Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-03
IMPROVEMENT OF THE DISTRICT.
To the People ofthe District Of Columbia.

10 me TeOPR u INC DtsT'ef " oo'''"'O"'
Fellow C1r1zESs-Darins nv late pergri-
nation. through the County Of Loudoun, hap.
pened at a meeting OF certain citizens, Tor the
nurpnse Of taking such steps as would secure 10
the people Of that cosnty. together with those OF
Fauouier and Prince William, cheap convey.
ance for their produce to market. and observed
that several PROJECTS were under consideration.
A company was chartered two or more years
ago. for making what Is called the Loudoun ka''
Road, which would intercept all the trade from
the Blue Ridge, to several miles be'o" the Catoc.
Tin Mountain, and sar,y j, 10 the Point OF Rocks,
where it would go inevitably to Baltimore. A
second plan, much pafronIsed By the Leesburg
ers, Is to make q Railway frnm Lee.bury to the
same Point. by which the merchants OF that VIII
LACE would become SORT of Factors for the BallI-
moreans But the which seemed To De
the object Of the meeting. ~as to make G'o.e
Creek navisable, which would throw the trade
into the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. ~hence It
would 20 to the District Cities. This appears
to be a very feasible undertaking. not"lths'and
ing the rdcue of those who are IN the interest Of
the Baltimoresns; for il you have ever seen this
noble stream, you will be convinced that It wants
but few short links Of canal. with lock TO
each, TO connect the mill ponds, to make 1t na.i'
gable at all seasons. except some Of great drought
or severe ice. Even these interruptions viii be
of short duration. and the capacity OF the work
would convey any accumulation that could pos'
sibIv occur 10 the coarse OF few weeks.
/ Nov, feeling, as do, a great concern TOR the
welfare Of the District Cities, witnessed the pro.
cerd,ns- Of this meeting with great interest.
The first thing acted upon was an examination
o! the books which have been long open for sub
seription OF stock, and it was truly discOuraging
to perceive that the aggregate Of them all "as but
S4,l5O not ne-fourth Of the ,nconsiderable sum
tSl8.000) which Is required to commence the
work. The reason of this slow progress seems
to be. the distracted state OF the public mind
some being for turnp'kes, some Tor rail roads.
and few for the navigation. However. the
Commissioners present seemed TO be nUthing
daun,pd and they resolved that they would visit
every house, aud, by reason and argument. try
10 bring their neighbOrs to attend TO their true IN
terest. At length an individual arose, and stated
to the meeting his opinion that it WA vain to ex'
pect TO raise that sun. small as It was, IN that
part of the country, giving such reasons Tor his
opinion as seemed to satisfy those hitherto the
most sansuine of success, that his fears were hut
too we'll founded. He then presented resoiu.
ton, that the citizens Of the District Of Columbia
should be called ON for aid, to work in which,
it was contended, they were, " at least, equally
| At this juncture. a variety Of opinions began
to be expressed rsome that you would subscribe,
some that you world not, and some that it was
of little consequence whether you do or not, for If
you do not, perhaps the Balumoreans would. TO
one or other of the Kall. Roads, as they were the
most enterprisns. Being spectator. said but
little; but thought, is it possible that people
who have contributed millions to works Of inter.
nal improvement, will forever forego the advsnta.
ges Of buying aud selling with the Landowners,
Prince WiIIiamites, and Fauquierers, for the pal
try sum Of nine thousand dolIars?-xhich is all
that is asked, aud which, IL it was raised by tax.
alton, would not amount to dollar per man.
which, divided into three years, would be but
thirty three cents per. year. when the profits OF
their trade, in q single year, amounts to many
times the whole amount-~hen the increase II
would give to your dividends in the stock OF the
Chesapeake aad Ohio Canal would almost pay
legal interest. and when the stock is believed Of
itselfto be good. I >ay. thought il impossible!
1t is for you, felOw.c citizens, to decide. But be
assured that the writer is
"A Friend TO the District of Columbia.
". Editors Of papers in the District are re-
quested to give the above publication, and re.
eeive thanks from the author.