Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-31


described in the admirable report made in
February, 1857, to the Secretary Of the Int
rior by Alfred L. Rves, esq, Civil Ensi-
necr See House Tx Doc. No. g. I'd sess.
3ith Cong.
~ complete photographic survey, extend
ing distance Of six mles-from the Is
land rocks, called the Three Sisters. Ia half
mile above Georgetown) to GeeSborough
Point tone mile below the Arsenal )-estab-
fishes conclusively that some improvement
in the actual state of the river is imperative
" demanded.
The depth Of the Potomac ut the Three
Sisters is eighty-four feet. and thence to a
quarter Of mile below Easby's wharf va
ries from twenty-onc to thirty-three feet. Be-
low that point the current spreads Itself over
an immense surface, gradually losing its
energy, until thar channel presents depth
of only ten feet AZ mean and eight at extra
ordinary low tides. As the tide rises only
three feet. this depth is wholly inadequate
for the purposes of navigation. Farther on,
the causeway Of the Long Bridge 80 con-
tracts the current that We again find depth
of thirty-two feet Below the Long Bridge
there exists two channels-the Georgetown
or Virginia. and the Washington or city
channel The former is by tar the more
considerable, until the tides OF the Eastern
Branch exert their beneficial influence on
the latter. After the junction of the two
channels, the water attains depth OF fifty
four feet
Thus it appears that even above George
town. as well rs below the flats in front Of
us, there is depth of water enough to float
the largest ship that sails the ocean. And
yet between those points the channels have
been allowed partially to ill up with alu-
, vial depositcs the force of the currents being
rendered too weak to keep them open, by
diffusion Of the waters over too wide sur
face.
For the improvement of the Georgetown
or Virginia channel the Board OF Aldermen
passed an act last Monday evening, appro-
priating five thousand dollars, with the un-
derStandiIg that Georgetown would provide
Il like amount We presume the Board of
Common Council will likewise pass this act.
and that the Mayor will both approve it and
cause it to be promptly executed.
1 We are well aware that our citizens are
not united III support Of this measure, u
large number regarding it rs conducting to
the building up Of other interests at their
expense. which is no doubt to some extent
true. And yet, if it be impractcable at pre-
sent TO undertake the improvement of the
Washington channel, we are quite wiling
for present purposes to advocate the I'M
proyement of the other, prcsuming that the
people of Georgetown will meet us IN the
same liberal spirit, and do what they can TO
render cur expenditures remuncratlre to Us
as we'll as to themselves. This they have
the power - do if 50 inclined At present
/ il is well known that boat load OF coal,
! flour or other produce, from above George
town, can only reach our western wharyes
in bulk, by passing down the canal to Alex
andria, and thence up the river Washing
tan STIR.
TnEATRIcAL-Thc thcatre-going portion
of our community will be delighted to learn
that the accomplished and bewtching ac-
treSs. Miss CHARLOTTE THOMPSON, has been
re.emgaged for four nights more ut the thea
ire. Tonight she appears in the character OF
/ Camille Gautier, in the beautiful French play
of Camille, in which she has few equals on
the American stage All who have seen
the play will be pleased at having an oppor-
unity Of seeing it repeated, while those who
were not so fortunate "a to attend when 1t
was performed before, will surely not let this
/ opportunity pass, without seeing Miss Ihomp-
son in this, one Of her master efforts.
CHILD BuRNED.-On Friday morning,
littl" girl. three years old. daughter of John
McCarty. living on Majors Hill, near the
corner of Alfred and Gibbon streets, was
shockingIy burned, while its mother was alb
sent few minutes, from its clothes taking
fire. The little girl ran into the street, her
clothes in blaze. and her screams attracted
some gentlemen near, who promptly ran to
I her assistance and smothercd the flames, not
/ however until the child was very badly burn
ed about the arms and body. Medical assls-
lance was obtained. but could not afford re-
lief. and the child died on Saturday morn
ing.
Nrw UvIroRu.-The Mt Vernon Guards
have decided to cha nge their Uniform, and
Mr.. K. w. Robinson has made ut his estab-
Iishment. one of 4 beautiful gray cloth; the
coat is of the same cut as that Of their pre-
sent uniform, has three rows OF buttons
down the front, and Is trimmed with silver
lace. The pantaloons are also OF grey cloth,
with n silver chord down each side. On
Tuesday evening the uniform will be display
! ed AT the meeting of the company ut their
armory, and the question Of its adoption CON
sderrd.
] BUSINESS on THE C,NAL.-Thc George
town correspondent Of the Washington Star
saws :-"Business upon the Canal, since our
last report has been quite brisk: 10" boats
have arriye,l-11; from Cumberland, with s.
600 tons Of coal: l.; from other points, with
-four and grain: with limestone; with
wood, hay. &c. The entire line is again III
good navigable order; and, unless some un-
tore<een accident shall occur, quite heavy
trade is ANTICIPATED the remainder oi the
] boating season.