Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-01
LETTER OF GENERAL wAsHIroroN.


The original conception Of canal improyerner
having lately become subject Of inquiry, feIlov5
townsman, who is the fortunate possessor - lsroe,
number of unpublished letters Of Ge1 WAsnrNG.
TOM has been so obliging as to transcribe for Il
from the original the annexed letter fspm the Patnr
Pstri@, excepting one or two irrelevant passages
Mousr VERxoS, NovsxBHR IL. 1888
M DEAR srR; wish it in my power to be as pro-
else ind satisfactory in answering your inquiry respect
ing the value Of the purchase made by Col Lee at the
Great Fails OF this river your purposes require ana
my Inclination would prompt me to give you. But, how
''0l uencent they may be- win hazard the best nfor-
mation am possessed Of this subject
Inc quantity OF land in this purchase and the In
'Ao 'Ao0S 'iereon II should seem you have been ap-
priced ~ only remains, therefore, for me to add a.
lar % am aDie an account Of it's situation and the pro
papie oosaages which are to be derived from It, With
respect 70 the rst my ideas Of the matter flor do not
speak from absolute certainty just includes thS
entire land BASIN &c. the Great Falls and the mil, seas
flor there are than one which Gov johnson anda
company connected with him in his business had formed
very sanguine hopes till the unexpected by Col
Lee arrested the prospect For works of any kind
these seats must be exceedingly valuable IL the nav
ton obtains of which one believe entertains oubt
at this time How far they may be mpeded or even en-
dangered at times by remarkable freshes am nj !.
competent judge The opinion Of better informed per
sons 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 b
established there lit is much wished for by mer-
camille peope whether the navigation is extended from
thence to dewater not In the last. case the lots
will be Of great value in the first very desirable because
all produce must pass by, if it is not de-
posted here which must take place il the difficulties
from hence to nine mes should prove
insurmountabe; and, between you and me, 1t is the
most doubtful part of work. Having gone 60
far will hazard another idea in proof Of my opinion OF
this navigation, and consequently Of the Importance OF
this pass I'll may DO singular one, but not the
less clear in it that 1t is that the navigation
from tho Great Falls to and through the Shenandoah
Falls will not be opened five years before that Of the lat
ter river will be improved at least hundred and fifty
miles, and the whole produce Of that rich and extensive
vale between the Blue Ridge and the Allegheny Noun
tans be brought through it and the South Branch fer
souhwestery Staunton into the Potomac and thence
by the Great Falls the place places of expectation
Add this to what will be drawn from the upper parts Of
Maryland and parts of Pennsylvania (Which at present
go to Baltimore by expensive land transportation I
and then annex thereto the idea Of what may un-
der wise policy from the Western waters and opens
field almost too extensive for Imagination and will in
duce the merchants of Alexandria, 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 to subjoin they
may be too sanguney diatedI leave you to draw your
own conclusions Of the property which is offered you
the profits of which, you viii readily perceive cannot
be immediate Not much Ibelicve, be said in favor
Of the FIVE hundred acres-f there is that quantity Of
tor of the growth thereon but this tract if have
been rightly informed, privilege but under what con-
ditons know mott is annexed Of cutting wood from
large body adjoining 1t has also said that in the
vicinity Of This tract another purchase connected with
the expanded designs of sample has been made by COL
Lee of most valuable mine bank. These, presume,
included in the offer to you for as much as they
parts of the original plan =
am, my deaf sir, your affect. humble servant y
GEO. WASHINGTON vi