Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-03-28

oIlCleDI diu, 81 90 W "'N
productive and useful operation in
or four years from its commencement.
Minute details in this place would be
tedious-they must therefore be O.
mitted yet in order TO convey the
clrarest view of the Importance OF this
single Improvement, no better Illus
ration can be given, than simple
hui summary statement OF the pro-
gre-s of wealth in its vicinity, and OF
fbe revenue derived from the tolls
for given period. This statement
shall attempt, the materials are de-
rived from an authority which II be-
l;eye nay be implicitly relied upon.
II will slew that its advantages were
small, have steadily and rapid ly in.
creased, that they have become
great, ami are still as likely to in
crease as heretofore. The revenues
of this canal were, emitting fractions,
in NJ. 1913, 1884. E457-F94, liz,
s-5--,8N4. 20,S72, aud in 1914, las.
OIL sterling; equal to Sa1S,65l.
The enCrease Of population, improve
nent. and general prosperity of the
city Of Glasgow. and along the whole
tract of the canal and its vicinity. has
been IN ratio correspondent to that
Of the revenue which accrued
10 the canal company. Time. how
ever. would fail to permit reference
10 the statistical accounts by which
thiS is demonstrated /; these are, how
ever, in the reach of any member in
dis house. TIE instance is, upoh
the whole. most striking; especial
" when it is considered that this is in
acouatry which had remained station
sry for centuries, with confirmed
haaits. If such eff cts are eXserienc-
ell in the dry tree. what may we not
none Tor in the green | come back
nav "a our own country, the great
features OF which we have already
contemplated, the country which a.
bove all others presents at once the
means Il Inducements for similar en-
ternrise. canals here. have not vet
had an experiment they have been
but partially attempted. without any
all or patronage from government,
an aid which in this country is Pc
Guiiarly & indispensably necessary to
thrir success /; because those of most
Importance are so to the whole COM
mlaity rather than to any portion Of
il. The situations in which they are
required might be enumerated, the c.
yileat advantages dweIt upon, the
probability demonstrated but as
an epitome, let single instance be
selected one which has in manner
forced itself almost. but scarcely al
together, into existence and useful
ness. | select this one because |
have offered facts to support the state
ment which | shall Offer respecting it.,
and because these facts are recent.
The dismal swamp canal in Virginia
and North Carolina. This Improve
ment has indeed been long projected,
and some progress made in the work.
though very imperfect. it hal been
vnt through the land which separates
the waters of the Chesapeake bay
and the Atlantic SQUAD, and furnish
ed with wooden locks. but not of suf-
ficient depth or width, nor were the
works kept up. 1t was neglected
from the want of funds. So great,
however. were the hardships expert
enced fer want OF commmicatIpnI
during the late war, that unter all
the Inconvenience Of taat eriod, a
snare OF attention, lu-
der the dictates ii necessity. was di-
rected to this canal. and eXerti6ns are
still continued Tor its completion, bat
with considerable doubts whether the
want OF sufficient funds will not again
force a Suspension. Imperfect as i'll
was. it was in 1915. Cor about six
weeks, open for navigation.
In that short period, and besides
the articles paying toll by valuation,
the following articles are officially
stated to have passed through, viz.
6,5l9.4l&shinSIes, l.l6o.59l slaves,
l6, -0s bushels of Indian corn. e,5lSI
Bushels of rice, s,l38 hogsheads of
tobacco. 1857 bis. of fish. s,575 bar
rels of tar, $50 casks of turpentineI
SPIRITS. 2.47j bales of cotton, ll9 bar
rels OF black lead, scr tons of iron.
l8i tons of lead, powder and shot
a small encouragement from govern
ncnt nv SuhsrriDtion for shares of