The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-03-31
POTOMAC RIVER.


Report OF tho commissioners appointed
to examine the navigation of the Pc.
somac river. Conclrded.1
Probable Profits Of This Canal.
Taking the average tonnage of the
boats, which havo passed through the
locks, in the year 1919, s82of and S2I
from the official document furnished BY
the Potomac company, il is 1875 tons
each year: suPposing ten barrels oil
Hour equal to ton, and cosi putting the
whole product in -four, the amount which
ha' descended the river each year, is a
quantity of produce quail to $4,000
barrels OF -four.
III such IS the euantsy unsupported on
the river, in its present imperfes, state
oil navigation, ii is not extravagan, to
suppose that four barrels of -four are
now carried by land for one which is
transported by water, and which, wien
the canal Is completed, win seek tina,
cheaper conveyance. This would make
an additional amour, of four.hundred and
seventy two thousand barrels. The in,
habitants ofths counties Of Hardy, Pen.
dieton, and large part ef Hampshire.
IN virginia and of considerable por.
ton OF Allegheny in Maryland, and Bed
ford IN Pennsylvania, are exclusively de.
voted to grazing if the facilities of
transportation were afforded them by a
canal, they would either slaughter their
cattle at home and send down the beef
and PORK, or would turn their attention
10 the more profitable pursuits cf agri-
culture. From these counties we NAV
then fairly calculate upon the addition OF
Two hundred thousand barrels The es.
adjustment ola canal wili,without DOUBT,
draw commerce from franklin, PenDsyl
Vanla, and Shenandoah, Rockingham, and
large part Of Augusta, in Virginia. for
which we may confidently add two hun.
dred and fifty thousand barrels. From
respectable authority We learn, that in
the year 1891, 100000 barrels of -four
were made in the four south western
counties OF Pennsylvania, all of which
would seek market by way of tho ma
uonal road and contemplated canal add
10 THIS 100000 barrels from the state of
OHIO, and the counties Of Ohio, Brooke,
Preston, Harrison, &c. in Virginia. and
the aggregate is 100000 barrels the
toll as uoS established on the Potomac
Is 2z'cen's per barrel for the longer dis
lance, and 1 cents for the shortest; the
medium may then be stated at l 5 cents
the tolls then upon 100000, would a.
mount to the sum OF 100000 dollars ;
the estimate cost fthc canal is l, 578 ,954
dollars; upon which the sum Of 24O, 900
dollars gives Is per cent, per anBum
profit; AID an excess sufficien, for an.
nuai expenses.
In this calculation, the tolls on the as-
cehd!ns commerce, consisting Of plaster
OF paris, salt. fish in barrels, and foreign
merchandise, required for the interior,
is not enumerated. They, il, is supposed,
Will amour, TO third of the sum of the
descending toll. Nor is any allowance
maze for the tolls on the new article,
which will be added to the descending
trade viz: coal, lime, lumber, Indian
corn, &c, So that if any doubt can ex>
Isl concerning the increase Of tolls, in the
proportions above stated, this addi
'lonai source of tonnage will insure the
profit OF fifteen per cent per annum ;
hut there IS yet stronger assurance oil
gaining at least this amount of profit,
when it is considered how much this rate
Of toll assured may be increased and still
leave the freight considerably cheaper
than 1t now IS, as is SO clearly apparent
from Mr.. Fuiion's statement already ci.
ted.
Ways and Means.
From Cumberland TO the tide water is
1876 miles, the cost Of a canal for ISS
miles ofthat distance, is ascertained to be
81, 57S,954 for the remaining 5 miles,
the canal at the Little Fslls, when enlar.
god may DC used I; this sum divided be-
tween the two states will give S7s9, AT
to be furnished by each 1t is proposed
tina, the money should be raised by loan
fer i6 or 90 years, which could probably
be effected at per cent per annum
but for the greater certainty let il be cal,
| cula;ed at per cent as soon as the loan
shall be determined upon, let books be
opened under the direction of the state.
Tor the subscription Of stock by iDdiyidu.
ais, at such places as the legislatures
shall deem expedieDt 5 each individual
10 be entitled to the stock he sub.
scribOs for, upon condition Of his pay
ing annually to the state, the interest or
the amount, until the annual profits o.
the canal shall be adequate to an extin
punishment OF part Of the loan, and dis.
charge Of the annual inleFestj(h) OF what
ever portion of the stock that shall no
be subscribed for by individuals, tn,
states themselves shall be considered Al