Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-13
ALEXANDRIA, in point OF situation for

ALEXANDRIA, in point OF situation fof
commerce, is inferior to but few clues IN Inc
United States: in poin, Of health, to none.-
Standing on a high and beautiful SITUATION 'or
city, and on one Of the noblest rivers 'h 'he
world. IFS facili,es Of navigation are equaiieo
Sy few cite. in this country. The f"tom"e
river is here a mile wide the channel, Jor more
than f,co mile, in J,ont Of The '0r", Jr0" 1000 10
1900 yards m.widih, and averages 80 Jee' "
dspth,-more than suficien, water Tor Inc lars'
e., ship in the world; the harbor sale ana col"
mod;ou,. and no obstruction from thence TO The
sea. II has a from, Of excellent ohnrues ana
docks, conveniently arranged for trade, three
fourths Of mile in length; and numerous large
and convenient warehouses. sufficient 10 con
lain the whole produce Of the canal, Tor se'efa'
wears. 1t has, too, already, considerable
wholesale ,rade-a shipping list already respee-
table, and incre asing-and is connected win
an extensive, rich and populous country, iooA-
ing 10 i. alone as their natural market Tor 'ne
produce Of the soil-.wlih good turnpike ROADS
10 .ha, portion Of the rich ami ropulous gram
growing counties Of Virginia, which cannot,
from the re,noieness Of their situation, have
! the advantage OF transportation by The canal
Aud there are advantages, unconnected Win
the canal, which offer strong inducements TO
men Of enterprise and capital TO settle amongst
US; but when these are superadded TO those 10
BE- derived from the Grand Canal, hold out IN
Gucemen,s to permanent, investments, vastly su'
perior 10 either of our sisters.
The canal, il will be seen, terminates, at
present, a, Rock Greek, below Georgetown,
and is 10 he let down there INTO the river, aso
for the purpose Of continuing it through Wash
| ton, by four or FIVE locks. A basin i, also 10 be
formed above Georgetown, from whence the
canal is to be continued, upon the same level o'
he basin al Georgetown, TO basin upon lhe
same level at Alexandria, which will be con-
s,ruct,d al the north end Of the town. From
this basin the boats will be let down into the
river by locks, the lower one Of which wilt be
constructed along side the first wharf at that
end of the town, and from which canal boats
can pass in few minutes, without difficulty
TO any other wharf, 10 deliver their cargo
This, it is presumed, however, will seldom &C.
cur, as transportation from the basin to any
part Of the town, by lond, viii be SO easy and
so cheap, that it will be preferred that the cana
boats shall discharge their cargoes on the Dor
ders Of the basin. And This, il will readily bt
perceived, will be great saving of time TO the
sspal az, siBasRs tse6Hres6%sHt,a III
poin, at which they must selecl their market
back to the same basin, in much lrss time thar
they can by passing through double set OF
locks TO the Eastern Branch TO the ship own
er, also, il offers this great advantage: that The
produce by the canal being arrived here, The
principal shipping 2or', he can load his reessei
of any size, without difficulty or dtlav, and save
The expense aud loss Of Tine necessarily a"en-
dan' upon going seven or eight miles further
for hi, cargo, and that too through difficult
navigation.
There are other advantages to be derived iron,
the canal; but as am afraid have already
re,passed upon your good nature, ] will leave
,acm for future communication.
A CITIZEN.