Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-04

IL.
of Columbia, made the following report
The Committee on the District of Columbia have
Ind ander consideration the memorial Of the
President and Directors Of the Alexandria Ca
nal Conpanu referred to them by order OF the
House and upon the same, beg teare to make
the following
REPORT:
The memorialists, nominany representing the
Alexandria Canal Company, are, Tor all prac-
teal and beneficial purposes, expressing the
wishes, and urging the interests, of the people OF
Alexandra. The committee have considered
this prayer as if coming Immediately from that
people.
The expediency of connecting the trade of
Alexandria Immediately with the country above,
by means of canal, cannot now be considered
an open question; if it were, there are many
and strong considerations, which, in the judg-
ment Of the committee, might be advanced to
sustain the eXpedency ofsuch an improvement.
But the Congress of the United States has, on
more than one occasion, expressed its judgment
upon the proprety and eXpediency of opening
a canal navigation from some point on the PO-
tomac river, at or above Georgetown, to some
point below at or near Alexandria. As long
since as the year 1912, Congress passed an act
authorizing the opening Of canal between
these points: this act limited the commencement
of the work to two years from its passage the
law expired by the Limitation before named.
A gain, in 1880, Congress Incorporated the pre-
sent company to make this Improvement; and,
in 1882, authorized donation toward the pro-
secution Of the work. AS nothing has since oc-
Cured to cast doubt upon the practicable
ty of the work, or to impair the well-founded
confidence in its great utility, the committee
cannot now feel authorized to discuss this CUES
ton. They therefore proceed to adduce some
considerations which, in their judgment, emit
tie this particular application for aid to the ia
vorable notice of the Congress Of the United
States.
With the cession Of portion of her terrific
ry to the Government of the United States, Viz
ginia coded one Of her most flOurishing towns
Alexandria had at that time, a trade compare
lively great and, with the aid and the means
which the Government of Virginia had extended
to her, and would have continued to extend, but
for the cession, the people of that town did look
forward to great and enduring prosperity. With
the cession, all claim upon Virginia was Of
course lost; but as an earnest of the interest
which Virginia felt in the prosperity of that
town, she made a donation of $4,000 to the
common Treasury Of the United States.-
While Alexandria was not intended to be ex-
clusively benefited by this Donation there sure
y was intended for her full and generous par
ticpatiOn.
To the year 1905, the town of Alexandria
participated largely Ill the lIdOe WnlCn QeSCend-
ed the Potomac river; because the boats by
which that trade was accommodated, encoun-
tered little risk difficulty in descending the ri
yer to Alexandria,; but in that year, Congress
authorized dam or causeWay to be thrown
across that arm of the river between Masons
island and the Virginia shore, which was the sa-
fer passage for the boats, and thus rendered the
boat navigation from Georgetown to Alexan-
dria at all times hazardous and mpracticable
except in favorable weather. And it was per-
haps in part to repair this injury to the trade of
Alexandria that the act Of 1912, beforemention-
ed, was passed
The people Of Alexandria have been con.
strained by the most obvious necessity, to un-
dertake and TO prosecute the Improvement for
which aid is now asked. They became liberal
subscribers to the capital of the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal company, with the confidence that
they would be equal and fair competitors for the
immense trade which would find a market
through that Improvement. This confidence
mainly rested upon the fact that the canal was to
terminate above Georgetown: it was with this
certain understanding, as your committee be-
lieve, that Alexandria invested in this improve
ment alone, to the full extent of her MEANS
But in this, all calculations have been defeated:
by subsequent judgment and vote, in which
the interest Of the United States was represent
ed and which interest was controlling, the ca
nal was extended into the city of WASHINGTON
sion was proper or not: the effect upon the in
terest Of Alexandria was the same 1T took from
her all prospect of the expected benefits from
the canal, and left her encountered with her
heavy subscription. The effect Of this extern
sion upon the interests of Alexandria was SO OBJ
vious to those by whom it was made, that they
granted the right Of connecting the Alexandria
canal with the Chesapeake and Ohio, and re.
commended those who were to make that late
raj Improvement to the favorable notice of Con-
gress The committee do not intend to intimate
even that there is any obligation upon Congress
to compensate for injuries thus incidentally visit
ed upon Alexandria; but they state these facts
as coming in strong aid Of other considerations
for relief.
The Alexandria Canal is the only avenue
through which the trade of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal proper can reach that town with
any degree of facility or certainty; it is there
fore to them especially an Improvement of great
interest, but it is also certainly and intimately
connected with the great and general interests
of the main Improvement itself 1t will open
perfect navigation, uninterrupted by single
lock, from the main canal above Georgetown