Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-06-19
Fer tis Ga;ltts.
POTOMAC NAVIGATION.
NO ~.

Mr.. Evans In rcfutaEior of that OBJ
lection to the contemplated Canal, which
constituted the principal subject of my
former communication, much more
might be said, were it necessary; but |
hope it is sufficiently obviatea. shall
proceed to consider, few Of tlfelnost
prominent advantages which would re-
suit to ourselves from its completion,
leaving to the minds of 2 rejecting peo-
pie, the consideration of innumerable
minor beneficial effects itwould be like
ly to produce.
The most obvious, and certain advan-
tage would be, the great reduction it
would effect in the expense of taking to
market, the produce of the country
The commissioners in their report, take
a cent q mile per ton, as the probable
rate of toll, and estimate the freight at
the same price. But to give those who
adventure their money in th!, great
work, an ample compensation for their
enterprise, and that | may not deceive
BY false calculations, viii add to this
estimate so per ct ard say that the
freight and toll will be at the rate of
three cents mile per ton. There are
in ton, say 10 barrels of flour; and
the distance from Williamsport to
Georgetown is ninety seven miles. The
. expense therefore Of Transporting ten
barrels Of flour from WilEamsport 10
: Georgetown would be but 29l cents,
Or about 90, or say 80 cts. per barrel,
instead Of so or 100, which may now
be stated as fair average price, thus
rnaking difference OF at least ten cents,
in The carriage of every bushel of wheat
the farmer sends to market But fur
Their, we know that the price of wheat
at home, is regulated by the price be-
low, deducting Tire carriage, SO that tits
not only what is actually sent off, but
the whole amount Of surplus wheat,
raised by the farmer, and consumed
out of his own family, would be equally
affected l think the calculation below
the truth, when estimate the saving in
This respect alone to the single county
Of Berkeley at $4,000 per annum: and
this too without loss to any one as the
real 4aborcrs, the boat hands, are more
miserably paid in proportion to their ia
tigue, exposure, sc. than any other class
of laborers amongst us. There would
also, be proportionate saving on
whiskey, corn-meal, rye flour, pork,
bacon and every other article sent TO
market, and the gain upon the whole
amount Of this produce would be i'm
mense.
The jealousy which sometimes exists
between the country and towns, is gem
orally but an i'll founded prejudice
As they increase, the consumers of the
country produce also increases, and be-
tween country and its natural market
especially, so intimate is the connection,
that the prosperity Of the one cannot be
much affected, without re-acting upon
the other In this point Of view the Ca
nal would be Of extreme importance to
this country. The district Of Colombia
would at once become place of great
commercial Importance; It's capital, its
population, its consumption, would
greatly increase; a demand for an in
finite variety of articles now unthought
lof, would be created, besides a greatly
extended demand for those articles, wi,h
which we now supply them. Offering
AZ it would surely DO, the most easy