Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-12-31
CHAMBER OF'.C|ONhERCE

Wonderful Strides Made During 1s1'
by This Organization--New Indus
tries Established and Other Work
Acconiplished-Big Problems fol
New Year.
The Alexandra Chamber of Com
merce, organized 1906, issues today its
1918 bulletin. In recognition of the
demands emphasized by the worla
war, the chamber carried on a reor-
ganization campaign, which crystal
lized March Is, 191Si at the Elks'
Hall, when the present officers were
elected by the largest commercial
meeting ever held in this city.
In the general plan of organization
a committee of war workers was nam
ed, and this committee has success
fully aided in the third and fourth
Liberty Loan campaigns, the Red
Cross war fund drive, the campaign
for the United War Work fund, the
sale of War Savings Stamps and the
Red Cross Christmas roll call.
The Chamber encouraged and sue
ceeded in having a Red Cross Sani-
tary Unit, located here, under the
direction of the United States Pub
lie Health Service. This has mate
rally improved the sanitation and
health condition of this city. At pres
ent three Red Cross nurses are en-
gagged in caring for the sick, and
splendidly equipped laboratory is be-
ing maintained to give free service to
the community. The rooms used by
the Health Department are furnished
by the Chamber without charge.
The Chamber negotiated with rep
of the Fosdick Commits
sion and organized the executive COM
mittee thar is so ably directing the
work of the War Camp Community
Service.
The Alexandria Lodge of Elks most
and patriotically leased its
building to the committee for the use
of white soldief, and the co!ored
lodges of ETks and Odd Fellows, with
the same spirit, leased their buildings
for the use of colored soldiers. The
are being used as clubs by
the enlisted men, and thousands of
men have been furnished,
happy, healthful and clean recreation.
The Virginia Shipbuilding Corpora
ton has encouraged and worked its
problems through the chamber. Homes
for their employees have been sup
piled under the direction of the hous-
ing department.
The housing, labor and transporta-
ton demands of the old and new in
dustries have been submitted and ably
taken care of by the Chamber.
The big initiative and constructive
work of the Chamber was the secur-
ing of the Torpedo Assembling Plant.
All preliminaries were conducted
through the Chamber, the options on
the ground secured by it, the pur-
chase of .he building site consum-
mated through its efforts, and the con-
struction of the plant is receiving
daily attention.
The industries established during
this year demonstrate the awakening
of a grea- interest in the industrial
advantages of Alexandria, and the
new enterprises are sufficiently variea
to attract others.
With the cessation of hostilities the
Alexandria Chamber Of Commerce IS
Justly proud of the fact that the IN
creased number of large and success
ful commercial enterprises were not
"war babies" and are needed no"
more than ever.
The dreams of those having visions
of what this city should be are coming
thought of the community will tl1ld IT'S
EXPRESSION through the Chamber OF
Commerce in the great and important
true, and the organized business
york of reconstruction in the nation
state and city.
The Chamber is we'll officered, llb'
,eeral in its Interpretation OF what Is
needed. AMI organized to cooperate
with the regular elected government
of the people. There is not any vaune,
,,,;ob+ or roIitical EXPRESSION.