Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-13
MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1928.
COMMUNICATIONS.

mina,ion Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal,
having been settled by the stockholders al their
late general meeting, and the necessary laws
having been passed by the the several Corpora
tons within the District, TO provide funds Tor
the paymeut Of their respective subscriptions,
and the work actually commenced.-,here can
no logger BE- doubt but that this splendid ma
uonal work will be prosecuted with vigor to Its
early completion; and, from the able manner III
which the President and Directors have, thus
far. conducted their operations, their wen
known zeal, industry and perseverance, we may
confidently anticipate that it will be completed
within The three years contemplated D! them
That this great work offers incalculable ad-
yan,ages TO the District generally, has been so
often and 50 ably shown, that II is unnecessary
at this time, 10 say any thing further upon this
part OF he subject. But, as there is gre at d.
yersity Of opinion as to the relative effects Of
the canal upon the seperaie interests OF the
three rival cities Of the Di,,rict-Gcorgetown,
Washing, ton, and Alexandria: and, as much OF
the benefit to be derived from it mus, depend
upon local causes, population, industry, capital,
facilities Of navigation, and other natural and
artificial advantages, it may not be uninterest-
ing, at this ,imr TO take view OF these, Tor The
purpose of directing the attention of persons a
broad, Who may have il in contemplation 10 re-
move 10 the Disnic,, with view to the making
of permanent mercantile establishment s.
GEonexTowN, then, has an active, enterpris-
ing and industrious populations; and, being the
highes, point on The river, will derive great be
neft from tae circums ance: and which, 1t the
yisssss. nay isq dsahTasss
over her rivals, as it is the irs' make, at which
produce, by the canal, will arrive. But, in this
respect, sh. is deficient. The river, above the
bridge, is difficult Of Navigation for large yes-
sells, aud The difficulty is increasing every day
The Canal, TOO, passing through the town, and
being considerably elevated above, and so i'm
mediatelv or, the river, will render it very
announcement place Of business: tho locks, too,
being below, instead Of above, the town, will
occasion great delay in getting the canal boats
to the wharves; and this delay will be consider
ably increased by the boats and raft, # timber
that will pass TO Washmg'on--to say nothing
of the effects Of he canal upon the health of the
citizens The difficulties Of the river navigation,
however are such, that she cannot be made the
principal shipping port; and, therefore, a great
portion of the produce which comes down the
canal, will find it's way TO the other TWO cities,
both of which have the advantage in this res
pect.
WARRINGTON has population much greater
than ri her Of the other cities; and il is active
and .nterprsiing. 1, derives great advantages,
too, from beng the seat Of the General Cow
errmen,, and will necessarily be a considerable
ma, ket for produce BY the canal. Here, 100, is
good shipping port: in the Eastern Branch oil
the Potomac there is water sufficient for all the
purposes Of navigat on-but on the Eastern
Branch only; for, the water on the Potomac
side oft City, is no, better for purposes of
navigation than at Georgetown. The channel
Of The Eastern Branch, however, il is believed,
is no, much over 200 yards to'de, and therefore
not very well calculated for an extensive com
merce; and the bar a, its mouth creates a diff
Guilty in the passage of large vessels. The de
Law, however, in passing boats through the
locks at Georgetown, and the distance Of the
shipping poin, on the Eastern Branch from the
most popaous part Of the City, will render i,
an incon,suient place Of Observation-Disclosures
of the deleieriOus effects OF The water Of the ca
nal, passing through their low grounds upon
the health OF the ei,iz"ns. besides which, there
i. great want fgood warehouses s. wharvcs;
these, although they will be supplied by the en-.
ierprising owners of the soil, will necessarily
take some time to prepare. In the mean time,
ALEXANDRIA combines all the local advantages
of both toe other cilies, withou, any of The dis
advantages; and, consequently, offers greater
Inducements to make immediate permanent es-
hlishments for mercantile purposes, than either :