO him as to the resident of the
District. While the white population of
the county doubled between the census
of 1900 and the census of 1910, the colored
population in the same length Of time
increased only zoe This, / believe, is due
to the separate seat law enforced on the
electric car lines running into Virginia.
When, in addition, it is remembered
that land may be bought at from / to
10 cents per square foot that lies within
ten minutes ride of the heart of Wash
ington and commands a panoramic view
of the city and river, on macadamized
roads leading directly into Washington.
IL needs no seer to predict that in few
years the entire county will be prac-
tically one continuous city. AS matter
of fact. practically all of the territory
between Alexandria and Four Mile run
is now one town and the country be-
tween Four Mile run and Washington is
rapidly building up.
Most Of the newcomers to the coun-
~ are government employees. They are
buying their own homes in the county
and are taking an interest in county
affairs Numerous citizens associations
have recently been formed and these
associations send representatives to a
civic federation. a central body meet
ing once a month at the courthouse
and active In many ways looking to the
betterment of conditions in the county
Our board of supervisors welcomes the
views Of the citizens and no one ever
n n on IN l.
This is rapidly breeding a civic spirit
which means much to Alexandria
county.
The revised assessments of taxable
property promise TO yield additional
revenues and this means that great i'm
proEements in roads and schools may be
looked for. in the near future. In adj
dltlon there is a movement on foot to