Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-06-26

duccs her TO exert Oh influence IN the
Legislature OF Maryland, most fatal to
It's interests pretend not to be so COM
potent Judge OF the interests OF that CT
ty, as its own enlightened inhabitants,
but hope it will not be considered as
presumption in me, TO suggest some
! views, which in the few publications |
have seen on the subject, do not appear
to me to have been property weighed,
| and which render me doubtful, if she
will not receive even more benefit from
the Canal, than tae District Of Colum-
bia itself
1.-THE cross cut Canal from tie Poto-
mae to Baltimore is effected, then the
advantages which her large capital, bet
ter port, and more easy celnmunica-
ton with the sea win give her, even in
competition for the produce which shall
seek market by the Potomac Canal,
is too obvious to need any comment.
But excluding this view entirely from
the subject, the q'Iantity Of country
produce taken to Baltimore, would not
be so greatly diminished as we might at
first apprehend. That large portion of
it which now arrives by water, would Of
course not be lessencd. Those parts of
Pennsylvania, which row trade TO Bal
timore, would be without reach of the
Canal, as would also be, the counties
of Ann Arundel, Baltimore, large
portion OF the fertile county Of Freder-
lex, and when we reflect upon the ssnall
expense at which they now get their
produce to Baltimore, the higher price
which her natural advantages and lar
ger capital will always enable her to
give for il, and add to this the expense
OF Waggonage over an uupaved road,
to the point on the Canal whence their
produce is to be boated, with other lit
tie Incidental expenses, | think we may
safely pronounce, that not barrel north
of Frederiektown, or even from the Vi
cinity ofthat place, viii ever be diverted
from its present market. From the up
per counties on the Potomac, flour will
net bear the expense o. land carriage,
and is altogether taken down the river
at present, SO that the only loss which
Baltimore can sustain, viii be from the
county of Washington in Maryland, the
counties Of Berkeley and Jefferson in
Virginia, (the larger proportion of pro-
duce from which, already finds a mar
lcet by the rifer) and an inconsiderable
portion of the county Of Frederick
The great increase therefore, which we
hope for in the trade of the district, viii
be almost entirely derived from a couE-
try, now totally disconnected with Bal
timore. Baltimore supplies the district
with a large proportion OF the dry goods
and fancy articles consumed there and
whilst she does SO, the growth Of the
district Especially when affected with
out any material interference with her
own trade in the country produce) cam
not but greatly contribute to her own
prosperity. But again
Baltimore enjoys o large import trade,
besides no inconsiderable share of wes-
tern trade, and supplies TO the country
merchants, all the goods consumed in
the Potomac country 1t is the nature
OF man as he Increases in wealth, TO III
crease also in lis enjoymcnts, and pre-
cisely in proportion as the farming dis
trict depending on Baltimore for its sup
plies, would be benefited by the Canal,
would be the increased demand upon
her, for those most profitable articles Of
! Commerce. We should become better,
because more wealthy customers. Gro
ceries and heavy articles, would con-
fcss be most likely to be furnished from
the district, if their capital admitted their
doing it, on nearly equal terms; but the
most profitable articles of trade; dry
goods, and in short every thing, Of which
a large value is contained in a small
bulk, and Of which the carriage consti-
tutes but small portion of the value,
would continue to he purchased, where
the merchants would always be sure of
procuring good assortment on the best
terms. itwould be placed too, imme-
dlately upon the great highway from the
west, to the cities of New York and Phil
sadelphia, and if they could sell their
wares on equal terms, the great saving
IN time and expense, in getting the goods
to the point of shipment on the Canal,
would necessarily give them great adj
vantages oyerthose cities.
The manufacture of cotton, is be-
coming OF no small importance to Bal
timore. The experience of the last war
must convince us, of the difficulty of
procuring this material in those very
times in which its manufacture becomes
most important, but were the commune
cation with the western waters complet-
ed by this Canal, cotton could be sup
piled from New Orleans at an expense