Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-10

ANNIVERSARY
VlTHBAN(uET
Columbia Motor Company
Has Big Time On 5lst
Birthday
125 PERSONS ATTEND
r. Walton Moore
Principal Speaker-Elegant Repast
Served by Ladies.

Columbia Motor Company was 81
wears old last night and they celeb! at
ed it in a most beftting manner with
a big banquet which was served at the
company:s house. About 125 persons
we're present. Speechmaking was the
order of the evening. The affair was
one of the most successful ever given
by that company. Among those in
attendance were a number of veteran
members Of the company. Norman
Roberts, president, was toastmaster,
and during the evening speeches were
made b. eight persons. it was close
to II O'Clock when the assemblage adj
iourned for the evening.
Representative R. Walton Moore
was the principal speaker. The speak
or in his opening. related that when
youth attending the University of
Virginia he was greatly impressed
with picture in which one of the phi
losophers represented tells Of the the
ory shat the fundamental element is
water, ard on the opposite side was
one who held to the theory that fire
was. Mr.. Moore declared they had
no forecast that in the future one Gle
rlent would be used to combat the
other. Continuing. he said: Certain
" they had no notion of the hanqucts
given by Columbia Company No. i,
and particularly the ladies'"
Mr.. Moore told his audience that he
had spent some little time during the
day looking over the newspaper files
in the Congressional Library to lind
out lust what was going on tifty-one
years ago, March Q, 1871. The first
paper he looked for. he said. was The
Alexandria Gazette, but he added
that unfortunately the files of this
date were not there. and then he found
the files or the Washington Star.
He found the road in those days ne
said from what ne saw in the news
oaners of that date. TO be. I:.s'l and
dry as they are today Europe was
then in trouble and conditions on this
side of the ocean were in despair.
In this country. he said, things we're
IMPOVERISHED owing to the war. There
was a great coal strike pending. and
there was complaint cf proiteeri"g.
In the forty-frst Congress of March
., 1871. he said. hc discovered that
the late Lewis Mckenzie of Alexandria
was "A member, and George Tucker of
Alexandria contested his seat. and IN
! the fortv-scrnnd Congress. which con-
vcned the following dav, Elliott Brax-
ton took his seat. and this was con
tested by Lewis Mckenzie. The road
| in those days. he said. was hard. but
! the men Travelled it with the courage
OF fir2.
Continueing Mr. Moore said: "Thc
paramount duty Of citizenship is that
Of service. which Expresses the central
Thought of religion. ard that is the
hrothorhond OF mon. Anybody can
find that chance. Everyone can find it.
and add t. the total of human han
ninnss and help to lift civilization to
higher and more shining plane
There is no lack of opporitunitv fnr
those having purpose of vision. In
this dav we have got to hold our
nerve"
Frank Stuart. president nj Motor
Comnany No. |. was the first sneaker
callrd on Tho efforts OF the company
of which hc IS the head he asserted, is
to build IN as Siron~ if not "A STRONGER
company tnan the Columbia. Hn rr-
fcrrcd n the salcnd;d work of Presi-
dcnt Rnhnris in huildino up the Co.
lnmbia Company. and the cntir" f"e
department. The sroake" declared h"
Thought thn Columbia Comnanv the
host fire fiehtinr organization in The
citv of Alexandria
Henry Aaron. president of Motor
! Comnany No. ;. expressed pleasure
at being present. and he SAID that Co.
lumbia Company is one of the most
efficient fire companies in the city. No.
: company. he said, was organized in
MAY, 1921, and through the co-opera-
ton OF Comnany No 4, he said. His
comnanv had been able to build up n
company which he thought would
shortly equal any company III the
city.
! Fire Chief F. !. McDcrmott told nf
| his association with the Alexandria
Fire Department. which began
eighteen years ago with The Columbia
Company. and Of the active offices OF
the company he had served in, and at
the time of the world war. he said. he
was its vice president when he was
called to the colors.
Chief McDcrmott said that after be-
coming head of the department. hn was
sonfrontcd with the task of rr"r"aT~
ling. adding that Il fire fighting ma-
chine has been built I'M which. he raii,
he did not think bad any equal Con-
timing. he said: ~ know We have no
shirkers. I never had to ask man
to 60 to n place Of danger. hnt on the
contrary most of the time I have r.
go and pull them out. The Columbia