Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-15
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
PuBLIsHED AND EDITED BY
EDGAR SNOW en-,
FaiJar Street, (opposits ths Post 0fce)
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT

ttElH ANNUAL hEEOhA
OF the Presidsnt and Directors Of the Chesa.
peoke md Ohio Canal Compaay,- to The Stock
holders, June s. 1888.
TcoNcLpDED.
!. The entire line Of the present third resldency,
extending from the 40th to the 1S3d section. EN-.
brscins the locks opposite to Shepherdstown, and
a space Of forty six miles 10 length, although
comprehending, among other aqueducts. single
one THAT Of Monocacy) which has cost l25, 900
dollars, will have been completed, bv the LIST Of
August, for Si.l50,0Oo, being x25. 900 mile
for its construction, apart from all other expen.
SEES, which cannot be computed at an advance up.
on that sum exceeding ten per cent. For thirty.
six miles this part Of the canal maintains water
surface more frequently enlarged beyond, than
reduced below, sixty feet, its required breadth;
and for the remaining ten miles, breadth OF me-
yer less than fifty feet, and often exsended' ior
considerable distances. beyond sixty. Inc en-
tire line oil forty six miles hasa DEPTH hrouRh'
out, Of six feet, designed for the easy trackage
Of one hundred ton boats, oy TWO no'ses' us
culyerts. sixty in number, are throughout adapt
ed 70 its full breadth, and have cost $4,000;
lite SIXTEEN locks of cut stone, one hundred 6y
6,een in their Chamber, will have cost $40, 600;
its three aoueducts Of stone arches SlSO,OOO.
That no peculiar facilities aided its construc-
t;on. nm this extended, and, therefore, more use
full pan. is evident from the following facts: that
its simple excavation comprehends two million
four hundred and forty thousand cubic yards of
earth and rock; its embankmen two million
twenty thousand FIVE hundred; Its external walls
one hundred aud twenty six thousand Perches OF
dry masonry. Its tow path, protected often oy
these walls, is never less, at the surface, than
twelve feet wide, nor it's BERN bank than eight.
Ii exceeds, in its dimensions, and the strensth
of it's embankments, the plan OF a canal recon-
meuded TO Congress by the Board OF Internal
Improvement of the United States, as much as
its actual cost has fallen short Of their estimated
cost.
On the preceding data, the Board ground their
estimate Of the future cost of the residue OF the
eastern section Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Ca.
nal.
Of this line, rs miles in extent, supposing it
subdlvided into three parts by dam and feeder
immediatel, below the mouth of Cacapon, ano-
Their below the mouth Of the South Branch. and a
third, the last, one mile above Cumberland; the
cheapest portion to improve will be found to be
that which FIRST presents ITSELF in ascending the
Potomac. The most necessary, perhaps, Tor the
immediate use of the river and canal, is the last;
since above the branch. the bed Of the Potomac
does not contain water sufficient tor navigation,
but at particular seasons of the year.
This entire work cannot safely be computed at
less than /, $50, 600 dollars, or $4,000 dollars
the mile; and Of this sum. the pecuniary resour-
ces of the company; making due allowance for
unavailable stock, do not at present supply more
than $3.50, 900; leaving, consequently, Sl,7OO,-
600 to be hereafter provided.
From this estimate of the pecunlary resources
Of the company, is excluded any reference what
ever to the enlarged power, acquired by the re-
cent acts Of Virginia. and Maryland, over the
surplus water of the Potomac, as we'll as to that
which the prior charter granted, without llmita-
ton, except as to the places where it should be
used.
With view to give activity to this resource,
the board have authorized their engineers, so to
adapt the several fumes which convey the water
necessary to the navigation Of the canal around
the locks, as to fit it for the double purpose OF
sustaining the levels against the effects Of evapo-
ration and leakage, aud Of applying it to manu-
features.
For the general application Of this important
accessory to the uses, aud resources for complet-
ibg, the canal, enlarged as it has recently been,
it is recommended to await the final issue of the
legal controversy, respecting its just extent, now
depending, in the Supreme Court OF the United
States, and the issue Of such efforts as the
friends Of the canal, in Mary land, may make,
to liberate the recent grant Of that State. from
those restrictions. which prevent it from being
responsive in terms. to the preceding act OF Vir-
gina.
1t would be more expedient to rely for resour-
ces to prosecute the works Of the canal. on loans,
founded on the future exercise Of this power,
than to dispose OF the water which it commands,
at price, reduced by the present restraints up
on its use.
The act Of Congress, at the session before tho
last, authorizing the construction OF wooden
bridge Of elevated arches, and spacious draw.
in place Of the present bridge. across the Poto'
mac, at Washinston. by securing the navigation
Of Georgetown from future obstruction, will add
to the value Of the mole Of The Rock creek basin.
which has always been computed among the fu'
ture resources Of the company, for the prosecu'
ton of their works, and never estimated AZ less
than 100 600 dollars.
But rational doubt should not now be enter
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