Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-21
GEORGETOWN AFFAIRS.
of Tie Star,

0hGRGkTo%s, August ~, lS51.
Business about the coal docks this morning
looks quite encouraging. At each about twenty
hands are engaged in removing the black dia-
monds Of the Alleghanies from the canal bottoms
to the wharves and the vessels living at the river
wharves. At Rays dock, schooners Julia Smith
262 tons, for Boston, and p. H. Abbott, 270 tons,
for New York, have loaded since our last Al
this dock the facilities for transhipping coal is
far from complete. AS yet they can only unload
one boat at time, and that with horse power
A water wheel and other machinery is now in
course OF construction, under the direction Of the
experienced agent of the company, Mr.. ID. X
Younger, which, when completed, will enable
him to unload four boats at time or at least 7UO
tons per day. At the Borden Mining COmpany's
docks, Mr.. Sherman agent, the following vessels
have loaded and sailed: Schrs. Lucy Church,
Wildin, 22S tons, for Newark, n. j.; Reindeer,
kinner, pa tons, for New York Isle of Pines,
French, 253 tons, for DightoD, Mass. At each OF
the docks vessels suitable to carry coal North
ern and Eastern ports are in considerable demand
Business upon the canal continues very brisk.
Since our last report, IS boats have arrived-52
from Cumberland with coal, and the remainder
from different points, with Hour, corn, lumber
limestone, &c The receipts for tolls for the pre-
sent week will doubtless nearly reach 5000
The propeller James 8. Cathcart has not vet
arrived. The rumor that she reached Cumber-
land on Saturday last was error. We regret
to learn that, on her way up, some Of her ma
chinery gave way, which caused a delay OF some
day and a half besides being interrupted by
large feet Of boats. A fair trial of her speed on
the canal, however, was had while going up,
which resulted in her making four miles IN
tweHty-eight minutes. She will doubtless be in
tomorrow, as she loaded at Cumberland on Tues
day. The friends Of the invention are still very
sanguine Of its ultimate success
Upon visiting the canal, some DAYS ago. we re-
GREETED to find that some Of the boatmen, in def
ance OF the laws and regulations Of the Canal
Company, have made for themselves a new code
OF laws, which, although Of the most offensive
character, many Of them seem much more dis
posed TO respect than they do the wholesome reg.
ulations Of the Company. We think an early
stop ought to be put to it, II possible; else il wifi
certainly end in trouble to the Canal Company
Many Of the oldest boatmen on the canal say they
have never before seen such state of afai as at
present exists. Some Of them have declared their
intention 10 tie up their boats and seek living in
some other way, unless a change for the better is
brought about. The Sabbath Is profaned in al.
most every possible wayj fighting and rowdyism,
and almost every description OF vice, are carried
on with IMMUNITY, by the lawless class Of boat
men to whom we refer. We also think il would
be well for the board of directors TO take some
steps to prevent the travel upon the canal on the
Sabbath, and thus afford lock keepers and other
officers one day in the seven for rest and TO attend
religious worship. We are assured that IL is
common practice among them TO have prize fights
among their tOw-bOys; and this is done only on
the sabbath Some OF them are good boatmen-
men who are disposed to discountenance such
proceedings; and who never travel on Sunday.
we 90 not desire TO censure any one, but merely
20 cal the attention OF the board OF directors TO
'he eslls which exist, and which are being loudly
complained Of By the better sort Of boatmen them.
SPECTATOR.