Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-01
GEORGETOWN AFFAIRS.
CorysspoHdeHcs of The Star.
GEORGETOWN, Sept.

GEOhUE IOW ~ AFFdIES.
Corrsspondenes Of The Star.
GEORGETOWN, Sept. 1, 1s57.
Our city this morning is unusually quiet There
is but little of any kind Of news ahoat calculated
to interest the public mind to any extent. The
subject Of branch to connect US with the Alex
andria, Loudoun, and Hampshire Railroad IL be-
ing discussed by some, while others are looking
forward to the time when some favorable circum.
stance will transpre to impart new life and viyor
to the Metropolitan Railroad scheme II is great
ly to be hoped that it will not all end in talk we
think we have had nearly enough of this, unless
we could be convinced that 1t would result in
something more beneficial than that which we
have had heretofore. We now want action. Two
very plausible schemes for increasing our facili-
ties for bringing the rich products Of Maryland
and Virginia, and we may also say the Great
West, into our markef, is offered for our accept
ance, and we would ask, Shall we not be acting
suicidal in the extreme, if we suffer the opportu
nifty to pass of availng ourselves of either one
both of them! That either one or both Of these
roads will, in course Of time, be built, we regard
as fixed fact.
And some of our citizens acting upon this con-
viction. argue to us that IL would therefore be
better for us to wait until others do the work.
rather than our people and Corporation should
burden themselves by assisting in the work. We
think they reason from false premises, and place
us in rather humiliating position, by calling
upon Hercules to assist us before putting our own
shoulders to the wheel, out of the difficulty into
which we have already placed ourselves, by a
want OF proper management or public spirit
Moreover, is 1t not easily to be seen that If those
of our citizens who have done so heretofore, con-
tinue their suicidal policy of warning against
railroad to connect our city with either or the
other, or both Of the great western lines passing
north south of US, until they shall defeat us al
together, that other or more enterprising parties
may get the control of these branches and con-
struct them by such routes as to give Georgetown
the goby altogether, if they pass throuS "a it at
all, they having the entire control in the man.
agement of their affairs may regulate matters
In the way of freight or passage as to make it
more advantageous for those travelling or trans
porting their products over 1t to seek market or
stopping place elsewhere.
In either case, it would tend rather to injure
than to benefit us. And il such thing shall ever
occur, We regard our destruction as a commercial
city very nearly, IT not quite complete. Some Of
our people seem to be blinded to the fact that there
| are other points on the Potomac where a perma-
nent bridge might be built besides at the Alex
andria AQueduct or Three Sisters or that there
are other and equally convenient routes that the
Metropolitan Railroad might take, without COM
ing into Georgetown. Not so; there are more
than one Of each. Experience, sad experience,
has long since taught us, as a community, that,
in legislation, as well other matters might is
often construed into right. We now have IL in
our power to place ourselves altogether in the
right, and TO put in an entering wedge towards
righting old wrongs from which we have hereto
Tore been suffering Don't let US, through fear of
Corporation debt of few dollars, or a trifiing
additional individual expense in the way Of taxes
future prosperity, if not the salvation Of town.
in commercial point Of view, pass by unim-
proved.
Georgetown stands almost isolated and alone
and we regard it as the extreme Of folly for to
be spending all orr time warning against other
and more powerful parties seeking only after the
removal of old difficulties to the neglect of other
and greater interest, and while at least one Her
cules has offered to assist us. let us put our own
shoulder to the wheel in good earnest, and secure
the benefits which must necessarily result fom
his Prohtred assistance; and peradventure it
may ultimately he the means of relieving Of
some of the difficulties which have heretofore
been in the way of our prosperity.
The subject Of commissioner of streets Is being
talked Of among some of our city Legislators. We
think the experience of the last few years has
clearly demonstrated the necessity for the enact
ment of a law providing for such an officer. In
our opinion, the appointment of such an officer
would not only do away with most of the COM
plant about the altering and fixing of the grade
of the streets the repair of damages by rains, &c
but would tend TO save to the corporation treas
nry no small amount annually by prompt action
in taking stitch in time when and wherever
breach may occur from the before mentioned
cause. Under represent system, breac hes, when
they occur are often left for weeks to the contin
ual washings Of rains, and it not unfrequently
occurs that a small brick, which might have been
repaired when ii first occurred for few dollars
is left until it becomes so formidable to require
no small amount for its repair. This is mainly
owing to the fact that this duty has been hereto
fore imposed upon the Mayor, who is very fire.
quenty prevented by press Of other Official
duties from giving such matters that timely at
tention which they invariably demand More
over, we believe that judicious commissioner
would save more to the corporation and people
than The amount Of his salary each year by the
reduction OF the expenses incurred in the improve
ment and repair OF streets, and by experimenting
the street scavenger i'm the performance of his
duties. Ii would also relieve the Mayor of the
most onerous and uisayrecable portion of his
present duties.
Arrived, packet schooner Fairfax, Mott, New
York, to r. A. Dodge, with full cargo Of mer-
chandise for the two cities; steamer Columbia,
Harper. Baltimore, to Hyde * Davidson, and
merc handise for the two cities; schOoneIs Tropic
Hooper, salisbury, lumber To Jos. Libbey 4 Son;
Ellen, Brewerton, Baltimore, lumber TO J.. Pick,
rell Co.
Small sales, Yesterday, Of new fonr at sc 81;
old would bring more, but there is mono Offering
Wheat begi to come in rather more freely, and
has declined during the last day or two some 10
cents->elling this morning at 81 3Oal 40 for red
and white. S