Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-23
A[EXANDR|AAFFA|RS'
Telephone Company Remodel
ing Building for Exchange.
STORM HITS GOSPEL TENT
Considerable Anxiety Last Night
Among 5000 Persons Attend
ing Services.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, September 20
The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company. which some time ago pur-
Chased from George S. French the latter's
ti1ree-story brick dwelling house, 1oS
North Alfred street. today began the
work of remodeling that building. which,
when completed. will be used as local
telephone exchange. 2
The contractors are Edward Brady d!
Son Of Baltimore The principal work of
remotieiing the building will be in the
rear end, which is being Quilted. 1t is
hoped 10 have the work completed with
in the next two months.
The company will not, however, occu
py its new exchange before next spring.
A new switchboard is to be installed and
the work of changing conduits, etc. will
require considerable time before it will
be ready for occupancy.
The ground floor of the new building
will be used as business offices and
terminal rooms
1t is planned to have retiring rooms,
kitchen and dining room, together
with the operating room, on the second
floor The third floor will be used for
general storage purposes.
The installation of kitchen and din
ing room will be for the benefit of the
young woman operators, and this Will
be an innovation for the Alexandria
office
The present exchange is located in
leased Office building on the south side
of King street between Fairfax and
Lee streets.
Must Face Robbery Charge.
William Thomas, colored, was brought
here late last night by Policeman
Kerns from the Central State Hospital,
Petersburg, Va. and will be .nade to
face the charge of having broken into
and robbed the store of Sands & Co.,
at the corner of Alfred and Gibbon
streets.
The store was broken into November
=, 1915: and shoes, trousers and lard
valued at SITS stolen The police re-
covered $125 worth of the property
Thomas was subsequently, taken In
custody in Washington on a minor
charge and later turned over to the
local authorities.
A lunacy commission afterward de-
clared Thomas of unsound mind and
since May 81 he has been an inmate OF
the hospital. Recently Thomas re
gained his mind and it was decided to
return him to this city for, trial.
There was considerable anxiety
among the 5000 persons who attended
the evangelistic services conducted by
Gypsy Smith, jr., last night In the Dig
tent during the progress OF the rain,
wind and electrical storm.
The evangelist brought his sermon
to a sudden close. and the choir OF 400
voices sang hymns to allay the fears
of the big congregation. At times the
electric lights went out, due to the
short-circuiting of the wires.
II O
close to the tent by their owners. the
lights tc be used in the event the cleo
trio lights in the tent gave out
Attending the meeting last night
were the students of the Alexandra
High School
Gypsv smith at o'clock tomorrow
afternoon. will address mems meet
ing in the big tent.
Mrs. Eliza Bayliss Dead.
Mrs. Eliza Bayliss, widow of John
Bayliss, died at 10 o'clock last night at
her home. 1e11 Queen street, at an adj
vanced age. Mrs Bayliss had been in
i'll health long time. She has two
sons living, John H and William ].
Bayiiss-
Her funeral will take place at $50
o'clock Monday morning from st.
An automobile in which was seated
three washingtonians collided with the
public drinking fountain at Cameron
and Royal streets at 10 O'Clock last
night and the machine was Slightly
damaged. The occupants of the ma
chine escaped injury.
A final decree for divorce on the
ground of desertion has been given In
the corporation court in the suit Of
Harry Wagner against Minnie B. s..
Wagner. Plaintiff was represented by
Attorney Robinson Moncure.
The local board of tax review at a
meeting held last night at the office of
Robinson Moncure, chairman of the
board. passed on real estate assess