Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-09-29
Mourn VERNON. NOVEMBER H. I7ss

My DEAR SIR: wish il was in my power TO be
as precise and satisfactory in answering your in
curry respecting the value Of the purchase made
by Col Lee al the Great Falls Of this river, as
your purposes require, and my inclination would
prompt me TO give you. But, however deficient
they may be, | will hazard the best information
am possessed of on this subject
Ofthe quantity Of land in this purchase and the
membranes thereon, il should seem you have
been apprized. II only remains, therefore for me
10 add, far ~ am able an accoun, of its sitna-
ton and the probable ad,onfagfs which arc to be
derived from II. With respect TO the first, if my
ideas of the matter Qor do not speak from an alb
solute certainty are just, il includes the entire
land, basin, DC, at tho. Great Falls, and the mill
seats, uor there arc more than one,) OF which Gov
Johnson and company connected with him in his
business had formed very sanguine hopes, till the
unexpected purchase by Col. Lee arrested the
prospect For water works of amy kind these
seats must be exceedingly valuable If the naviga-
ton obtains, oil which one, believe entertains
doubt al this time. How far they may be i'm
peded or even endangered at times by remarkable
lreshes, am. not competent Judge. Tho opin-
ION OF better informed persons in these matters
than am Is that they may be rendered secure.
Another advantage TO be derived is, that, under
all possible circumstances, town must be estab-
hshed there, (it is now much wished for by mer-
camille people,) whether the navigation il extend
ed from thence to tide-water or not. In the last
case the lots will be OF great value in the first very
pass By, II II is not deposited here, which must
take place il the difficulties from hence 10 tide
water about nine miles) should prove insurmount-
able; and, between you and me, il is the most
doubtful part OF work.
Having gone SO far, will hazard another idea
in proof of my opinion of this navigation, and con-
sequently OF the Importance of this pass II may
be singular one, but am not the less clear in IL
that account II is, that the navigation from the
Great Falls To and through the Shenandoah Falls
Will not be opened five years before that Of the
latter river'will be improved at least one hundred
and fifty miles, and the whole produce Of that rich
and extensive vale between the Blue Ridge and
the Allegheny mountains be brought through IL
and the South Branch as far southwesterly as
stanton, into the Potomac, and thence by the
Great Fails to the place or places transportation
Add this 10 what will be drawn from the upper
parts OF Maryland and parts OF Pennsylvania,
(Which al present go TO Baltimore by an expensive
land transportationD and then annex thereto the
idea OF what may come (under wise policy from
the western waters, and il opens a field almost too
extensive for imagination, aud will induce the mer-
chants Of Alexandra, Georgetown, and perhaps
other places TO establish their advanced posts AT
the Falls TO catch the produce on its passage.
From these premises--but ! beg leave 10 sub
join they may be too sanguinely diaied--I leave
you 10 draw your conclusions ofthe property
which is offered TO you, the profits (which, as you
will readily perceive, cannot be immediate. Not |
much believe, can be said in favor OF the five