Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-05-22

In letter TO his father. acknowledging the re-
CENT Of the check Of 20 dollars and bearing ua
SATURDAY. afternoon, April E, he says s"a''
do yerv well for funds; am quite happy here anu
am very glad you approve OF my entering Wis II"
stltute."
THE CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL
We insert with satisfaction the following let
ter from most respectable gentleman o! Mary
lanl,- who lately, for the first time, made an ex'
-curson M our magnificent canal. We are hap
ny 10 place before our readers reflections 50 cred
table bulh to that noble work and its eminent
founder. from so enlightened aud rnpreJad!eea
source:-Nm Int
Prince Georges County. I'M May, 1883.
Nix DEAR SIRs:-I had almost forgotten inc
promise ,uade.tu you on 5oar, the Steamboat, on
nv return from a trip up the chesapeake and
On,o Canal, to give You an account o' ,'e '''
ssious made On my mind, by actua! ocServa'
INN. of The manner in which The Affairs OF the
comoanv had been conducted, i'll The execution
of this great work.
PERM, me in the outset to remark, that had
heard SD much and so frequently OF the "'ision-
ary schemes" az the President oil The Company,
that nv mind had become strongly impressed
win belief. that there had been much hIsman-
ayement. and wastetni expenditure OF pubic
money Under this impression. had an oppor-
,unity Of examining the Canal from the locks IN
Georgetown TO Seneca. and hesitate not 10 de-
clare the opniun that 10 public work of equal
maunjtude lin this country has been conducted
with more practical skill, ability and good mani
a,ement. It's unnecessary to enter ihtO any
minute description, because II could not be under
stood. unless accompanied BY an accurate draw
ing, therefore shall not attempt II, but cannot
refrain from remarking. that by devlItlng from
the route recommended by the United States En-
oineers some distance above Georgetown, and
ascending the table land by series OF locks, IN.
stead of pursuing the course OF the river, much IS
added to the strength, beauty. and Sd ETY. of the
Canal, whilst the expense OF construction "as
consi,Ier ably diminished. This does not ionk
much like the act Of a " visionary schemcr.'
|, is u very easy matter for gentlemen to SIT at
hume and talk iearnsdiy, as well as ill-naturciy,
abuu, "yisionary schemes, "waSte!ul extrava.
gance," &c &c. bat will venture to assert,
that every intelligent aud appropriated indi'Idu-
al, who will atleBti,ely examine the entire work
with view TO form correct opinion, VIII all
init, that great practical skill ability, and good
management are displayed IN every potion OF 1t.
So far from General MERCER being visionary
man on subjects Of this KIND, he j, amnnS the
most ractical men in the Union. Possessing an
intimate Knowledge of the country through which
the Canal is to pass, as we'll as OF IT'S location, he
is well aware of all the difficulties to be cpcoun
tered, and prepared 10 overcome them: at the
same time he is we'll acquainted wil every spc.
ces of labor necessary to be performed in canal
ING, the time in which it can be done, and the
proper cost of execution. have not had sulh
Gent opportunities to compare this work with
other great national works, but have been IN
formed bv one who has, and who IS a very COM
petent iudge-"ne OF the most respectable, well
educated and intelligent gentlemen ct Pennsyl-
vania, that il is superior to any work in the coun
try in magnitude and grandeur, and equal. at
least, tn any, in the sold, substantial and dura.
BILE manner in which it IS constructed.
II is cmrhaticalIv work TOR "a great country
and for posteri,y,,' constructed in the very best
manner, TO answer the great objects for which it
was intended This has led probably TO large,
hut not wasteful or extravagan'," expenditure
of money, for it is one of the strongest recon-
mendations, that it is not a cheap and Temporal
nv structure, to answer present purposes, but
n great and useful, aud enduring monument, of
the powerful energies and superior excellence OF
a free government. No idea can be formed OF
its grandeur or masni6cence, except from actual
observation aud inspection.
| would advise all those who 'eci enY interest
in this matter, as well as The lovers ct beautiful
and interesting scenery, to examine tins truly
national work Tor themselves. and not to take
their opinions from E" fault finders" who appear
To delight in dpprecialing the works and dfcry-
ing the merits of Others.
am highly gratfed at the compromise be-
tween the two rival companies. have been the
firm and uniform friend of bath works. Both
are necessary, the one for travelling, the other
for commerce. and have no doubt they will mu-
tualy benefit each other.
TERRIFIC THUNDER SHOWER!