American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-04-18
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH
WASHINGTON CITY CANAL.

the river lS where New Jersey avenue ana "
street meet-but four squares west of the navy
yard. 1t will also be perceived that a branch
of apparently equal size is laid down as depart
ing from the main canal at the intersection of
South Capitol street and New Jersey avenue,
running south with slight westerly inclina-
ton, and terminating in st. James Creek, i'm
mediately north and east of the Arsenal and
Penitentiary. The project of constructing this
branch canal, for some time lost sight Of by
many, appears to be revived in such manner as
to render its execution probable. The follow
ing article will be read with interest:
[From the National Intelligencer Of this morningl
The Proposed Canal through James Creek, and
the Commercial Interests of Washington. D
/ am happy in being able to inform your
readers, taking an interest in the subject, that
the matter which occupies my attention in these
papers has been referred to select committee
in the Board of Aldermen with instructions to
report upon the expediency and practicability
of doing the proposed work without expense to
the Corporation and by means of private enter
prise. / flatter myself that these gentlemen
will, in view of the Importance Of the subject
and of the urgency of the case, soon SO re-
port as to enable men of means and enterprise
to find it to their advantage to make proposals,
having in contemplation the execution of the
plan in speedy, efficient, and satisfactory man
ner, / understand that company is, in point
of fact, prepared, upon obtaining certain prvi-
leges and encouragement from the two Boards,
to advance the requisite funds, and enter into
satisfactory obligations and engagements to un-
dertake and complete the cut throughthe James
Creek rayine in such manner as to secure q
fair proportion of the expected trade for the
proposed harbor at its terminus. And if such
be the case, and the company can satisfy those
whom it concerns that it is willing and able to
do the thing on terms which shall be acceptable
to the city authorities, and productive of pros
porous results for the District cities, why should
there be any hesitation to make the bargain
and begin the work? H H
Fortunately for our interests, the Board Of
Control have succeeded in securing the services
of Mr.. CHARLES b. Fisk, whose appointment as
engineer is o guaranty that the remaining por-
ton of the work and the settlement of existing
difficulties and differences will be soon and pro-
perly attended to and brought to an amicable
and satisfactory close. He brings to the work
so much of practical experience, professional
skill and character, and is clothed with such
discretionary powers, as to give the citizens OF
the District the strongest possible assurance OF
n consummation most devoutly to be prayed
for. Whilst thus join with those who feel an
interest in the progress and completion of our
canal in self-gratulation ut this judcious selec-
ton, l feel additional qualification in the con-
viction that the approaching and happy settle
ment of the controversy, and realization of those
hopes and speculations which depend upon the
trade with Cumberland and the valley of the
patn Oh o,,a, a,na foIl
consequence, bring with it the commencement
and completion Of the stem through james
Creek, to accommodate the rush of business
which viii follow the connexion with the rich
region above US. 81 nHa
1t viii not need over one hundred thousand
dollars to make a branch as wide and deep as
the canal now under contract, which shall be-
gin at or near Virginia avenue and South Cap
itol street, and convey such Of the trade as can
be spared at the terminus of New Jersey avenue
and o street to deep, capacious artificial basin
or port near the Arsenal, of sufficient size and
depth to receive ocean steamers and sail vessels
as direct agents for exports and imports. Such,
as am informed, men Of capital and RESPONSE
bility are prepared to propose and to do. The
sum isnot so large, nor the difficulties so in
surmountahle, nor the results so distant and in
significant, that the scheme should bepronounced
visionary or impracticable Ii was the inten-
ton Of the original Board Of Directors to pro-
vide for branch through James Greek ravine
Mr.. Leckie, practical engineer, was consulted
on the subject, and pronounced in favor of it,
both on the score of economy and profit. On
the map Of the city your readers viii find that
stem of equal size with that Of New Jersey
avenue is traced out and designated. 1t was
not, however, opened, because the citizens Of
the Navy Yard and the interests Of Government
required that the one now under contract and to
be first put in order should be previously at
tended to. That it should be so previously
attended to, out of funds already appropriated
or yet to come from Governmental or Corporation
sources, Of course would not if / could oppose
or have otherwise What | do want and pro-
pose, to repeat is that'proposals should be in
vited and entertained by our City Councils,
tending and calculated to make the mouth of
James Creek available as basin or harbor for
sea-g going vessels, and to unite it with the main
branch of our city canal through the rayine as
designated on our city charts. Thatthe know
ledge, on the part of citizens and capitalists, of
such dispositions in the minds of our city fathers
will result in the undertaking and completion Of
the work, | feel perfectly satisfied. If we try
the experiment, not many months viii pass be-
fore the work is begun, and in due season brought
to an auspicious termination. 1t will be most
short-sighted and unwise if we do not initiate
the good example of our friends in Alexandria,
who, by municipal encouragement and special
privileges, have attracted thither SO much Of the
mining capital and custom of the mining COM
panies of Cumberland Already our supineness
or ll-fortune has resulted in letting them get de-
cidedly the start of us in the race. Whilst we
have been talking, squabbling and postponing,
our enterprising neighbors have been doing. In
thus acting with energy and promptitude,, they
deserve and have secured success. We should
not envy, but initiate them. There is room
enough, work enough, for all
The natural advantages of Washington and
Georgetown are unquestionabe. At the head
of navigation and tide-water, the gateway to
that glorious valley through which the majestic
and beautiful Potomac flows, linked by steam