Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-02-08


sure that prosperity which our natural
advantages should command. If you
can succeed in arousing us from our
present objectionable lethargy, shall
hail you as the benefactors Of Alexan-
dria; and richly will you merit the ever
lasting gratitude of its inhabitants. In
every direction, we are advised OF the
increasing prosperity Of other cities,
owing to improvements by roads and
canals; and the meritorious examples
furnished US in Maryland, Delaware,
Pennsylvania, New-York, &c. sc. Will
not, trust, be entirely lost on us; or
that we shall remain in our present
state of apathy until we are literally
shamed into exertions for the promo
ton of our own interests. Let US cast
our eyes at Baltimore.-What great
natural advantages does she. possess
over Alexandria? and yet not an ave-
nue. to that f1ourishing city but is turn
piked, whilst her patriotic and enter
prising citizens, who have SO we'll ex-
perienced the benefits resulting from
their energetic measures, are now en-
gagged in rendering the Susquehannah
tributary to them, in removing the Sc
rious obstacles which obstruct the ma
vigation of that river.
And what have we done? AS an
Alexandrian, l blush to ask the ques-
ton: I feel mortified in acknowledging
to the world our lack Of enterprise
But our fellow citizens elsewhere can
not fail to observe it; and, no doubt, are
willing we should remain thus inactive,
whilst they are reaping the fruits of a
course entirely different.
We have but one turnpike leading to
the interior; and yet how loudly do
our interests call for others, especially
one to Leesburg; and to the considera-
ton of which I shall devote the chief
part of the present communication. /
am we'll aware, sirs, that some exer-
tons (if they could be,called SUCH have
been made to effect this very desirable
object; but, owing to that illfated jea-
lousy which unhappily exists among us,
and which has too often paralyzed our
best efforts, those small exertions soon
terminated, and we have been content
to sit down with folded arms, lulled
into perfect indifference. A. would
contribute to the road, provided you
would carry it before his property; B.
would do no less, if it could be near
enough to his dwelling to keep if eter-
nally ohscured in cloud of dust; and
c. would be equally liberal-always-
provided it shall follow the boundaries
of his plantation!
Such narrow views are unworthy of
us. Private interest should yield to
public good; and let the road lead into
town in whatever direction, it would
not fail to benefit A, B, and c, as well
as every other citizen,-although it
might not pass Immediately through
their gardens or turnip patches. Let
it go either road-although there can
be little doubt which is the proper
route-only let us effect it; and as do
not own foot of ground on or near Ell
Their of the roads, may be permitted
to offer some pretensions to impartial
ty.
About the year 1916, the legislature
of Virginia passed a law authorizing a
road from Leesburg to Alexandria,
making, if my memory serves me cor
rectly, Wiley's tavern point. The
citizens Of Leesburg proposed to share
the undertaking, and meet us halfway:
we rejected the proposition. Conscious
how desirable turnpike was for the
purpose of transporting the abundant
produce of Loudoun, SC. to the Dis
trict, her citizens then made similar
proposal to the people of Georgetown,
who, less insensible to their interests
than ourselves, readily conceded to
their proposition; and, on petitioning
the legislature Of Virginia, they secur-
ed law for opening road from the
Little Falls bridge to intersect that of
Leesburg. A route was located for
the same, considerable part Of which
was paved-Wiley's taven being deter