Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-25
Rrederickshnry. Va.

i"'' "h''''''' ''"" -.
sinla to"n' Possesses 'A''i',les '''r n,a"','a
turing purposes rarci! ''i"a,'eu " '"s r",'
Z" Tue country. WI"
prise. tor which 1t ma NOT r'''"'h NV ''
per credit ami with Guar NV.
ahty, 1t has brought the ava III a'' I" '''
great natural RESOURCES, and no" presents
inducements 10 manufacturing interests
which, sooner or later. must make 1T large
manufacturing rlty. We confess ''''' ~ ""
were citizen OF trcd"r"EStnrS. We -.'""'''
not desire that result. II l. me 'aI"''h ~
call that place 'hnlHhcd t""h. a'' III '"'
sense II Is "nnisl'en' 1'r a"! ia''"'' pr
grcSs IN The OH Virginia VIRTUES ~ ''"t :,
hospitality. and III All the ncSl Iuui'''' ~
human nature, !. Impossible ~ II w
happier. more humane, more peaceful NOR
neral, when it att;,n- tn" riz' ana win IT,
the scliishness and vices. n-"Nirh"c nom
large populations
On late visit To- this fine old llrSlnla
town, We saw the great dam by which III"
vast water Iowcr"f the Rappal'annVck L. 10
be made available I" inaus'r'a, USES.
splendid work WAS constructed by an emf
ncnt New England engineer. on the same
plan with that over the connections river ''
IIulyukr From description Of 1t now be-
fore Us, it appear, that the abHtmcnts are
constructed upon Il natural rock foundation.
The dam, erected upon base 30 feet III
with, and secured firmly 10 the solid rock
foundation. i, Is feet in height, o. feet III
| length between the ahutmcnts, and com
pacty built Of heart pine timber. sawed one
foot square The abutmcnts are OF the best
granite. laid in courses with hydraulic cement,
and are erected upon natural rock tounda-
ton. The canal which is | miles long from
the feed gates 10 the basin ut fredericksburg
is 5lI feet wide at the water surface, - feet
wide at the bottom. and t.. feet deep. giving
the area of its water section as 21l square
feet. 1t is made permanently water tight,
by the most careful grubbin@ pudding, and
selection of material for embankmcnt.-
The available head and fall obtained l. t.
feet. :, water-powrr is thus m..,ir ready for
Use within thc limits of the town. which.
during the l,w ,rarrs of water in orli-
nary summer seasons. is not less than 300
bor.o-nower and which for the greater part
of the wear RANGES up 10 1000 and 1000
horsepower. The low stare, If water pre-
vail ordinarily. for few days only Of the
year."
RESERVOIRS
structed al,no the river. above the present
dam which would oucmeut the power to any
desired extent The po,ition of Frcdericks-
burg is such. that favorable sites for using
the power are presented along a riyer-tront
Of nearly a mil. in extent. t. which the wa
tor may he conducted n little cost. and at
which u GOOD NAVIGATION may be obtained W
TO the door Of the mills. The prices of all
miroble manufacturing site, are VERY Iuw in
comnarison with Ike nrourrtv at any similar
no;n.
Frederick sl,urr has q porulation Of 5000.
i situated ,t thc ho,J IS t;dc-water. on the
Rappahannock. and Is distant sixty miles
from WASHINGTON and Richmond. and ha,
communication twice dav with each BY
railroad and steamboat. 4 railroad. now in
progress, will connect it. By the short link Of
tbirtv-eipht miles with the Central Railroad.
By Canal, Maradamized and Plank Roads.
If has communication with Il large and fertile
agricultural region. The river is nayigable