Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-07-28
GEORGETOWN CORRESPONDENCE
GEoRaErowH, July %, 1876

dEoRGETOHH, July rs, 1904.
On visiting Alexandria, few days since,
we were not little surprised at seeing at the
coal wharves the large number of vessels
(some thirty odd receiving and waiting for
cargoes and we were led to ask ourselves the
question why it was that the capitalists of
Georgetown, with facilities for transhipping
the article far superior in every sense of the
word to those enjoyed by our neighbors, had
suffered tho whole of this large amount of
trade to slip through their fingers and frd 3
about the time the canal was completed to
Cumberland, we heard much talk about the
coal trade, and the great benefits Georgetown
would derive from it, and many plans for its
reception were devised but we are sorry to
say that not one Of them was ever carried out
While we were talking about the matter, our
neighbors acted, and thus We suffered our
selves to be despciled Of the whole of this
trade. We cannot believe that it is owing to
a want Of enterprise upon the part Of our
merchants; upon the contrary, We believe
them generally to be possessed Of as much of
this very necessary element in the char
ac'er OF d DtsluosS udn, ds tnOSe Oh any
other place. But we believe that it is owing
mainly to the fact, that, instead of putin 8
our own shoulder to the wheel, and reIyin 3
upon our own resources, we havo too long
looked for help from a source which expere-
rienca teaches Us We have just grounds to ex-
pect but little. That there are some difficulty
| in the way of our entering extensively into the
catl trade, that Alexandria has not to contend
WIN, VIC admit; but they are not such as could
1 L44 oosIxv
We believe, is that miserable incubus upon
the prosperity of our laws, the Long Bridge
but we feel confident that the additional ex-
pence of boats unlosdiI g at Alexandr caused
| the difference in distance and delays, fully
double what it would cost for towing vessels
| engaged in the trade to and from that point.
We have heard another reason assigned why
| and that is, that some Of the owners of the
property best adapted for coal wharves, are
in the regular habit, whenever they ascertain
that either our own or capitalists from abroad
are anxious to obtain it for such pur.
pose, Of trying to extort from them two OF
three times its real value, and thus both the
trade and capital has been driven from among
Us; and much of the property referred to. in.
| stead OF yielding profit to the owners is in
such condition that we doubt whether it pays
even the corporation taxes. If this be the
real cause, We hope that the true friends OF
our town will use their utmost endeavors to
lid US of all Ruch drones.
In our matrimonial notice yesterday w
tcommitted an error, which we hasten to cor
rect. Miss Ramsey was tho happy BRIDE.
name-not Grimes.
We have frequently of late heard complaint,
against q party of bad boys, who are in the
habit of breaking the lights out of the win
dows Of the colored people, Methodist church
and otherwise iDJuring the building with
stones We would inform the juvenile offend
ers that Mr. Silence, who has the contract 70,
keeping this building II repair, has bis ey,
upon some Of them, and if they are caught al
it again, either they or their parents will b.
made to suffer for it.
We would call the especial attention of thos,
in want of good groceries of every description
to the advertisement Of Mr.. Milburn, in an
other column. SPECTATOR.