Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-16

l.
An ;nouiry arises, Shall this be done, ana ~
whom shall il be Effected? ,,,.
The State Of Maryla lncorpoi ae' ,o,e
"Maryland Canal Company" IN Ma,en' ao-o,
chiefly. il not solely, Tor the sake o. he' ga
emporium on the fatapsco' a"u ."e
c;.izens of Baltimore having, in me mex 'uI
ceedinr February, obtained charter 'o' '"e
construction of rail road from the ra'aPs.o
10 the OHIO, the canal, designed Tor me sa'he
purpose, may be regarded, for The p'e'eh'' 90
abandoned. 49,, S,.,ss
II remains, therefore, for the United S'ates'
or the citizens Of Washington, to determine
whether a canal Of about four miles, al 'i'e hie'
level of 81 feet above the tide, shall be e&'ena>
ed, from Georgetown to the Navy Yard on the
Eastern Branch.
The subscription of a million Of collars 10 me
main canal, by The Civ Of Washington IKE a'
other subscriptions 10 he stock OF lheCheapeake
and Ohio Canal. faithfully paid as ea'ied 1917 ID
consider ed by her citizens as dlscharging 'nem
from The obligation 10 hear part IN the eoS'
of making this importan, branch from the
main canal: while the deeper interest OF the 10
yernment of the United States IN us eohs'ruS-
ton, has induced, among Them, as wen aS III,
stockholders OF he Chesapeake and ohio Caha'
com,apy in peneral,the confident hope tha'Coh'
Dress will think il as worthy Of their regard. ne
Convict is entertained by The Undersigned
President and Directors, that such nfanch
from the main canal since 1t would aftord' d.
the expense Of constructing but iour mi'es OF
canal. one continued level Of nine miles !hroush
the District Of Columbia, may. al cos, com
pari,ively small, be rendered, 10 the puoiic De-
nefr, a commodious highway, Tor the constant
intercourse Of the citizens OF the Disulct, from
A torr
i, shall convey 10 the navy yard an ample sup,
DIV OF water, and water power, Tor all ha'a'
purposes. Jo
The accompanying pla, will show the rela'
lion which his shor, line Of canal bears to the
lots still held, BY the Unicd States, within the
Civ of Washing OR. The appreciation OF this
extensive and valuable property, already assur>
ed hy the foundation laid for the completion OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, will be much
more enhanced, it is obvious, by branch from
the main stem of that canal, passing IN the pro-
posed direction.
But, although this loo al benefit would more
than re pay the highest estimated cost OF this
branch, it is 10 the higher utility OIL such
wo,k, for military and naval defence, that your
memuriaIists presume TO appeal III support oi
their presen, application
In the instructions from the Department OF
War to the engineer charged with the survey
of the rou:e Of The once contemplated canal,
from the Potomac to the Patapsco, he was re-
ouired 10 report the probable tendency OF that
part Of this work which might be constructed
in Washington, 10 facilitate its future defence
from the sudden incursion Of an invading toe.
For his reply 10 this part of his orders, your
memoriaIists beg leave to refer to his report,
o, ...~ AN& satbe House nf
However important such bulwark, insula>
ting TO great extent, as il undoubtedly would,
The public and private edi6ces of the City Of
Washington, might prove under circumstances
Of sudden and unforeseen danger, the under.
signed are animated by views yet more enlarg>
ed, in appealing, FOR the support of their pre-
sent application, TO the provideDt forecast Of a
Legislature, charged with the protection Of
the entire Union but moro especially, from the
peculiar position Of the seat Of its operations,
with that Of the waters and shores Of the Ches.
apeake.
Your memorialsts advance, they trust, with
becoming diffidence, the apprehension, of which
the anticipation Of future danger jus,6es the
disclosure, that, IN the contemplated defenccs
Of The Chesapeake, al the entrance, and in the
vicinity, of Hampton Roads, so long as they are
unaccompanied by an efficient provision for The
Ships Of war near the head Of the same bay,
sufficient precaution will not have been taken,
for the security, in future wais, Of the shores
and commerce Of that bay: commerce, may
not your memoriasts add OF vast importance,
not only to the FIVE States bordering on this
grea, estuary, or intersecied by its tributary
streams, but to the prosperity Of the er,ire u
MON; TO the interchange OF whose commodities,
as we'll as the constant intercourse Of whose ci-
tizens, this capacious bay, and the many copious
rivers which ppur their waters into it, serve as
an indispensable fac lily.
fever the entrance of Hampton Roads sha II
be eHeciualiy secured from naval aggression,
by he Notifications designed for its defence,
and the Navy Yard at Gusport from sudden
destruction, by military expedition, over land,
from The open bay of Lynuhaven, still the ex
perience Of the las, American war demonstrates
tina the mouth Of the Chesapeake may be ef-
f,c'ually sealed up, by an enemy's squadron
lying under the shelter Of Cape Henry
To drive such feet from its moorings, If
superior 10 tn. naval force Of the United States
in II amDt0n R0auc ,oouI1 he orIio 4