Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-10-19
NATIONAL lNTELLIGENCER.
OPENING OF THE CANAL.


Below will be found an account, from one Of
she Cumberland papers, of the brief ceremony Of
she opening, on Thursday,the 10th inst Of the nav
cation Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal from
Cumberland to Georgetown, Washington, and
Alexandra an event long anxiously looked for
and the consequence Of which is out of all pro-
portion to the little stir that has been made about
1T Already the Coal of the Mountains has reached
the tide-water, in boats averaging probably each
Que hundred tons burden one of which at least was
constructed, we learn, of timber from trees which
were in full vigor of growth on the top of the
Mountain not more than five weeks before the boat
was under way in the canal, laden with coal.
A These facts announce the spring of enterprise at
the entrepot of the Coal region and the arrival there
of practical builders and boatmen, who have been
saught their vocation on the New York Canals !;
shrough whose labors we may expect to see our
Canal alive with boats this Fall for period of
navigation prolonged for weeks beyond the time
when the canals of the North are closed by the
earlier winter in that region.
FROM THE CUMBERLAND CIVILIAN.
aOn Thursday the 10th of September, $780, the opening
from Cumberland to Alexandria, commemorted this
place with appropriate ceremonies After undergoing
paraeled vcissudes Of foune this great work has been
aer,h consummaed. 1t cannot therefore, be Inappropriate
Co record with some degree detail the incidents day that
sers into existence in the history Of Western
Maryland.
,p the day previous large number of gentlemen arrived
i'm Cumberland participate in the approaching ceremonies
Among them we may mention Gen. James M. Coale, Pres
dent and Messs John Pickel, w. Cost Johnson, William
a Bradley, George schey, g. P. Smith, Directors Of the
Canal Company Ex-Governor sprgg, Gen. Tench Tlgh-
man. and j. vanear Esqs., State Agents the Hon. William
D. Merick late United States Senator from Maryland John
L. Skinner, ESQ., editor Of "The Plough the Loom, and
che Anvil" Henry Addison, Esq, Mayor of Georgetown,
c,her with number of gentlemen from various parts Of
Maryland and Virginia and the District Of Columbia.
These gentlemen came by the invitation of the Canal
Company and properly received and entertained by
them
Along with COL John Picke, and under bis direction,
came the splendid band Of the Independent Blues Of Ba
more who after their arrival made their appearance in
e portico Of the United States Hotel ard electrified
naetse multitude Of citizens with their unsurpassed nstru
mental performances The presence Of this band most
happy conception, and it due proportion Of the enhu
that characterized the proceedings of the subsequent
day.
the mountains 10 all the richness Of the early autumn, and
evident shortly after the had risen above the hills
at the inhabitants Of city preparing do honor
die new epoch in their history About halpa eight o'clock
large asembage had collected in the before the United
States and Barnums Hotels In short time the Eckhart
Artillery Capt. Davidson, with battery Of two handsome
pieces arrived and performed various military evoluions in
manner that would have done credit veteran corps.
At mine clock the procession fomed the Eckhar ar
sry in 'front.' escorted by the band of the Baltimore Blues
the distinguished vses officers Of the Canal Company, and
State Agents following in the Behind these the
Mayor and Council Of the Of Cumberland, and in their
rear an number of the citizens of Allegheny escor
cd by the Mechanics Band Of Cumberland The procession
sshed through the streets in the direction Of the canal
Fseks gathering numbers it advanced to the inspiring
Strains music until, when that point reached there
as an immense assembage Of all ages aud congegad
s do honor to SO proud the history Of Allegheny
cannty. t} ga t5t} wa
When every thing had been arranged five canal boats,
laden with the rich product of the mines of Aeghany and
estined for Eastern markets. passed through the locks
amid the salvos of artillery from the Eckhart company,
eompaned by the brilliant performances of the bands.
Wrr1rla PaIcr Esq. then ascended the deck Of of
thc boats, and delivered the following address:
have been requested by the Mayor and Council, be-
bali of the people Of Cumberland to welcome their city
nal Company the Agents Of the State, and the distinguished
visters who honoed this occasion with their pre-
ence Gentlemen, bid you all hearty and cordial well
come and congratulate yeu upon the event assembled
celebrate.
Many Of us young when this great work COM
enced and have lived to its completion only because
Providence has prolonged lives until heads gray
During this interval Of four and twenty have looked
with eager anxiety the progress Of the work the valley
f the Potomac That progress has been slow, often inter-
rupted and full Of vcssudes At times the spectacle of
thousands Of busy wokmen has animated the line Of the
eso~k when all human calculation likely to
intervene prevent its early completion. But, when we
have turned to look at the again, it all changed;
contractors and sborers had departed and the stiffness of de-
saon regned in their place. Thousands have been ruined
W e connexon with the work. and but few in this region
have had cause to bless it. aa
II natural perhaps that things should be precisely as
Gey have been both with the enterprise ITSELF and with the
dvduas whose fortunes have been connected with It. The
uncommon magnitude and the finish Of the work,
rray be regarded sufficient for all the alterations
and disappontments attending its history The easonings
Of men, from their experience upon works Of different dmen
and character might have been expected to lead to dis
appointment when applied to work like this.
Go view those magnificent aqueducs locks and culyers
Of hewn stonethose huge embsnkmens which you may
journey for days down the river go view the great tunnel
passing three 6hs Of mile through rock and arched with
brk lis eastern portal opening upon thorough-cut almost
equal in magnitude TO the tunnel itself look the vessels
lying in that basin, ready the work of anspor-
tsdou and large enough TO navigate the Aantc-look all
these things and then think how the fortunes Of nd
vduss embarked in the prosecution Of such enterprise