Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-17

mineral COAL stone tor building, lime and LUMBER,
will not bear this advance on their transportation,
and it exposes even the most valuable to charge
sufficient to turn their expectation into channel
less burthened with impostiOns The shipment
of Goals and lumber from the ports of the Poto-
mac to the chief cities on the Chesapeake and At
lantic coasts, would not bear such an advance OF
price in a competition with other sources OF sup
ply; and the only hope which Alexandria can
cherish. Of participating in this branch OF nav'sa
ton and commerce, depends, therefore, on ex-
tending to her harbor an unbroken line of canal
navigation. Bv branch canal, the descending
boats, and the horses which propel them along the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal, will be able to pro-
coed at all times of the night. as well as the day.
to the market Of Alexandria, with no other aadl-
tional charge except the toll and freight OF ca
nal less than nine miles in length.
Double wharfage, storage, and commissions
will be saved, and the delays, accidents and IN
iures of transhipment will be avoided, In the as
cendine as well as descending communication be-
tween Alexandria and the main stem OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, on al the bread
stuffs. iron. Goals. marble, lime and lumber,
which she receives, and on all the returns which
she makes for them-the fish of her own river,
and the plaster of Paris and salt which she I'M
ports coastwise. or from abroad, for the cohsump-
ton of the country above.
Contrasting the amount of all those charges
with the mere toll and freight of the branch ca
nal in contemplation; computing the cost or TINS
canal at its highest estimate, and making no al
lowance whatever for any other advantages wh'ch
the canal is calculated to afford to the accommo,
dation. comfort and safety of the inhabitants and
property of Alexandria, to her manufactures.
her external commerce and navigation. it Is be-
l.. l. Al, ,ol, nd
the committee as probable, that the actual saving
in cost which such canal will effect. on the ar
ticIes of her own consumption, and those which
she returns to the country above, in payment for
them, will be commensurate with the interest,
ON the estimated cost of the canal.
As evidence of the sincerity OF tins faith, the
memoriaiists have caused surveys, delneations,
and estimates to be made of the route, plan, and
probable cost, of the proposed canal, and have
subscribed towards its construction, IN their cor
porate and individual capacities, on hundred and
ihirty-fve thousand dollars, or more than one
third part of its computed cost; sum which all
ded to that already subscribed by them to the
stock of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, does
not fall short of half million of dollars.
An abandonment of their present enterprise,
they confidently believe. would end in their to-
tai ruin. But its accomplishment with their
limited resources would be most opPressively felt,
before the completion of the eastern section, or
some considerable part, of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal. shall have produced the anticipated
revenue from that portion OF the above sum which
thew have vested in the stock OF that canal.-
They therefore pray a subscription from Congress
in aid of their own capital and enterprise. and
the committee have accompanied this report with
bill to that effect.
To the Honorable Senate and House Of Repre-
sentotires ef the United States IN Congress
assembled:
The memorial of the President and Directors
of the Alexandria Canal Company respectful
" shOweth:
That, under the authority of the act Of Con-
sress passeJ ON the Goth of MAY, IN the year
1850. a company has been duly organised by the
name of The Alexandria Canal Company, and
that one hundred and thirty-one thousand two
hundred dollars have been subscribed as part
of the capital thereof.
Your memorialists represent that. at the time
the company of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
was formed. the corporation OF Alexandria sub
scrbed to that company two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars. besides large subscription by
individuals, citizens of the town.
When this subscription was made to the Ches-
apeake and Ohio. Canal by the corporation and
citizens of Alexandria. they considered it would
be necessary to connect the main canal with
the deep and wide channel at Alexandria, thus
to afford an uninterrupted navigation for the pas
sage of boats to the principal shipping port of
the District.
The Importance of this connexion must be OBJ
vious to all, by considering the immense weight
and bulk OF the cheap products consumed or
produced by the country, and the expense and
delay attendant on the transhipment of them to
or from the largest class of shipping; for already,
in addition to the staple commodity of flour
brought annually to Alexandria, winch is about
two hundred thousand barrels, besides other
bread stuffs and sailed provisions, may be emu
merated the articles of coal. lime. lumber, iron,
and other mineral products. in the ore, pig. or
states, and the return commodl-
ties of salt, fish, plaster, &c.
Without this uninterrupted communication,
the main canal will be of little or no value TO
the town of Alexandria. and the general interest
of the country above will not be so well promot-
ed as they will be by this facility of commune
cation. affording choice of markets at very
moderate expense of time and money.
r Al Il il