Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-10-29

Ia j
ciously laid out into the proposed turnpike
road by the courthouse; and that the same
observation may be made as to every.other
;mnortant point on the Centervllle route
may as to Centerville itself road leading
directly from Centerville to Fairfax court
house will probably reduce instead OF en-
larping the distance to Alexandria. But,
supposing the distance increased an hall
mile, will that be deemed a sufficient reason
to extendthe distance two miles and an halt
+, the persons above the ford OF Little XII
yer? But is no consideration to be bestow-
ed on the intermediate country between
Centerville and the road leading from Lees
burg to Alexandria, space OF at least 10
miles, Most of the inhabitants OF which
at present are obliged to travel from three
to six miles about; equivalent to from SIX
to twelve miles going to aud returning
from Alexandria.
The proposed road, by going five miles
north of Centerville, will remove that IN
convenience from a great portion OF those
inhabitants; and thess are the persons who
naturally trade 70 Alexandria. The pro-
duce OF the country Immediately south OF
/ the road by Centerville as naturally dePo-
sits itself at the 0ccoquan Mills, on navi-
gable water, and in the town OF Dunfries,
i whence it is waterloo to the markets OF
! Alexandria, Baltimore, and Norfolk. The
| same observation extends to the upper parts
! Of Prince William and Fauquier; the most
| important part of the trade OF the latter
country centering on the tide water Of the
/ Rappahannoc in the towns OF Falmouth and
| Fredericksburg. Yet it IS under the pub
| lie idea Of engro5sing this trade that the
! turnpike road must diverge to Centerville,
/ to the great inconvenience. OF all the cou1-
| try living between Centerville and the Lees
/ burg road, as we'll as of the great and fer
/ tile countries lying beyond the ford OF Lit
/ tie River which furnish Alexandria with its
t best and richest customers. If, however,
/ il shall be found as near to Centewllle to
! proceed by the courthouse as to pursue
/ the old road, all this southwestern country
will be as well accommodated without do
! ing injury to the country under and beyond
the Blue Ridge.
Another lud1crous reason is assigned for
the southern route. The farmers beyond
the mountains are told to lock up their
wagons, keep their horses II their stables,
| and send their produce down the Shenan-
| go, Ts--rf---.....o, wDrn II Is Known
that the first river is not navigable at all,
owing to distractions not yet removed,
i and that both have not water sufficient for
three-fourths of the year. Besides the
rich farmers beyond the mountains, viii ge-
Morally prefer sending their produce to
market in their own Wagons, and giving
! employment to their horses, than to trust
! it to careless boatmen, especially as they
will generally bring back Immediately to
! their own houses the articles of consump-
| ton which the town alone can supply.
J! It has ben stated, that the route by
/ Centerville by frightening the distance
nearly three miles, will render Baltimore
/; as near if not nearer, to great portion Of
the country beyond the Ridge than Alex
aadria-- Baltimore from its capital, is
powerful rival, so is the city Of Washing
ton, from its locality and being the seat of
Government. In consequence of an cpl
mon beyond the mountain, that the most
direct route from Alexandria to Little
River, is too southern Tor their accommo-
dation: the people there, contemplate ef-
fecting another Turnpike to George Town.
The proposed route by Fairfax court
house, VIII lead near the Gum Spring in
Loudoun, and at the distance Of rs miles
from Alexandria, will intersect a road
from Centereille TO Leesburg, about II
miles from the latter place BY which
mea $, Leesburg viii be brought as near
to Alexandria by this route, as it is at pre-
sent by the road leading down the Potow-
mac; this is "a circumstance OF considerable