Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-09-11

! Prices-Must Vacate at Once
By Cameron And Lee Streets. Fay
Announcement was made today ny
the Chamber of Commerce that this
! city mad secured the biggest industry
in its history. The Gazette has been
kept advised about the activities RI
the Chamber of Commerce, but, IN
| the interest of the success of the pro-
iect this is the first publication of the
plans which have now so success
fully eliminated.
The detailed story of the prel:ml-
nary work and the accomplishment Is
interesting. On the morning Of July
:ird, Congressman G.. c. Car!ln, ever
alert to the interest of his natlve city
and while in the midst Of campaign
when his rights to represent this dis
trict were being contested, called up
the Chamber of Commerce by te!e-
phone and stated that an appropr'a-
| ton had been made for Il torpedo
plant and that committee had beel
directed to look here for building
site. He advised that immediate &C
tion be taken by the Chamber to sc.
cure its location in this city WITHIN
an hour committee visited the Com
mandant of the Washington Nav!
Yard and invited that officer to vlSr
Alexandria in an effort to find SUIT
able location for the proposed plant
Captain Willard, Commandant OF th'
NAVY Yard and other officers vlSitc'
this city on July II, 1918. and on july
3lst Rear Admiral Ralph Earle an'
Lieutenant Commander Wright wert
the guests of the Chamber of Corn
mcrce and then followed long and ted
ious details which were worked ou
under the direction of J. Y. Williams
Business Manager Of the Chamber o.
Commerce.
On August 7th. 1918, letter WA
received by the Chamber of Commerce
from Rear Admiral Earle, making th'
following announcement:
~ am pleased to advise you tha'
under date Of August ., 1918, th'
Secretary of the Navy approved tht
erection Of the torpedo plant at Alex
andria, Virginia.
After examining the proposed slte'
pointed out by you we have selected
the location bounded by Cameron
street on the north, Lee street oi
the west, Fayctte alley on the south
and the Potomac River on the east
I'm connection with the establishment
of this plant, and in order that its con
struction may be proceeded with q
rapidly as possible, the Bureau wom'
appreciate your assistance from tim'
to time in matters relating to the pur
chase of the property, necessary
rights Ut way, etc
Immediately upon receipt OF tn
letter options we're secured by Tho
Chamber of Commerce from all th'
property owners within the boundar!
of Cameron street on the north, lie:
street on the west, Tayette alley OF
the south and the Potomac River OF
the east. The property owners gaHc
options at prices which are considered
TO be extremely fair to the govern.
ment. These options were immediate
" delivered to Judge Graham E&ey
ton, Solicitor of the Navy Depart
ment. who today served notice upor
the present property owners to vacatt
/ the land and buildings within the pre-.
scribcd area, so that work can proceed
as soon as the present tenants have
completed moving arrangements. a
surveying party is on the land today
making a survey. getting elevations.
etc. The work Of demolition will be
started. it is said, within three weeks
A torpedo assembling plant is one
of the most attractive Of government
tai industries because of the large
number of highly skilled mechanics
necessary in the assembling Of ror.
pcdoes. Two thousand men will DC
employed here. The shops to be erect.
cd will be four-story reinforced con-
crete structures, extending west and
cast from Lee street to Union street
!, and. from Union street to the river
and a two-storv reinforced concrete
building, these buildings to extend
north and south from Cameron street
to Fayette 1lleJ.