Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-04-01

ships. at a cost of $500, for the ad-
vancement of the good road move
ment. In October an appropriation
was made to help defray the expenses
incurred by the AID. Mems Club Ian
auxiliary to the Retail Merchants
Bureau incident to their trip to Fair
fax County Fair on alexandria
Day." At request Of member of
this organization and also residents of
Rosemont, the question of the volume
of smoke being emitted from locomo-
tives passing to and fro from Union
Station was taken up by the president
of this organization personally, and
through his efforts an investigation
was made by officials of the railroads,
with the result that the smoke null
sance has been abated. Through the
Offices of this Chamber the question
of better roadway on North Fairfax
street to the Old Dominion Glass Co.
was undertaken, and through the CO.
operation of City Council 81, 800 was
appropriated for the improvement for
that road Some work has already
been done, and we have been assured
that the work will be completed in the
near future. Realizing the necessity
of adequate steamboat facilities on
/ the river to reach the important trade
/ thereon, details Of temporary loan
was arranged by your Chamber for
the Potomac Steamboat Company Tor
$1,000. The note had been guaran-
teed by some of our wholesale mer-
chants and will be paid back by 80 per
cent of the freight earnings from Al
exandria on that line. In February
of this year a committee appointed by
the Chamber attended the annual
meeting of tina Virginia Good Ro ads
Association and were able at that
time to do considerable work with the
! highway commissioners in the inter
ests of the Little River Turnpike
proposition. The Chamber of Com
merce, through its Legislative COM
mittee, and aso individual members,
took an active interest in following
! ten deliberations of the Legislature at
its session lust closed. As in past
years, the Chamber subscribed to and
received copies Of all bills introduced,
and our membership was kept in close
touch with all measures affecting this
organization, with the result that we
were able to take an active part in all
legislation thought ID be hostile or
favorable to tho members of this
body. Through this medium we were
/ also able to call attention Of the CITY
Council and co-operate with them in
matters affecting the city.
The Automobile Bureau throughout
the year has been alive TO all matters
of interest to automobilists, and the
progress Of good streets and roads.
In March, 1921, a committee was au-
| thorized to have folders printed for
the benefit of motorists. These fold
ers carried a map Of the city and des-
ignated the places of historical inter
est. These were put in the hands of
the police, who have distributed them
4 to tourists. Numbers have been dis
tributed through other sources, and it
has been an effective means OF adyer-
! Using. A committee from this bureau
was instrumental through recon-
mendations to City Council to change
the parking laws on Columbus street.
and secured a further Improvement
at this corner by having the electric
trains that stOn at that point to pull
beyond the building line so that traffic
moving east and west on King street
would not he blocked. This bureau has
co-operated in all matters in which
! automobiles were to be used for va
rious purposes. This bureau brought
to the attention of the school officials
| the bad habit of school children run
ming and walking in the streets, with
the result that instructions were is
sued to ston this dangerous practice
In May this bureau elected direct
or to the National Board Of Directors
for the American Automobile AsSocia-
tion. with which we are affiliated
Inaugurated a movement to have the
law changed governing licenses in
! Virginia on automobiles for fractions
Of year. The question was taken up
with all other chambers Of commerce
and boards Of trade in inc State, some
Of whom promised their support. The
bill wqs introduced by our represents
tive. but he was not successful in
havin0 it passed. Through the efforts
Of this bureau the Improvement of
the tracks of the Washngton-Vir-
GINA Railway at the corner of Alfred
and Cameron streets was consum-
mated. and later on secured The I'M
provement Of the street at the inter-
section of Pitt. st Asaph, Henry and
Fayete streets with King street. They
inaugurated tie movement for the
Improvement of the road from the cor