Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-31
LOCAL ITEMS.

PRESIDENTS LEvEE.-The public reception
by the President Of tho United states. on
New Years Day, at his residenee, in Wash
;ngton, will commence at l2 O'Clock, Mon
dsy. ut which hour. III conformity with
nsIice arrangements. the gates Of the enclo-
.nre will he opened. The reception will
terminate al , o'clock precisely. Carriages
uill approach the Presidents House by the
east gate
CHESAPEAKE AND OHio CANAL.-The an
nuaI report Of the business on the Chesa-
nsake and Ohio Canal. shows that the total
4 arrivals Of boats at the collectors Of
NE in Georgetown during the year 1859 was
ais. The coal brought down in the same
,sriol vas 800. $40 tons; Of -four 10. $50 bar
r.ls: wheat 2lT.75S bushels; corn POO, 247
bushels; mill otfal 1886 bushels; oats "a,
242 bushels; hay 252 tons; wood 3 .594 cords;
ran bark COL Cords and limestone 10000 per-
,hes. The revenue from tolls collected at
Georgetown was Sl22,s32. to which should
Be added fully fifty per cent, for the tolls col
l.sed ut Cumberland and intermediate
p1ha,s, giving an approximate total of VISA
100 for the whole revenue of the year. Of
This total amount nearly $l60, 900 are due to
the coal trade alone. These receipts are
.hout Sll 900 more than those of last year,
and are in excess Of any year previous to
that by The sum Of 500, 900. This is princi-
naly due 10 the increased trade in coal. The
Quantity Of -four and grain are also in excess
Of last year.
The above exhibi OF the trade Of the Chsss-
psake and Ohio Canal for the year past,
must certainly be satisfactory to the friends
and wsll-wshers Of that work, as we'll rs to
all who feel an interest in the development
Of the great mineral and agricultural re-
sources Of Western Mary land and Northwes.
tern Virginia Notwithstanding series OF
disastrous freshets, which almost seemed to
pont out the canal as special victim to the
wrath Of the powers of Nature and the repe-
ti,on OF breaks that looked as if the incaution
Of man had stepped in as an auxiliary force
70 complete its destruction, the canal has
come out with the smile Of hope and pros
perity upon its future.
In 1857 there were transported on the canal
for shipment at Underwater at Georgetown and
Alexandria, l23, 52I tons Of Cumberland coal,
and now. in 1859, with not q few unfavorable
circumstances 10 contend with, the trans
uortation has increased to two-and-a-half
times that amount. that is to say, to above
100000 tons. This augmentation may be
accounted for partly by the gradually lncreas-
inv extent TO which coal is used IN the manu-
factories and shipping of the world, partly
by the largely improved opportunities and
;unyeniences of shipment ut Underwater, espe-
eislly at Georgetown, but principally to the
much greater cheapness OF transportation OF
coal by water as compared with carriage Of
the same by railroad. A few fgu es will
more distinctly show this. The cost of carry
ing a ton Of coal from Cumberland to Baltl-
more is 1926, whilst ton Of the same coal
lstransported to Georgetown by canal for = :
St. and 10 Alexandria for Sl.624. If the
cost Of shipment at all these places be taken
asequal, the advantage Of the transportation
ty water is 50 decided as to ensure not only
= present, but permanent superiority.
For the purposes of generating steam and
manufacturing, the coal Of Western Maryland
stands unrivalled by any in the country,
and is fully equal, if not superior, to the
best English Some of the principal Euro
pean steam lines. as the Cunard aud the Gal
way, as well as other ocean steamers, are
now supplied with this coal on their return
voyages instead Of having their supplies sent
over as formerly In respect to the shipment
of Cumberland coal, it may be observed that,
owning to the soft and friable nature OF the
article, the fewer landings to which 1t Is
subjected the better. Hence lighterages and
t,ansshpment should be avoided if possible,
rs well for the sake Of the coal rs the direct
saving Of expense. This leads to the sugges-
ton that Us u matter Of public economy, the
Government would do well to bring It's steam
irgates and large steamers for coaling pur-
poses Immediately to the highest practicable
point Of coal shipment.-Nat. Int.
The proper place undoubtedly, on every
account, for coaltny u. S., vessels, both on
the score Of safety and economy, is Alexan-
dria.
SLEiGHlSG-The sleighing yesterday was
excellent, and was greatly enjoyed. All
who had, or could procure horse and sleigh,
we're out and from sunrise until sunset, and
until the small hours Of the night, the air
rssounded with the music Of the bells and
the merry laugh Of the riders. as they went
dsshing through the streets. Crowds assem-
bled at the street corners, and at the public
places, during the day. to witness the turn
out" and everybody seemed pleased. All
enjoyed the sport, save the horses--they were
the sufferers. A merciful man is mercitul
TO his beast" Let this be remembered while
The ,leighing lasts.
Benefit OF Miss JENNIE PARxER.-This
evening. Shakspeare's Tragedy Of Macbeth
will be performed at the Theatre, i'll which
the beautiful Miss Jennie Parker will take
the character Of Lady Macbeth. Miss p.
came TO our city with reputation as an
ross which few Of her age obtain, and her
psrsonation Of the different characters i'll
which she has been cast here, have been re
esived by discriminating audiences with
such marked appreciation, as to warrant the
assertion that she will reach the pinnacle Of
her profession. With 50 good a play. and a
Company Of such excellence as that by which
Miss Parker il assisted, we venture u pre-
dict really substantial ''beneff' for the
accomplished tragedienne tonight.
COLD WEArHER.-Our exchanges. North
and South, bring us accounts OF snow and
cold weather The navigation Of all the
Northern rivers is impeded BY ice. In the
Potomac there is much ice. and it continues
To make" The snow storm has somewhat
Instructed the regular travel BY the rail
rvads, but the delays have not been great
Yesterday morning the sun came out bright
iy, and the snow melted some