They chose a site about four miles north of the creek at the public tobacco warehouses on West's Point, and petitioned the House of Burgesses to establish a town at the location. They sought the creation of a port to facilitate the shipping and trade of tobacco and other crops between the colony and Europe and England. The petition was accepted and in May of 1749, Governor Gooch signed the bill establishing the new town. It was to be called Alexandria, in honor of the Scottish Alexander family on whose land it would rise. A few months later, lots were surveyed and auctioned off on a sultry two days, July 13-14, 1749. The main thoroughfares through the new community became Fairfax Street and Cameron Street.