Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-03
From he National hieHigeneer.

Inow proceed to address a CLASS oi PSIsonS'
interested, like many Of their neighbours. IN the
construction of the Chesapeake and ONO "a
nal blu, who Notwithstanding, differ from
them in opinion, aud in some degree from each
other. as to its operation upon their own wei
fare. Some Of them believe that its immediate,
others that its ultimate effects viii prove lnJu-
rious To- their prosperity. If led away, as be-
Geye them TO be, BY false ooncs ptions, their err
rors are very ancient, and merit to be treat'o
with respect. If my views are correct, they
should br among the most liberal subscribers
10 the stock e this Canal; asst is someot them
are openly hostile, and all Of them are decided
" opposed to its progress.
They are persons, who, not expecting 10
cheaper the conveyance OF their own c"mmo'
dries by the use OF the Canal, and residing
r;th,r near the Dist,icrof Columbia, or on thu
tide water Of the Potomac, apprefend that
N. influx of the riv.l productions OF the Wes'
will lower he prices Of those which taey have
to dispos" OF.
Js,v This preiudice is ancient, because it is
noticed by the an, hor OF the Wealth OF Ma
TONS as having opposed the extension ot the
Lordon turnpikes, lest thy should cheapen
the price If lands in the viclni'y II the Nero
pol,s Of the B itish Empire know this sen
timent TO be honest, because | esteem those
VIII partake of il; and 1 call IL a prejudice, Dr.
cause il has, withou, exception, e'ery where
ceased 20 ,xist W henever it has been tested by
experience The successors OF the PeopIs
nea, London, of whom Adam Smith spoke
have long cause 10 complain: Tor what were us
suburbs have now ne. ONE a Part OF the city
The more remote, the detached houses, gar
dem. and orchards, have become thriving
towns. peas, lettuce, and strawberries, are cui-
tiysted where wheat and barley used to grow;
green lawns and beautiful villas have spread
over barren hea rs, and could those "ho enter
tanned the apprerension which this distinguish
Ell author condesended to notice, now rise from
their graves, they Wcald MOI know again theii
former abodrs. ifa similar effect has mvar,a-
blv followed the extension of inland trade, BY
Roads and Canals, leading from It's principal
emporium, this uniformity must have is Course
In liked D NIPPLES, which, il mt lligibiy stated
will be understood; and, ii understood, mus
d~issipate the preJudices With which they con
fict.
An experiment of an exactly opp site cha
acter to that viii h the growth oi Io"don n
furnished, con d il be tried, wo"ld perhaps, o
itself. fl ctually remove tn" pref dice to viii
refer For if no prejudic, but in other I'd
founded i'm truth; if Ii, extens on OF the Road:
and Canals VIII ch itdd from a city into the in
terror, by producing a riNaishiP between thos
who reside in its vicin ", and the r,mot
dealers IN the same market, be really i%nJuriou
TO the farmer, their interest could not but b.
o omoted by contra ting those Roads and Ca
mails, and thu. excluding all compruuon. No
thing would, in that case, be more bench la
TO the farmers of Fairfax. Montgomery. IN,
Prince Georges, than to cut OIL all possible
conhexion between the cities OF the Distric
of Columbia and every other par, of Virgi'i;
and MARYLAND, except those three counties
q Were the experiment made, howe or, we sho"lt
soon see the wharvss Of Alexandria * George
town forsaken by their vessels; ihrIr house
and shops by their inhabi ants. aud the Propl
ofthose very counts, 5 looking out for a bette
market in the city Of Be'tinore, PAiladelpsi ia
= New York, or Boston; AID yet these lsrge CT
ties, through which so much OF our coontr,
produoe now passes abroad TO market stu
more rem tie. owe their superiority, as Londo'
has, in part, done its vast and rapid growth, Z
the extension o, inland commerce.
Even the member OF the Legislature o
New York, elected by the City, were, however
opposed to the commencement fihe Erie "a
nal. So were the far greater part OF the inhab
itants of the shores Of the Hudson river, and o
Long Island; and for the very reason winch l
at The foundation Of the hostility that hav
described to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Fortunately, the former work survived IT
early struggle with those enemies whom l
has since more than vanquishej-lt has con
versed into friends: for in no part OF the stat
of New York has the Erie Canal caused ioude
exultation, at its final and glorious com 1letior
than in the very country and city which sough
to strangle its birth The same good forum
will, l trust, attend the Central Canal OF the =
nited States; a work ofnot less importance.
The main error at the foundation OF the pre-
iudice / am seeking TO expose, is a misappre
hension Of the extent OF the real market OF tn
Potomao-of that which consumes these nu
merous productions that had their outlet, an'
their Quite, only, through the cities of the Dis
trict of Columbia. That market IS spread, II
truth. ito wherever an e~fec,uai demand exist
for a barrel Of -four. a bushel OF gram, or Ses
T.r.cL.rs !, has esi ended TO England ant
France. to Portugal and Spain, 10 the Island
and continent OF Africa, to South America
~throughou,1he West Indies, and even to 4noos
tan and China