Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-10-13
Far the Alexandria Daily Aavertiser.
Mr.. SNowDEN,

from the top of the Trough Hill to the ford
of Little River, has, for somstlme, attract
ed the public attention, two routs are spok-
en- of--one by Fairfax Courthouse, eros
sing the present Turnpike Road at a little
Tavern (the Blue BalD and thence to the
ford the other through Ravensworth to
Centerville, and from thence to the lord.
The advocates for the first ront alledge that
the distance will shortened by three, four
and some say FIVE miles, that the ground IS
good and every material for forming
road, plenty and near at hand, and further
that it will intersect the Road from Lees
burg to Centerville, at or near the Sum
Spring, and thereby have tendency to
draw into the Turnpike all the Wagons,
&c. coming from above Leesburg. On the
other hand it is admitted that the distance.
will be shortened in going by the Court
House, but not to the extent asserted; but
it is believed that the ground by Center
vile was better and the materials plentier
and nearer at hand but, waving this, it is
contended, that in taking the road by the
Courthouse the Company will sustain Ger
tain losses which will far everbalance what
ever it may gain by shortening the distance.
The distance, they say, between the old
Turnpike Road and the one contemplated
by the Court House is such, that the old
road must be kept open from Little River
to the Blue Ball Tavern. The old road
from Little River to the forks below Cen
tervllle, distance of sixteen miles, is the
main road, for all the country above those
forks, to the warehouses at Colchester and
the Occoquan Mills, and therefore will ne
yer be shutup, that the part below the forks
to the little Tavern, can never be shut up,
because there Is a great body Of people liv-
ing upon Bull Run, Johnnymore, Popes
Head, and Wolfe Runs who use that road
and have no other to Alexandria: and In
dependent of those, that, Of late, great
number cross the Bull Run, coming from
the Red-House and the foot of the Blue
Ridge as far as Ashby's and Manasseh's
Gaps, that to shut up this part Of the road
would be a degree of oppression on the peo-
pie living upon the east side of Bull Run
and upon Johnnymore, Pope Head and
Wolfe Runs, and would altogether shut out
all, from the western side of Bull Run, from
the Alexandria market, who, it is said, form
full three parts out of FIVE Of those who now
go down the Centerville road to Alexan-
dria. Then, if the old Turnpike Road be
kept open to the little tavern, they say, the
great. mass who now use this road will con-
tinue to use it, and never touch the turn
pike till they reach the little tavern, and,
that it is much to be doubted whether those
above the Little River will not, in dry wea-
Their, prefer the old road to avoid the toll.
It will, no doubt, be granted that one grand
object contemplated by the intended road,
is the public benefit, by which the writer
understands, notabeneft resultingto apart,
but one which may, by due attention, be
extended to the largest body of the COM
munity. Another object certainly will not
be lost sight of by the Subscribers, a suita-
bic compensation for the money generously
advanced by them to make the road, the ex-
pence of which, it is admitted, will be great.
The writer conjectures far beyond what is
now supposed. Justice requires that such
measures be pursued as viii have the most
evident tendency to answer that object, and
inelfecting that, the main one, OF rendering
the greatest good to the public, will be at
tanned. Itremains to be examined which
of the two routs is most likely to effect
these grand ends. To have proper know
ledge Of the subject, it will be necessary to
take in view other matters, which, though
not Immediately connected with it, will
have.a powerful effect upon it. The navi-
CATION of the rivers Potomac and Shenan-
doah the writer allndes to. The river Po-
tomac, it is well known, is now navigable at
certain seasons of the year. The company