Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-01-01
CITY NEWS IN. RllHAlD B | / PROSPEROUS YEAR

#Big Enterprises That Are Permanen
q institutions Have Started Opera
4 ,i""s-. .:aa1s Big praIs-cayy'
q Formulation Practically Doubled
4 This city oroae all previous vn.if
&for prosperity during 1918. Nor,
&big commercial enterprises located
Ehere during the year and more busi.
mess was done 10y her merchants and
Emore real estate transferred AMI in
saddition the population was practi,
Scally doubled.
The result is that the beginning of
] the New Year finds every house in
Alexandria occupied and every room
fling house filled to it's capacity.
Never before in the history of the
Eold city has there been such marked
prosperity as there exists today. The
$institutions that have located here
Eduring tae past year are all perma-
|nent and this means that Alexan-
Idria's future success as a thriving
business city is assured.
One of the big corporations that
lis now giving employment to more
than 1000 men is the big plant of
the Virginia Shipbuilding Corpora
zion. This corporation started out
with big order of government con-
Stracts and since then has received or
Hers for the construction Of other
boats which means that this institu-
zion is permanent.
President Wilson May 30 drove the
Erivet in the first keel laid and the
BOAT was christened Gunston Hall.
Another big industry now being
constructed by the government here
Is the torpedo assembling plant on the
river front north of King street.
This plant will give employment to
more than 500 skilled mechanics and
svil be completed early in the spring.
The American Spark Plug Com
bany this summer started operations
1t the big building on the east side
IF Washington street between Oro-
hoco and Pendelton streets, giving
to large number of
bands.
During the year the American Life
Boat Compiny also gave employment
10 large number of hands, manufac-
nuring boats for the government. It's
Elant is on the site of what was for
&erly known, as Deans shipyard.
u A big building was erected at Col
fpss by the Alexandria Hay and. Mil
ang Company.
4 A handsome building was compile
I'D by the Southern Railway COM
Hany for its test department at the
]brner of Wilkes and Henry streets.
1 The F. A. Steele Company erected
II factory building ct the northeast
brner of Pendleton and St. Asaph
lreets, for the manufacture of soft
Zap, soap powder and other pro-
tlcts.
Flour hotels were opened during the
Far to accommodate the daily in
heasing business here. They are the
klvoir, Humphreys, Monticello and
Euthlad and these hostelries are
Hing well patronized.
II Building operationse here have
Een on bigger scale than ever be-
|he. One, of the biggest deals was
III, purchase of the Rosemont prop
ley by the General Realty Company.
his concern now has under course
II construction in East Rosemont
Ibut 290 modern; houses, MANY OF.
| sich already are occupied by en-
tpyes of the plant of the Virginia
Spbuilding Company. This COM
| Ray proposes to erect additional
heses during the year.
| /. big rowing picture house known
asthe Ingomar, on the north side
ofK King between Washington and
| StAsapn streets, was completed last
ninth.
| In addition many other new build
| ins were erected here during the
| yer, and many old ones remodeled.
| siipps Brothrs erected handsome
CD on King street between Wash
i1son and St. Asaph streets, which
ha. just been opened.
| ghe City Council during the year
IhA made appropriations for many
improvements and modern motor
| fire apparatus has been added to the
|cib fire fighting equipment.
| j the various war drives Alexan-
drib has come out with colors flying