Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-02-16

city to the river, sud from thence TO the northern
extremity OF Union street. II was expected that
toI the purposes OF carrying trade aud travel be
ycnd this point, the river would have afforded
every desired accommodation. That this means
OF communication has not been improved is surely
no fault of ours. From Alexandria 10 Washing
ton, distance Of scarcely six miles, and occupy
ing from twenty TO thirty minutes ny steam boat
was never until recently, believed to present u
very serious obstacle TO the comfortable transmits
sion OF passengers. Nor can we now believe, that
a properly constructed steamer could fail 10 AZ
ford every reasonable facility. We are Mt a loss
to know, why the Potomac may not be rs readily
crossed or navigated, as the Susquehanna, Della
ware, Ohio, Mississippi OF the Hudson rivers. And
as the Virginia roads have long since reached the
west bank of the Potomac, it only remains for the
Maryland road to make the same approach to the
east bank, and the connecting link becomes ut
once an easy and natural one.
If, then, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad will
make branch to the Potomac, opposite or near
Alexandria, and the present means be properly
employed and improved, every desired facility will
be afforded the through travel. and passengers will
avoid ms well the ride through our streets, rs the
mud of Jackson City"
When we are told therefore that Alexandria is
throwing obstacles III the way of through travel
in refusing to give up the OF her streets may
We not point for an answer TO the unemployed
who profit by such travel Alexandria does not
desire to impede prevent through travel She
nterposes no obstacles to prevent and viii doubt
less refuse to spend money, or yield up important
privileges TO facilitate it. She has more inter
est i'll the welfare Of the through traveller, than
he has i'll her wellarc-both doubtless act from
interested motives, and neither may fairly con
denim the action of the other.
With a proper location of the Baltimore and
Pail mud n, nrf ba
proper means, we are quite certain that the Poto-
mae river will afford the facilities for the
transmission Of passengers are now enjoyed 1T
the SuSquehanna, and elsewhere.
We deem il not improper, al this time, to advert
to the fact that the financial condition Of this
Company Is such a. 10 make II question, whe-
ther or not they could, even with proper d-po-
Sition to do 50, comply with the terms .! the pro-
posed act. We regret that We have to say, that
the former contract between this Company and
the City authorities has not, yet. been complied
with. on the part of the Company.
By the act of the City Council, passed 22d OF
January. 1886, the Company was permitted T.
occupy st. Asaph street, as far south rs Prn-
cess street. upon certain terms and conditions.
Amongst them. was the proviso, that said Com
pany should erect 4 suitable and comfortable de-
pot. of bricL on said street" Four years have
passed away. hut thi, condition remains upper
formed.
Ii the proposed act passed, and the track
laid down in accordance Herewith and the ncces
sity should arise for removing il, and restoring
the streets contemplated BY the acI, 1t would
involve tho expenditure Of considerable money.
And although the Company may be able 70 raise
the means for LAYING down the track, Il may, we
think be well questioned whether they could bor-
row the money to pay for taking it up and rcstor-
ing the streets.
Should this contingency arise, we doubt rot but
the whole expense would have to BE- incurred by
the City Council.
But how is Alexandria 70 be affected by such a
connection, and what is to be the result III the
future? The ultimate purpose undoubtedly =, T.
connect by rail the Orange 4 Alexandria with the
Baltimore Z Ohio Railroad 1T Washington. And
we shall presently show the views that others take
Of such connection.
How Alexandria would he affected may best W.
shown b. few practical examples:
The town OF Portsmouth,, New Hampshire, ha.
a harbor second to none on the -eaboard; easy ri
access aud current sufficient to keep il free from
Joe during the coolest weather in winter. II i
connected by Railroad with Concord, Portland,
and BostGn-being 90 miles from the latter city.
1t possesses all the requisites OF commercial city,
and once enjoyed and sustained 4 large CONNER
cial business. Why, then, has it, commerce
dwindled away. rs that Congress should doubt the
propriety Of giving her new Custom House
Why have its imports fallen of, until they have
become 50 insignificant as scarcely 70 merit notice
We understand, from very fair authority, that the
principal cause, is the direct and continuous Rail
road connection with Boston. Merchandise i
carried from points Le4o8d Portsmouth 70 Boston,
nj lower rates than H. PDrtsmOoJh, aad Portsmouth
has become i cay stdtion. Her docks and ware
houses, which but i few years aso were busy with
the hum Of business are, We are told, no" !"tsa-
ken, and stand n monuments ~ tier once CONNER
cial property Boston has snatto~ed der up
Wilmington, Delaware, MAS once 4 thriving com
mercial city, but she has no commerce now. Alas
"FhHqdeiphia has s0ailo,red her up.
Cumberland, though not = seaport, was. with the
terminus Of the Baltimore 4 Ohio Railroad, no
toriously ROurishug place, where fortunes we're
realized in the rise of property The Railroad
was completed 10 Wheeling. Merchandise i cnr-
ried a. low, If not lower. from Wheeling 70 Balti
more than 10 Cumberland, and "Baftimorc h"s
s,rdlto,red her up,
These are few instances 81 Swallowed ~
citirs." and if the members III Council will real
the humorous -ueeah ai senator Thompson, 81
Kentucky delivered in the Senate oi the United
States last winter. they viii there see many other
striking examples. Make this connection. ami
freight viii bc carried from Lynchhurg % Balti-
more, Is low, # not lower than T. Alexandra, and
thus viii "Baltimore sm0Aow Aterandrio ~.
But even Baltimore herself, with her through con
nectlDH WIN lHlIaIcIlHiaj - ~ - iAiSs's47
Under discriminating freight lists. merchandise,
in spite of hef capital and enterprise, j passing
through to the Delaware and her merchants are
now moving, lest "Phaadstpdja mag .~o''"~
her up"
But how IS this connection viewed IN others.
who are deeply interested in cticcting il?
The President Of the Baltimore and ONO Rail
road Company, III recent annual report. says
The early completion Of important lines u 'he
ricinity II Washington, lhc don't even name Alex
andra,, which will open direct communication
with the principal Southern cities. has caused the
Board 10 look with anxiety 70 arrangements Tor
pcrfecting connections between the Nashington
Branch and its Southern associates, IL order thos
to complete this great national route. The tedious
and extensive trans ter that has heretofore existed
has caused great annoyance 70 the immense travel
using this line Is the entire country i interest
ed in this Improvement, the Board trust the r.
quisitc power for its accomplishment may ="
granted during the next session Of Congress. II
suitable and economical trHasit Jor jrflJht and
messengers be secured il is believed that mpor
tant results, INCREASING rHE COMMERCIAL rEoS
pERITY OF BALrmonE, ANp rnE DlS1ntcT CITIES,
WILDE realized" How truly he might have at
del-at the expense Of the city IN ne ric'"'iy "a
Woshiayton.'
II is quite evident from the foregoing extract
from the rcnurt If Mr.. Garrett that he, and the
COMPANY of which he Is the head, are amrto"S
that suitable arrangements shall be made with
the Orange road. for the "ccomomjcol transit J"r
freight" to bis road. What he means by tie term