“ The wood-blocked road cost only 5s per square yard, and has SERVED THE PURPOSE ADMIRABLY. The portion of Botany-street, which was laid down about three years ago, is as good as when new, although the traffic from the brick yards and other factories is very heavy. Ralgan, Cooper, and other streets and lanes have been made in the same way, and nearly all the street crossings in the populated part of the borough are of wood, and are in much better order and cost less to repair than those where stone is used. ”

“ The sylvan beauties of the place have gone forever; but in their stead have grown a thriving and industrial population, living in well built comfortable cottages, with wide streets, well made roads and footpaths, and all the advantages of civilization. ”

“ These works were in what is known as the borough of Waterloo, while on the western side of Botany-road, now the borough of Alexandria, were Messrs Bell and Lyndon's wool washing and bone crushing works, and Mr O. B. Ebsworth's woolscouring works (afterwards sold to Mr Robinson, who will be remembered as having taken an active interest in the charities of Sydney and suburbs) . Here there were magnificent works for drying wool by hot air in case of heavy rains. The chambers into which the wool was put was heated by means of steam pipes. ”

“ One of the first actions of the Waterloo Council was to agitate for the removal of the toll-bar on the Botany-road from near Redfern-street Redfern, to near the Public School on the Botany-road, whence it was entirely removed a few years ago, and the road thrown open for free.
The borough contains 780 acres and about 25 miles of streets. Waterloo is the only suburban borough which has a system of WOOD-BLOCKED ROADS, constructed without Government aid. When the trams were run along Botany-road, much of the heavy traffic, such as brick-carting, &c,. ”

“ Some time afterwards it was found that the bylaws were in direct opposition to the rule that the books purchased with the Government subsidy were not to be lent out, but it was too late to interfere, especially as the aldermen of Redfern were not inclined to amend their bylaws. The Redfern library has therefore done an immense amount of good which those of Waterloo and Alexandria are prevented from doing because of this INJUDICIOUS INTERFERENCE on the part of the Government in a purely municipal matter. ”

“ Joseph Cook also has a very complete training stables and tracks in Waterloo, so that the district is not entirely given over to manufacturing and production, but contributes to its share to amusement. ”

“ THE PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIES in Alexandria are four boot factories, two tanneries, three fellmongeries, three bone mills, two tallow refineries, one smelting works, one vinegar works, Mr. Turner's foundry, three cabinet factories, one wheelwright's the nursery garden, two large bakeries, 15 diaries, 30 market gardens, machine brickworks (turning out over 1,500,00 bricks daily) , besides several smaller brickyards and about 200 shops and business places. In Waterloo the principal industries are Messrs. ”

“ But alas! the construction of the railway works and of numerous buildings in the neighborhood has rendered it unfit for use. Of Mr Henderson's nursery and gardens only about five acres remain, the rest having been cut into streets and building lots, so bricks and mortar have replaced the groves of camellias and other flowering and ornamental plants. ”

“ It is still an important industry centre, and the traffic on the various main roads is very heavy.
On the King's Clear grant Mr J King raised excellent crops of wheat for several years, and afterwards sold 14 acres to the late Mr. Robert Henderson, and known as Camellia Grove. Ten acres are known as Greenfield's Estate, while the other six acres, known as Rowley's Estate, are now subdivided between Messrs Richardson and Monks, who own three acres each. THIS PORTION OF ALEXANDRIA is the only freehold in the district outside the Cooper Estate. ”

“ At the present time the value of rateable property in the borough is (illegible) and the net revenue is ₤8850. The amount borrowed on debentures is ₤13,000. The population is 6752 so the total population of the two boroughs is 14,608, and the united revenue amounts to ₤7938, as compared with a population of 1500 and a revenue of about ₤1400 in 1869.
THE ALEXANDRIA TOWN HALL was built in 1880, Mr Charles B Henderson being Mayor. The council at the present time is composed as follows: -- West Ward, Alderman John Turner (mayor) , Charles Moon, and Charles Jesson ”