New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-04-08
LIVES IN HISTORY.
City of Alexandria, Virginia,
Is Immortal.
With Its Memories of the Greatest
American, Ii Yields Place Only
to the National Capital.

Economic clocks cease their ticking,
industrial enterprises stop their whirr.
and America celebrates each twenty
second day of February in honor OF
George Washington.
ACROSS the Potomac from the city
which perhaps is the most elaborate
and enduring monument that perpetu-
ates the name of any human being Is
a smaller, older, but up-to-date city,
which revereLtly pays her tribute to
the great man who surveyed its town
lots. He also commanded its troops,
sat in its historic Christ church while
President of the United States, and
tripped the stately minuet in its par
lors," says a bulletin from the Wash
ingtOn, ID. C., headquarters of the Ma
tional Geographic society.
Alexandria, Virginia, which was so
promising at the close of the Rerolu-
tionary war that it was considered "A
possible seat for the infant nati"tal
government, and which indeed might
have had the honor. SO the story goes,
if the great man who lived within IA
stones throw of its borders had
thought il fair To use his influence in
Its behalf, is today an up-and-doing
city. A raval torpedo plant is being
constructed there at the present time,
and during the World war il had a
fully equipped s|hipbuilding plant.
The first ship built at this plant
was the Gunston Hall, named after
the home of George Mason, father of
the Virginia declaration of rights, AT
that time probably the most complete
statement of the rights of man.
This shipbuilding plant which now
stards idle awaiting the development
of new plans concerning our merchant
shipping covers ~ acres of land along
IA river which measures 40 feet in
depth M the city pier. At no point
in its course to the ocean is the chan
mel less than 30 feet in depth.
The coal fields of the Cumberland
are but 10 miles away, and the cheap
ness of transportation Ia the city adds
another commercial asset. The in
habitants in the decade between 1880
and 1910 foresaw the power which
was coming into being to the west of
them, and expended large amounts of
money in building the Alexandria
canal and in contributions TO the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal.
THE Lee highway from New York
to San Francisco. now being con-
structed. passes through Alexandria
and westward through the beautiful
and historic Valley of Virginia. Very
aptly might Alexandria, from Is geo
graphical position, be given the sou
brlquet, The Gateway TO the South
Tourists to the Capital city-and
everyone feels that sooner or later he
must see the capitol, the White House
and the Monument-usually find n few
hours. if no more, to cross the Poto-
mac and sit in the silence of the
quaint little church in its pretty green
churchyard where Washington advo-
Gated before the towIspeople in l774
resistance to Great Britain, and where
Robert T.. Lee agreed to take COM
mand of the Virginia troops at the
beginning of the Civil var In 1861.
Washington's pew is marked today,
but unfortunately the high backs Of
the seats. which in former days kept
the President from seeing exactly
what kinds of lace the bewigged gem
tlemen In front of him had at heir
throats, were cut down by IA suisse
quent rector who wanted his church
TO keep apace of the times. II is said
that Washington and the famous and
devoted Martha always rode from Mt.
Vernon In n handsome c-ream-colored
coach to attend the services.
THE seeker for excellent examples
Of Colonial architecture can heaye n
sigh of satisfaction wheL he catches
his first glimpse of Carlyle house, as
this home In which the illustriOus gen.
tlemen and charming women Of old
colony days discussed state questions
and tripped n measure OF two Is con-
sidered one of the best specimens of
Eighteenth century architecture in ex-
istence. Maj John Carlyle, who built
1t in 1752, provided "A meats Of escape
for his family. in case of attack by
the Indians, ia ii subterranean pas
sage that leads from the house
through the fort on which the house
is located 10 the Potomac. Here they
could get into boats and sail down the
river 10 safety"