Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-01
4,O|lD IN POTOMAC
ANNEX|NG PARADE
Banquet, Soaking and Dance
Mark Celebration of Change
to Alexandra.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, January L.
With the passing of the old year last
midnight, the territory won by Alexan-
dria from Abingdon County through
annexation proceedings changed hands
and is today part of this city.
Virtually all o the 1000 persons resid-
ing In the fou square miles of annexed
territory joirsd in a parade which
started from he Potomac Town Hall at
IL o'clock aud wendell its way into
Alexandria aud back for a community
dance. laStir1 until early this morning.
Hundreds ined Mount Vernon avenue
as fire-fightng apparatus and private
machines roved in a long procession
toward Alexandria, while nearly 10000
people wer on King street to greet the
new citizas when the parade passed
downtown
Earlier u the night the Potomac Fire
Departmnt was host to more than 200
barouetes, representing the members
and families of the governing bodies OF
Potomac and Alexandria and the fire.
f1ghtineforces of the two municipalities.
WheJ the hour of midnight was
reache those attending the banquet
got iro private machines or boarded
the fie apparatus and took part in the
parad. The line of private automobiles
exteried more than mile in the wake
OF tR IRE engines.
Mayor Fulton Lauds Change.
Walter B. Fulton, from whom annex
attn took the mayoralty of the town Of
Pcomac, delivered an address at the
bsouet. st deeply regret tonight
blngs to a close my official connection
With you and your governing body" he
tsn residents of the town, land truly
HeFet that we must sever our connec-
tins with our friends in the county,
BIT I do feel that we are about to move
ffward In many respects. Alexandria,
o you know, has been progressing WON
erfully in recent years, and am GER
ain that with your united efforts 1t
Eill continue to advance In the future. ="
He told the citizens to take an in
terest In the public affairs Of Alexan-
dria and warned that it is an error
for people to ignore the affairs Of the
community in which they reside. THE
matter Of how we will proceed after
midnight lies entirely in the hands Of
Alexandria" he said. "Our many
troubles will then be their troubles.
Their troubles will be our troubles.
Therefore let's Join into one big unit
and help our new officials to the
utmost"
welcomed Dy Alexan0r1ds
Mayor william Albert Smoot of Alex
andria welcomed the new citizens from
Arlington County and promised that
with your united efforts we will do our
best to build up q greater Alexandria.
Your new city government is going to
strive hard to serve your best interests
and every city official is going to appre-
ciate your cooperation and sug-
gestionS."
The talks followed the opening of thA
banquet with invocation by the Rev
John S. Sewers, pastor of the Del Ray
Baptist Church, after T. w. McHugh,
president of the Fire Department
called the assemblage to order. Coun-
Gilman J. E. w. Timberman of Alex
andria, who introduced in the council
the resolution from which grew the an
nexation proceedings, said the new citi-
zens were coming into progressive
community. fortified with an honorable
background Of history.
% Explaining the progress Of AleXan-
6ria, Councilman Timberman said that
Alexandria Incurred the greatest por-
ton Of its 1reSent-day debt shortly
after the Civil War when it financed
railroads, caral and a water company
all Of which didn't pan out" He said
that more tnln 81 $50, 900 was expended
for the deveopment of those utilities
Since that lime. he said, Aexandris
has paid OF 81 ,Ooo, 900 Of the debt and
in the meantime has built new streets
sewers, schools and other permanent
Improvements and purchased motorized
fire apparatus with the total represent.
ing q sum Of more than 100000
The history Of the Alexandria Fir
Department vas traced from the pres