Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-08-04
ALEXANDRIA, ID. L.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUG US7' 4. 1880.

ALEXANDRIA, ~. -
WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUG US7' 4. 1885, I
While the Baltimore Editors are engaged in
cessantly, day after day. in pa.6ing their Rail
Road, and 10 depreciating the advantages ana
value of all Canals under the sun, we; quiet souls,
say little or nothing of the Chesapeake apa Oh'o
Canal in our observation-disclosures OF the grahaest
undertakings Of the age. We are content 10 let
tine work speak for itself. for we are conscious
that if the adventurous aid OF daily newspaper
paragraphs is requisite to keep those interested
in good spirits, and to prevent me puD'ic a,'eN-
ton from tagging, there must De ~ s''he'"ihS
rotten in the state of Denmark 1t Is proper
however, that we should know what intelligent
strangers say of our great Canal, ana. we accord
ingly subicin the article which follows.
We take occasion, however. before we quote
the article, to say, in reply to the horryyng let
ter given in the Baltimore Gazette, that. although
we have no Official information from those EN-
ploved on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal there
is every reason to believe that the frequent deaths
which occurred were owing e"f,rety 10 the unpa
ralleled heat of the weather. and the imprudent
exposure. diet. and drink Of the ia5orers.-
There is no ground whatever for the assertion,
that the Canal will be source OF disease and
death to all within its noxious influences" But
we wonder that our Baltimore friends should,
under such circumstances. be both willing and
anxious to let their Rail Road run alongside. tor
! considerable distance, this poisonous Canal!
We merely took up our pen, however, to call
the attention of our readers to the following;
Chesopeake and Ohio Canal-The following
extract is part of letter addressed to the editor
of the National Gazette by very intelligent
gentleman, particularly conversant with civil en-
gineering:
/ "DEAR SrR-The interest you have steadily
manifested towards all objects connected with
the Improvement of our country, induces me to
address you some few observations which were
suggested by personal examination OF por-
ton of the Canal now constructing along the
valley of the Potomac, with view to connect
the Chesapeake with the River Ohio.
"Mv limited time did rot permit me to exa-
mine beyond the Great Falls of the Potomac, a
distance uf twelve miles from the city Of Wash
ington. On the whole of that distance, the ca
nal. entirely completed, is never less than 20 feet
at the water line with depth of feet; al many
places it reaches 100, and even 300 feet and over,
with depth of and 10 feet. The locks. 90
number and of it. lift each. are all of 100 It. In
length, within gates, and Is feet wide; they are
built some of the free-stone of Aqua creek, some
of the Seneca red-sand stone, some OF granite
found in the valley of the Potomac: in their plan
ming and execution they are complete models
The method of filling the lock by means OF la
teral culverts debouching in three places within
the pit is generally resorted to in some instances.
however. cast iron sluice gates, on the principle
of Venitian blinds. are used; and in one instance
a lock has its fall made in advance of the head
gates. leaving within it and its hollow coins full
room for the gates to open or cIose-in this case
the lock is filled through sluice gates. This last
method is very ingenious, and seems well adapt
ed to steamboat navigation which the present di
mansions of the canal could easily accommodate.
- These twelve mileS,,rnost judiciously iocat-
ed, exhibit boldne&jnsther relief and trace UNI
rivalled by any similar work in our country. For
INSTANCE, at the Great Falls of the Potomac. the
iverbanks presenting almesti psuperabe Difficult
ties for taking canal along its margin-the le-
vel was kept up. much below the Falls, the line
| taken on a table land back from the river, and.
at this elevation, brought through long and deep
rayine to the head of the Falls. This part'is.
most assuredly, one Of the boldestn canal works.
presenting. at one point, an embankment 90
feet above the bed of the river supporting the
canal cut through rocks So feet under summit,
and offering. along the deeply Indented margin
of the ravine, towering path on which the ira
weller. on foot OF horseback, supended may say
in the air, heholds under his feet mighty chasm
through which whole torrents could flow. When.
however. this level will be filled with water, all
will assume the even quietness of series of
small lakes, and the surmounted difficulties De
forever lost to the sight of the astonished behold
er.
This much of this great undertaking would
alone add. if possible, to the already well acqulr-
ed fame of the distinguished Chief Engineer en-
ployed by the Company, and is. consider, well
calculated to give new confidence in the eventual
success of this truly national scheme of internal
improvement. t."
Loudow aad FaiJar Disfrict.-It is we'll
known that large majority of the people in the
adjoining Congressional district in Virginia are
opposed to the present disgraceful Administra-
ton. Loudoun and Fairfax both gave majorities
against Gen. JACKSON at the last Presidential
Election, and the course pursued by the Presi-
dent has only served to confirm the previous I'M
favorable estimate of his character and capacity.