Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-05-14

We take great pleasure in reading, and civ.
ing others an opportunity to read, of the IA,
pitl strides of the enterprising people of New
York, towards fortune and greatness. The
following article, from the Albany Daily Ad.
vertiser, will act as a stimulus, we hope, upon
our citizens: if we cannot do things on Sc
large scale, we can, at least, improve our
condition, and ''every little helps"
ALBANY PIER AND BASIN.
The pier in front Of this city, the
constructs Of which was authorised
BY an act of the Legislature of this state,
passed April 5th, 1928, is nearly CON-
pleted. It's extreme length is nearly
4,4oo feet-its width is 80 feet, and its
height averages about 30 feet. 1t runs
in front of the old docks, at an average
distance of about $50 feet, and encloscs
basin, the area of which measures "a
bout 50 acres, capable of holding about
1000 canal boats, and so or 60 vessels
of the largest class, usually employed
in the navigation of the Hudson river.
Near the northern or upper end OF
the pier, the Erie and Champlain ca
nails, which unite about 81 miles north
of the city, are terminated by lock,
through which boats aud other craft
enter the basin. At the southern ter
mination Of the pier is sloop lock,
III feet in length, and so feet in width,
having depth of l feet, at the lowest
stage of water.
There is a convenient swing bridge
over the lock, and two other bridges
are now constructing, running from
two of the principal streets, across the
basin, which will furnish convenient
avenues to the pier. Each bridge will
have draw to admit the passing of
vessels.
The facilities afforded to CONNER
cial transactions between canal boats
ANIL rivervessels, are strikingly obvious.
4 perfect harbor is formed by the pier,
which secures the canal craft from the
violence of storms, and capacious ba-
sin will at all times accommodate the
vast commerce which, although at pre-
sent in its infancy, is destined to be-
come of incalculable importance, when
the chain of navigable communication
is perfected to the great lakes and the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers, the con-
summation of which, is at no very re-
mote period.
A Slight view Of the advantages
which will be the immediate result OF
this great local improvement, made by
few enterprising individuals, natural
ly leads the mind to contemplate Its
immense consequence, when the Alba
nv basin shall become the principal de-
DO, of commerce, which the canal
commissioners estimated in their last
annual report, would produce in tolls,
in the year 1926, the sum OF S5oo,ooo,
and that for the nine following years,
their increase VIII be at the rate OF
SIS 1000 annually. All estimates hi
therto made Of canal tolls, have fallen
short of the actual receipts There is,
therefore, every reason to anticipate a
result which will justify the estimate
of the commissioners.
The city of Albany is nearly at the
head of the navigable tide water OF the
Hudson, and is situated on its western
bank, at the termination Of the great
canals, which when completed, will
form chain Of navigablc communica-
ton through lakes Ontario, Erie, Mich
igan, Huron, and to the Sauit OF St
Mary on Lake Superior, and including
Champlain, line of navigation ofnear.
" 2ooo miles. With the prospective
advantages to be derived from com
merce with this extensive region OF
country, and anticipating canal navi'
CATION with the Ohio and the Missis-
sippi rivers, which will augment to an
immense magnitude, the commerce OF
our great canals, it follows as natural
consequence, that with these increasing
resources, capital and enterprise are
the only desiderata for making this
city highly commercial and prospe-
rous place.
With view of offering every facility
to merchants and others, who have {
desire of participating in the advanta
ecs 10 be derived from well digestec
plan of commercial business with tht
interior and growing sections of The
United States contiguous to our canals
the commissioners Of the basin com
PAW, have divided the pier into lots o
sS feet each, which they will sell a
public auction, early in July next. No
tice of the day Of sale will be given
In the mean time we have thought i
would be acceptable to our distant rea
ders, perhaps useful to some OF them
to give this brief sketch OF this srea
work, and to make cursory alluslon Il
the benefits TO be derived from its us'
and occupation, when our great cana
system shall have reached its compile
u ton.