Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-09-28
Mayor Duncan Also Tells
of Possibilities of
City
DISCUSS LEE HIGHWAY
Its Benefit to City Cited-Report of
DR.. Jackson on Historical Sketch OF
City Made.

The club rooms of the Chamber of
Commerce had a capacity crowd last
night when Kenneth W. Ogden called
Ito order the monthly meeting of the
civic bureau.
| After interesting reports were read
lby the chairmen of committees dis
posing of routine business, the chair
imam introduced Mayor James NJ. Dun
lean, who delivered an instructive ad-
dress about the needs and possibilities
of the city. He convinced his audience
that he was making deep study of
what can and should be accomplished
as measured by the assets and reve-
nues of the city. He stated that he
wanted cooperation and was recelv
;ne it. He referred to the operation of
the city gas plant at loss during the
past year and convincingly showed
THAT most of the trouble with the quail
,ity of gas was due to the city not be
ling able to get gas coal and other
TROUBLES were due to not having prop
er equipment. The mayor and light
lcommittee have recently visited large
gas plants and after paying compli-
ment to the efforts and ability of c.
|W. Wattles, chairman Of the commit
jtee on light, Mr.; Duncan predicted
that the quality and service of gas
would be improved. Several human in
terest stories were told by the Mayor
and in concluding he said that nc
hoped to soon get past the promising
period and be able to report the ac-
accomplishment of some of the import
ant things. At the conclusion of the
meeting the mayor was offered
Unanimous vote of thanks and con-
fidence.
Attention was called to the resolu-
ton now before the city council ask
ling for an. appropriation for l-2 or
the interest on S5O0.000. which will be
advanced by Fairfax County to the
State for the immediate building Of
the permanent highway from Alex
landria to the western boundary OF
Fairfax county, from thence the road
will be continued by Loudoun. Eau
ouier. Clarke and Frederick Counties
through the Valley of Virginia, be-
coming a part of the Robert f.. Ice
Memorial Highway. 1t was stated that
the interest asked Of the city would
mot represent the cost Of constructing
one and onc-half miles of the highway
It's advantages for bringing produce
from rich farming sections, apples
from tie Valley of Virginia. grain
from the wheat fields of northern Vlr
| -inia and other commodities would do
Imuch to restore the prestige OF this
city AS deep water port. The con-
Istruction of this proposed road means
added communication with northern
Virginia and is as desirable and es-
Iscntial as the industrial development
CT the city.
4 Rev. DR.. r. r. Jackson, chairman
of the committee to write An historl-
cal sketch of the city, to be published
by the Chamber of Commerce and
circulated throughout the United
States, presented his report. He suS-
,,gested that the title of the book be.
NThe Romance of Historical Ale1an-
dria" and as he unfolded the interest
ing data collected his hearers agreed
THAT there was romance strange and
interesting even TO those knowing
tpart Of the story. DR.. Jackson has had
| the cooperation Of many men and
women who have collected manu-
lscripts and historical data. He men.
toned many of these and expressed
This appreciation for their services. In
1.-THE first chapter the founding of the
"Royal City, the streets were named
to magnify royalty. The story tells
of Kfpg Georges marshes in tht
north eastern section of the city
named for the King because Of his re
fusal to have them drained. of the
presbyterian Church yard in the south
twestem section of the city, which
!, might we'll be referred to as the Wes'
: minister Abbey of Alexandria, becaus'
,, Of the burial there of many. promin
il ent persons Of colonial times. Th'
CarlylesHouse, Christ Church, Geore'
WaShingtnn I.n,as ifa snn pe Fair