Show ANCIENT FOOT FERRY Means of Communication Between Virginia Vir-ginia and Maryland Shores Richmond Yn1ho footferry Is ono of tho ancient Institutions that aurvUo In tho old und honorable town of Alexandria Vn In nil that long stretch of majestic river from tho capital of the United States to great 3hesapoako bay there Is neither bridge nor modern ferry between tho Virginia and Maryland shores Though ho counties that border the Potomac on either side are populous and prosperous pros-perous communication between the 1 l f r J i Foot Ferry Still In Use two sides of tho river seems difficult to men not to the manor born yet the conditions are accepted as natural and regular by natives Between Alexandria and tho Maryland Mary-land shore tho Potomac Is a mile wide Tho Maryland lands are thlcltly settled set-tled Because of circuitous roads tho dwellers there must drive ton miles to Washington whereas In a straight line the distance Is but five That country has yet to be traversed by a trolley line Many of tho people on tho east side of tho river cross to Alexandria and take steamboat or trolley trol-ley to Washington The means of communication com-munication between Alexandria a city of 15000 Inhabitants and tho opposite shore Is n footferryor more accurately ac-curately a hand ferry for tho ferry Is a small boat rowed by a veteran river man The boat Is rigged with a sail and when the wind favors which is not often tho ferryman rests on his oars A trip IB made every hour When the accompanying picture was taken tho sail was In use The ferryman Is W II Wheatley He has spent his lICe on tho river and has been conducting the ferry for many years Ho plies from a slip between be-tween two of tho principal wharves In Alexandria and a decaying quay called Foxs Ferry on tho other side Foxs Ferry was a hustling place before be-fore the ago of steam a man named Fox operating an endless chain ferry across tho river at that point |