Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-29

&. Mbeyak what would he say of it now? Since
then new world, as if oy magic, has sprung
up in the West; the wilderness has yielded to
the hand of industry; ships have taken place Of
the Indian canoe, and splendid cities and towns,
and cultivated fields, have risen and spread
themselves over the ruins Of savage hnts. Then
the means Of the country were limited; the ma
ton was in debt, and exhausted by the Revolu
tionary conflict which had just terminated. If
then the policy that opposed this measure, was
Justly considered contracted and iIliberal,"
what must be said Of il no,O, when the means
and resources Of the country are ample, and
when the inducements 10 this measure, both in
commercial and political point Of view, have
so greatly increased with the increasing growth,
population, and resources OF the Western
States, and as they increase in ,ceight, SO it is
the part of wise policy to increase the number
and the strength of the ties which bind them 10
the East
But to return to the narrative. 1t appears
from an examination of the proceedings of the
Potomac Company, incorporated by the con-
current acts ofVirginia and Maryland, in 1884,
that they went on 10 expend in the prosecution
of the improvement Of Inc natural bed OF the
river, until they expended S3l ,555, the amount
and the further sum Of Sl74,ooo, borrowed by
the Company Of the State of Maryland banks,
and individuals, without having, acc emphasized
the object, which is now admitted, on all hands,
can be obtained, only by all independent and
continuous canal, placed above the influence Of
tides or freshets For the accomplishment Of
such a canal, the States Of Virginia and Mary
land, by concurrent acts Of legislation, have re-
ceatiy incorporated company; in these acts,
the Congress of the United States, on'the Sd Of
March, 1925, and the State Of Pennsylvania on
the 9TH February, 1926, passed acts Of concur
renee, all Of hich have received the approba-
ton Of the original Potomac Company, and
nine commissioners have been accordingly APP
pointed, three by the President of the United
States, and three by each Of the States of Vir-
ginia and Maryland, TO open books for the sub
scrip,on of stock Tor the completion of the first
section, as far as the great coal mines near
Cumberland; and these commissioners are now
waiting the final report and estimates OF the
Board of In'ernal improvement, to enable them
to enter on the discharge of the duties Of their
appointment.
The hnal report and estimates on this SUBJ
Jet have not yet been made. The report OF the
BOARD Of Internal improvement, made during
the last session, establishes, however, the i'm
portant fact as to the practicability Of the pro-
ject; and while on the subject, the Committee
beg leave to refer to the following facts and re-
suits, disclosed by the report drawn up by L.
Sullivan, esq. member of the Board, as Illus
trallye to the whole. Speaking Of the supply
Of water on the Deep Creek route, ii is stated
that" this quantity appears to be treble that re-
uuired, nor have we included those reservoirs
which might be formed on Deep Greek and the
Glades, nor that of which the Pine Swamp west
Of the Youghiogeny may be capable, nor one
which might be formed by dam above the
Great Falls, allowing for sixty days drought,
which has never occurred, and large locks in
constant operation"
"The Obstacles" says the report, to
communication by the Potomac route, with the
Western States, lessons TO point, when COM
pared with the magnitude Of the objects, whe-
Their in commercial or political relation 10
the prosperity of the country" 1t is also de-
mons,rated, that I" The canal can pass at the
summit 5000 tons per day; which, at 200 days
in the year, gives 100000 tons. his, at cents
per ton per mile," the distance being 500 miles,
will give S3 100000 per annum of tolls, the
distance now being ascertained to be 346; the
tolls, of course, would be 3d. $4,000" 1t is al
so stated in this report, that the section Of the
country which will be accommodated by this
canal, comprehends one-sixth of Virginia, one
fourth Of Pennsylvania, with the States of Ohio,
Indiana, and Kentucky, containing eighty five
millions Of acres, and at least one million six
hundred thousand Inhabitants. But not these
onIy-al beyond them are Interested in an ulti.
mate system of internal communications, and
all, too, on this side, since our internal prospe-
rity is the support Of our external commerce.
our navigation, which cherishes our best means
of preserving peace, by efficiency in war. The
eight Western States contain two hundred and
forty-eight millions of acres, and at least two
million five hundred thousand inhabitants. If
the land may average five dollars an acre, its
value is twelve hundred and forty millions Of
dollars, and TO this may be superadded the four
territories, containing seven hundred and eigh-
,v-six millions Of acres, much Of which is al
ready likewise valuable. How small per cent
age on this value would amount to the cost Of
ali the internal improvements How certainly
good communications must double that value"
"Finally," it is said, reviewing the whole
ground, the Allegany mountains, stretching
through the centre of the Union, SO far from
being barrier to the most economicalsform Of
communication, is, in fact, to be rather consi-
dered the great laboratory of that element (water)
which is essential to this branch OF the internal
Improvements, in the contemplation OF the Ge-
neral Government"
@ 10, nj tha ri nj I'm.