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

to Illustrate our views and defeat our
plans, in preventing, as far as posi-
BILE, the intersection of their road-to
effect which, they at once abandoned
the greater part Of an already paved
road near Wiley's, located new route
nearer the Potomac, and entered into
an agreement with the citizens ofLees-
burg to meet them two or three miles
nearer that place.
At this period, no little excitement
prevailed among us upon the question,
from what quarter Of the town should
the road lead; and this was the fatal
rock on which all our laudable views
and intentions on the subject were
wrecked.
The author of a very popular work,
recently published in Baltimore, enti-
tied Z" Views on the subject of Internal
improvement" offers the following
pertinent remarks:-" To derive a be-
ne6cial effect from any improvement of
the kind, we must, (says he,) go pro-
perly to work: we must not be at va
rance with each other. If we unite,
and throw aside all our local interests,
the thing will be accomplished; but if
we continue to pull at variance, we
may be ikened to a family the heads of
which employ themselves continually
in wrangling, instead of attending to
the duties of their household, until
their substance is wasted away, and
they become the objects of desolation
and despair" But to return to the
road-The contending parties each pc
titioned the Legislature of Virginia,
praying that it might be started from
their respective favorite points. The
legislature wisely pursued middle
course, and, in passing law, left it
optional with the Company to select
the point they should deem most adj
viseable. Books were opened for sub
scriptions to the stock; but, owing to
the unfortunate iealousies which dis
tracted and divided us, | believe but
ID or $4,000 dollars were subscribed.
1t is an undentable fact, that our neigh
bers of Georgetown and Washington
have been striving much to gain the
ascendency over Alexandria; and the
citizens of the former named place, in
cooperating with those of Leesburg,
had an eye to the valuable produce of
the fertile counties of Loudon, Jeffer-
son and Berkeley, with view ofdivert-
ing the same from the former channel,
and securing the conveyance of it to
Georgetown. How far they have sue
ceeded in the accomplishment of this
object the lamentable fact of, at least,
five Wagons proceeding thither now,
where but one went before, will readily
demonstrate. The Fairfax turnpike
road is also facilitating their views, as
we'll as those of our neighbors of Wash
ington-ten to fifteen Wagons fire.
quently travelling this road in the day;
and, it may be well to apprise our citi-
zens, a reduction in tolls, for Wagons,
is contemplated by the Washington
Bridge Company, as further induce
ment to direct the Wagons from their
old channel, which once we'll effected,
who can pretend to say when we shall
ever regain the advantages resulting
from the former preference of an Alex
andria market.
The present Leesburg turnpike has
been made in straight direction to-
wards Wiley's, as far as Drane's tav-
ern, (when the Georgetown road inter-
sects, evidently with the view of con-
tinuing it at some future day to Alexan
dria; and the citizens of Leesburg yet
encourage us to believe, that whenever
we are disposed to exert ourselves for
our own interests, they will meet us at
Wiley's. We then would have left us
but sixteen miles in a straight line to
turnpike, which at $4,000 per mile, is
S48,ooo-two fifths of which, by a law
Of Virginia, the board Of public works
would subscribe for, leaving us only
$50, 900 to provide for.
And can the number ofcapitalists in
Alexandria and its vicinity hesitate in
providing this sum ? I would not will