Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-06-03

TRANSFORMATION. Besides whicl; tic ore.
duoe &C that rich and extensive o0aE!ry
between the Blue Ridge and Tie A!!e2-
sapy mountains, for at least two ilr.EGT;;i
miles s. ". of the Potomac. IS Cor sHch
part Of it as will bear land transpoltatioHl
carried partly to Alexandria an'! the liz
lie towns below il on this river--pait.J 10
Fredericksburg and Falmouth, OH zap
rahannoek---pa to Richmond ara Pc
tersburg or James River, and sonc part
to Hanover and the highest navigation uF-
Oil Yorl. river; but let the benefits a,'is-
in- from water transportation be once icit
and see (if men possessed OF the spirit OF
commerce and large, capitals Should settle
at the shipping ports at tie head OF this
river) whether an atom OF all that pro-
5uce Will cross the Potomac for EaIti-
more whilst every thing within It's vor
tex Oh the north side will be sucked into
and be transported by water.
In word, the Shenandoah, wl,iel. runs
through the richest tract Of country ii this
state, the south branch (of Potomac)
which may with great ease be made ne
yigabic 100 miles and the intermediate
streams Of lesser note, which pour in,v
the main river, viii not only reduce the
land transportation Of every farmer and
planter in that country to the short dis
tancc Of Is or 30 miles; but in the upper
and more remote parts CT it CWheTe scarce
any thing but live stock is raised fer ma.'-
L. ND hun u,
growtobacco, wheat, hemp, &c. the trans
portation Of which hitherto has amounted
to prohibition Of their culture. On ii.a
other side OF the river, the Conesoge and
Monacasy, though Of less Importance,
may be improved to great advantage.
The mercantile interest Of Baltimore
affect to treat the extension Of the nayiga-
ton Of Potomac, as chimericaI plan s.
but you may be assured, that it is not
more easy, or more certain Comparative
iy speaking) to water in the common way
by race to mill, than it is to open the.
navigation from the Great Fa!ls---which
is within eight or nine miles Of tide water
to Fort Cumberland. II nothing there
fore more is effected, the object notwith-
standing is immense, when the field into
which this would lead is considered. but
/ have no doubt Of accomplishing the
whole, if it is ,judicious!y set about.
Alexandria and Georgetown. are the
highest shipping ports Gf the latter can
come under that description upon this ri
YER.
Having given You this statement of the
matters Which have fallen under my OBJ
and which Intentionally is not
exaggerated in any instance leave you
to compare it with other information, and
your own observations if you have leisure
and opportunities to make any, & to come
to such conclusions as your own Judgment
may decide. L have no other objects in
view but to promote measure which [
is pregnant Of great public uti,:-
ty. and which may, at the same time, be
made subservient to extensive private adj
santagcs. Were disposed to encounter
present Inconvenience for future income,
would hazard all the money l could
raise, upon the navigation of this river.---
Or had | inclination & talents for the com
line, have 10 idea Of better
opening than the one have descanted up
I'll. But the first has no charms fer me,
he other never shall engage in. My
pest respects and good wishes, in which
Mrs. Washington's are united, are offer
ID to MIR. M*k* and the rest OF YOUR ia
niIy.
am, dear sir,