Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-23

had existed of her obtaining coDneXion with il
bv the extension thereof to Alexandria Posi-.
blv in the general excitement OF that time, per.
SONS of sanguine minds might indulge ideas
somewhat delusive as to the cost Of our Canal
as well as the meaiss TO execute the work; but
we had then, and ace hare notc, taH reliance
upon The LberalHy of orr Erecutire Pouer, and
believing that our sole legislative body is justly
considered the most intelligent that this great
country contains-that every member thereof
ought and does feel the same obligation upon
him, as he would do in the councils OF his own
Stale. TO egslate for this District, so as to en-
courage and promote all improvements promo
five cf active honest industry, one of the sure
supports ofmoral rectitude and prosperity; there.
fore we confidently relied upon Congress to
grant us liberal aid Unnecessary. to this great un
dertaking do not profess useless regret for
our separation from our parent State; but would
be concerned to find our present Government
less attentive to our interests than The State that
coded us to it; which State, to encourage pub
lie improvements, generally takes two-ihhs
interest therein.
| | ask you, sir TO observe, that Alexandra
seeks not new advantages by means injurious
to the fair rights of Baltimore or Georgetown
Her sole object is to recover the position she has
lost by the want Of Improvements similar 10
theirs; especially such improvement as she has,
under the penalty of heavy debt, aided TO
make for eorgetown--unwisely, indeed, and
ruinous to herself, if denied all aid by Congress,
and should prove unable by other means to
complete her own Canal. Had not Alexandria
subscribed to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal,
! it would not have gone into operation Tor the
cause before stated without that Cana, George.
town never could have gained her present pc.
stion; and Alexandria having, in part of re.
dress for the injury done to her by the Cause.
way law, obtained an act to cut Canal round
that Causeway. which would have restored to
| her the River Boat trade, SO unjustly >wrested
! from her, Georgetown must then have sunk be.
yond recovery. And if the plan Of the Chesa-
| peake and Ohio Canal had failed, the Baltimore
and Ohio Rail Road had not been heard Of
Baltimore possesses great advantages In CAPT.
tai, trading establishments, good roads to facil.
! tate business with the country and Legislature
ever attentive to her interests; yet there is fair
ground of hope, that when herCanal shall be OPEN
ed, -four, COAL iron, whskey, lime, lumber, and
various other produce OF the upper country, will
reach Alexandria at cost of carriage so much
under that by the Rail Road to Baltimore, as
will restore her former portion Of that business
with the returns thereof in the heavy articles OF
molasses, sugars salt coffee. sailed fish, plaster
and other suitable goods. The natural advan.
tages possessed by Alexandria for commerce
both foreign and internal, are evident by her
position at the very point OF connexion between
ship navigation and the upper country; where
IL
small burihen, and Baltimore does not receive
| al her principal wharves vessels of near such
heavy tonnage as load at all those of Alexan.
dra Alexandria is well aware that her i'm.
provement by Canal is not viewed with friend.
| ly eye by Baltimore or Georgetown-both of
them possessing practical knowledge of the SUBJ
ject, very superior to the theoretical opinions
advanced in the Halls of Congress. By aiding
the Canal of Alexandria, Congress will confer
| a great benefit on large extent of upper coun.
try, by restoring its conneXiOn with the Alexan-
dra market, easy of access, and at the lowest
rates Of transportation. You no doubt know
that water power for such purpose is the cheap
est, and that no Rail Road can compete with
Canal in that respect. residence here of fl:
ty years, forty thereof principal in respec-
table business with the country, may possibly
entitle to your consideration what write. /
have no doubt, that since the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal to Georgetown, and the Rail Road
to Baltimore, have been open, the profits Of my
concern have diminished considerably over
$4,000 per year: other respectable houses no
doubt, suffer equally-some probably more
With the produce of my labors, own property
here assessed at large amount, and hold
other valuable property adjoining Alexandra
not subject TO Corporation taxes. If Alexan.
dria remains without her Canal all such pro.
perty therein must dwndlc TO an ideal value
it will have none real; and the proprietors must
Alexandria submit to such disastrous circum.
stances, without using every exertion to prevent
them? ] pray you, sir, do them not the wrong
to think that they ought or will do so. lam so
firmly convinced, as we all are. that our Canal,
when in operation, will restore TO Alexandra
her portion of trade, and again render her pro.
perty valuable. that if our respectful appica.
tons to Congress prove unsuccessful, which,
will not yet believe, and if all other external aid
should fail us, am ready-if other large pro.
prietors have the resolution TO follow the exam.
Pile, so as to give the measure efTect,-to grant
a lien to the Corporation Of Alexandria on my
property, in guarantee Of stock loan TO that
Corporation equal to the cost of the Canal; if
the power it already possesses be not ADEQUATE
to that purpose;-considering it a safe risk Of
my property, and decisive advantage TO en-
pIoy it for the completion Of that all important
work. Canal stock has ever been most pro-
ftable investment of money, where Canal
was useful few years will prove the Cbesa.
peake and Ohio Canal greatly so. although
made at an unusual cost by its very large di.
mansions: the Alexandria Canal unless made
at wasteful expense, must be the most produc.
fIVn. fnrA tAx,n Ir;o LII.