Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-06-18


aoueduct, across the Potomac, by which they
propose to connect their branch, with the main
stem of the canal. The execution Of this call
has awaited the precise location Of the site of the
abutment, and the undisputcd acquisition OF the
ground, on which it may be erected.
similar intination has been received from
the Corporation Of Washington, that they are
preparing for the extension Of the navigation OF
the canal, from the basin Of Rock Creek, to the
Tiber. This Board has announced its readiness
to proceed, in good faith, to the construction OF
this work, when the plan, by which It ITO be &C
complished, shall be definitely settled in the
Judgment and to the satisfaction of the city Cor
pOration. :.
These two works will complete the labors OF
| the Company within the District OF Columbia,
and leave the attention Of the Board and Its ON
GERS to be directed, exclusively. to the works
above the Seneca dam and feeder to which, the
canal is at present, s. has been for some time nav-
| gable. As the several werks placed under con-
tract have advanced towards their completion,
| the Board have reduced the number OF Engineers
| in the service of the Company.
The first division Of the canal, between Wash
inston and Harper's Ferry, originally placed un,
| der the direction of an EDsineer-in-Chief, and
distributed into five RESIDENCES, having each
! resident Engineer, an Assistant. Rodman and
a volunteer Rodman, has been for some time re-
duced TO two RESIDENCES and the services o!
benjamin. s. Wright, the Engineer Chiei, and
of Nathan S. Roberts, Engineerof the "a dIv''
| sion of the canal, and retained as Commission
| err of the Court of Chancery OF Maryland, haye
been, for some time, dispensed with as no longer
necessary.
This reduction, though required by just re.
gard to economy, has been attended with no
small regret, on the part Of the Board, at the re-
tirement of those eminent and valuable Engl-
| neers, aggravated by the notifying considera-
ton, that the loss of their services is to be as
| cribed to the legal impedlments which continue
to obstruct the progress of the canal above the XII
| tOctan mountain.
A still further reduction OF this body must en-
sue failure to obtain decision of the depend
| ing controversy during the ensuing summer
| To the removal of this obstruction all the wish
| es of the Board has been for some time direct
ed, with an energy increased by the failure oil
| the compromise which once promised to opensto
them an avenue above, at least, as tar as Har-
per's Ferry.
The repairs Of the Canal have been placed, to-
gether with its improvements, undertake care OF
a special superintendent, who is held response
bic Tor both.
The latter consists of alterations Of the struc-
tureof the Canal, or of such additions to the va
rious works as were originally embraced IN the
plan of the, Canab but could be executed with
| greater economy, after the openingsef its navl-
CATION.
They consist of buttresscs to support tire lofty
external walls; of stone transported from the
surplus of former excavations and loosely thrown
over these walls to strengthen their foundation;
Of earth to raise entertainments which have settled
since the admission of the water; and OF inner
walls to guard the banks from abrasion by the
surge of the Canal boats.
The duties of this officer are regarded as per.
manent but his compensation will be reduced as
| their Importance lessons.
1t will not be proper to close their report with
out adverting more particularly to the revenue Of
the Company.
The Board have not augmented, as yet. the
| tolls allowed by the Charter of the Potomac Com
pany, Notwithstanding the heavy sum already
expended on the new Canal: they charge no toll
on empty boats, and have, hitherto, derived no
revenue from the transportation of persons on the
Canal.
The annexed table, however, presents favor
able view of the receipts Of tolls for the last, com
pared with those Of proceeding years; and espe-
cialy since the opening of the new Canal by which
! the dangerous shoals. immediately below the Sen
eca dam, and between the Great and Little Falls;
are avoided. Another table supplied by the
Clerk from materials in his Office, will shew the
various subjects, on which these tolls have been
charged, aud the expences attending their collec-
ton.
The tolls which accrued between the 18th of
August, 82s, aud the lst Of June, 1929, amount
ed to S12, III "a: from June lst, 1929. to June
LIST, 1880, during which period the use of the Ca
nal of the Little Falls was long suspended, to
| S1O,7l9 66-being about the average of many
preceding years; while from the LIST of June, so
to the end Of the last fiscal year, they have "a
mounted to Sa9,15 So; of which S2O,S78 OIL
have been received since the LIST Of Januars last,
and of this II 46s 46 from the new Canal, since
the elst of March.
The commodities which have descended the
Canal, as might be expected, prior to It's extern
sion beyond the first mountain which impedes by
the shoals, its base, the river navigation. have
been few in number. They consist chiefly OF
iron, -four, bacon, lard, butter, and whiskey.
No lumber, nor any cord wood, as yet, appears
n III 4