Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-06-04
LOCAL TIE ms.

I
22d Of December, 1854, the commissioners ap-
pointed BY Maryland and Virginia, met in
Convention at Annapolis, to consider the
subject Of opening and improving the nav
| igation Of the River Potomac, and concert
ing plan for opening proper road be-
| tween tie waters Of said River, and the
most convenient " estern waters" General
Washington had long been the advocate OF
this scheme, as work OF national policy,
and was called to preside over the delibera-
tons Of the Convention. The following
resolution was unanimously adopted, viz:
THAT it is the opinion Of this conference
| that the removing the obstacles III the River
| Potomac, and the making the same capable
Of navigation from tide water "a lar up the
north branch Of said River IS may be con-
venont and practicable, will Increase the
commerce Of the Commonwealth OF Virginia
and Maryland, and greatly promote The po-
| litical interest Of the United States, by form
Ing a free aud easy communication and con-
ucxion with the people settled on the Western
waters, already very considerable in their
numbers, and rapidly increasing from the
m;lCness OF the climate, and the fertility Of
| the sail" The first scheme for uniting the
| eastern with the western waters, was thus
| ;uau"urate;i, and company formed, bearing
the name of that noble river, whose i'm
proyement was now fully determined upon.
| 'ri;a stock subscribed on the part Of Elr-
ginia in this improvement, with that Tor, the
improvement OF James River, was vested by
an act Of the Legislature, IN George WASH
ington, his heirs or assigns forever, accom-
panied by the following preamble:
"Whcrcas, by an act, entitled IN act for yesting
in Geo. Washington, ESQ., certain interest III
The Companies established for opening ana ex-
tending the navigation Of James and Potomac
Rivers and rccitng that whereas, II Is the desire
| Of the representatives of this Commonwealth, 10
embrace every suitable occasion nf tcstiyinS their
| sense OF the unoyampled merits OF Gee. Washing
ton towards bis country and ii is their wish iii par
ticular that these great works for its Improvement,
which both n springing from the liberty which no
has been so instrumental in establishing, and us CT
! ccura ged by his patronage, will be durable mont
monts Of his glory, may hc madcs monuments
also of the gratitude of his Country
This act OF the Legislature, was so modi-
fed az the request of Washington, as TO
provide that the tolls and profits accruing
from the stock TINS invested, should go to
objects of public nature, and net to his
private usc--thus avoiding even the appear
ancc Of receiving pecuniary rccompcnse Tor
past services TO the country.
The cold Potomac Company" thus auSpi-
cously begun--strugg led along Tor many
wears under varied fortunes nlilling the
object which gave it existence, to an extent
far beyond and above what might have been
exnocIed, in view OF the trying Hoods and
| rreshets TO which it was exposed, and the
serious financial embarrassments which at
| tended it. The subject OF Canal, uniting
! the eastern with the western waters, and
| providing all avenue to the immense Goal
! fields, which had been discovered on the
western slope Of the Aileghanics, was at
| length introduced, and = cali made by The
citizens of Loudoun County, III August,
| 1898, for Il public meeting ut iccsburg--
Prince William united in this movement,
and delegates were appointed in both OF
these counties, to attend Convention, to he
! held in Washington city. In November ioi-
| lowing. the Convention assembled IN the
capito! at Washington, and was presided
over l,y Gcu Charles Ecnton Mcrccr-Gcn.
Walter Jones getting As Secretary. The FOL
lowing named delegates appeared from Alex-
au;iri;t, viz Thos. Swami, Jonathan Swift,
Humphrey Peak, Phincas Janney,- Robert
|. Taylor, Charles j. Ca:lett, Jacob Morgan,
and Amos Alexander.
For the landholdcrs Of the District Of
Columbia c. ". p. GUSTS.
Delegates were in attendance from Mary
land and Virginia, iroG Pennsylvania and
Ohio, and the District Of Columbia. Alter
the transaction Of the business for winch 1t
assembled, the following resolution was
unanimously adopted:
"l'hat ii is expcdient to substitute for the
| present defective navigation Of the Potomac h'Ycr
| above tide water :. nayig0hlc Canal b. tu;nber-
| land to the month Of Savage Creek, nj the Eastern
base Of the lcshany and II extend such lanai
AS soon thereafter rs practicable, - the highest
constant Steamboat navigation Of the Nonoga-
| halia or Ohio River, and that it shall be named
the "lnion Canal
Thcnamo was afterwards, in view Gifts en-
larged purposes, changed to the Chesapeake
and Ohio Caral. The second session Of
this Convention was held in December, iS-O,
resulting in The organizations OF the Compa-
nv. On the 18th Of July, 1928, the cercmo-
nirS Of breaking ground prescribed by the
Committee Of Arrangements, took place,
and formed Il pageant which will long be
remembered by those who participated. At
an early hour, the members OF the several
Corporations. and those who were invited 10
accompany them, with the President and
Directors Of the Canal Company, assembled
in Georgetown. At half past o'clock, the
President Of the United States, u. &
Adams, J arrived, escorted by Capt. Turner
and Tyler's Troop of Cavalry. under the
command Of Major Stewart. The Sccrcta-
l,cs Of the Treasury, War, and Navy De
partmcnts, the Postmaster General, Senators,
and members Of the House Of Representa-
tiyes. the Ministers OF Great Britain, ard
Russia, Secretaries Of legation with other
representatives OF foreign powers were pre-
sent, IS also surviving officers OF the RcNoIu-
tionary Army-thc whole forming in process
sion ats o'clock on Bridge strect~headcd by
9 foil band Of the Marine Corps, and march
ed 10 HIGH street wharf. from winch the whole
embarked in 5Arges and steamboats, to the
point Of landing, where the ceremonies at
,rn,!ant upon the commencement OF the
work were 10 take place. Two companies OF
Eifiemen, under the command OF Captains
Thomas and tIaller paid the military hon
ors due to the President, both ~ going and
returning. On landing, the procession moy-
ci to the spot selected, and formed II hollow
square, when the Mayor of UeotSetown
handed to Gen. Mercer, the President ri the
Canal, tic consecrated Instrument which
haviu.. received. he came forward and sad ::
-. -; -..Tbarn lrp moments IN