Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-19
COMMUNICATIONS.
THE TOWN AND IT'S PROSPECTS


What grievous complaints, Mr.. EDITOR, we
hear, uttered by every body, respecting the de-
messed state Of the trade Of The town, and The
dizziness Of business. The universal o'y is,
''dull times. nothing doing and nothing likely
10 be DONE" Are our iown-people aware how
much they themselves are 10 blame | do not
pretend TO say that they have directly con RI,
buted TO the destruction Of the trade Of the
town-This would have been the act Of mad
ness. They have not wan,onlv refused busiT, SIS,
when it has been brought 10 the iown--This
would have been caring bread into the s;ree,,
when il was wanted within doors. But would
ask, whether We have always taken advantage
OF those opportunities for be neh,ting ourselvf ,,
which have been presented TO us! Have we
.earched after means for Gra,cing trade TO the
town! Have we uni ed with spirit and erer-
sy, in every work calculated 10 advance our m
terest! Have our exer;ions for the improve
,nent Of the town been marked BY spirit OF
enterprize, or Of acrfve industry Have we
not, H. fire, been TOO spirtless, and, IN some re
spects, regardless Of our own interest? AID
At the present time, WY should we indulge IN
unfavorable anticipations of the future True,
the town has been for few years pas al 4
complete stand; bu, apprehend that we have
very much 70 revive our hopes and 10 aninae
Us to exer,ion. In natural advan ages, ! Cannot
but believe that we suipasi our neigNhors OF
Washington and Georgetown. The obstacles
which viii prevent Washiug ton from beo oming
q commercial place are iasurniouutabe. lis
improvement, know, will be rapid. This will
arise from its being the Capt." OF our country.
The influx OF strangers AID travellers has -
way, been immense. Thri number viii yearly
increase, ard Of course there will DC lively
ali ,,E 1pH
In business. Bot the irapro, Pmsn' which IL
will derive from The Canal, coInpl' ativeiy
speaking, will bs shgh:. The business.par: OF
he own is too far removed from thr Potomac,
ever 30 render il commercial; place. That
day, should it ever arrive, Is, a, any rae. far
dis,an, Georgetown will be very much b.ne-
flied by the canal; but lis situation will forbid
IT from ever becoming the great depot Tor the
prodsce o! the back county. Compare the
Gsciliurs for the prosecution of trade, which
shs poresses, with our own, and we immedi>
ately Come to the conclusion that .asrandriG is
marked out, as ihe great mart Tor foreign trade.
These considerations are thrown ou, under the
impression that lateral canal will be made,
with all convenient despatch; Tor if we delay
this work, important TO our town, until
Georgetown has become the place Of depssil
for the produce which will be brought down,
we shall find i, far more difficult to effect any
thing for our advantage, than il we were, a,
once, to accomplish this work. Why then,
ask again, should we despiri, ourselves by un
favorable anticipations LEI US rather deter
mime 70 exer, ourselves To promote the improve
men, of The town. Unless something is spec.
div done, il Cannot be concealed but that ruin
will shorty reach Us. Besides, as another mo,
tive of encouragement, We shall derive grea.
adyantape from the road now in the course OF
completion, leading to Loudoun. With respect
to this work lhrre is but one opinion. II viii
essentially benefit the Town. The day is APP
preaching when our fale will be oetermined.-
lie, US not Be discouraged If proper ef,rts
are made, I am confident Iha, the result will be
favorable. l.. &.