Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-12-31
LOCAL NEWS.

TON AND ALEXANDRIA, al iuAoA IL a. hieI@7
ing held at the cfhce Of Adams Express Com
rary, in this city, on Saturday night last. at
which we're present, James A. English, esd
one Of the Delegates from this county IN the
Legislature Presidents of the two boards
Of the City Council, and several members of
those boards, Il rumher OF our business
ruen, i1cluding lawyers, merchants brokers and
mechanics, and two Of the lessees of the Alex
nadria Canal-Messrs Wells and DUNCAN
General Wells, at eight o'clock, arose and
made, in substance, the following remarks,
which, as concerning the material interests OF
our city, We publish, together with copy OF
the amended bill to be presented to the Legisla-
ture, asking for charter to build 4 railroad
between this city and Georgetown
When the lessees of the Alexandria Canal
first proposed to obtain the possession OF that
work, they had three prominent objects in view,
to wit: first and most Important to repair IN
the best manner, and open the canal permao,
ncntly for the transportation to Alexandria OF
the large and valuable trade which naturally
belongs here, aud will surely come it 1t IS not
forced away by such barriers as can only be
erected by our own folly or the injustice OF our
enemies -.#..A~
Next in order as. in importance was the de-
sign to build upon the bernie bank Of the ca.
nal railroad, having its termlnl here, and at
the northerly end of the aQueduct, which would
be most powerful adjunct to the accomplish
ment of the first object for part and parcel OF
the railroad bridge would be neav, substantial
and enduwng aqucduct, the iron bond which
can alone irrevocahy bind TO Alexandria the
commerce of the rich regions drained by the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. 1t would also
put one bank Of the canal, at least i'll such i'm
proved and substantial condition as to remove
he danger of brakes and like injuries incident
~ ,>,orks of that kied; ior owing to the fact
hot r. @ railroad would cross the piers above
tba oo11c, 'uct, it would be necessary to add
considerably 20 the height Of the bank used by
tho road and It would also be necessary to
double the present thickness Of that bank.
The accom- plishncnt OF this object would also
materially aid in th, realization of the other de-
sion which was to obtain, by increasing the
Jentb # The caDaI. as we'll as the size and ca
nacitv of the basins, Il much larger body Of
water than was ever before possessed, from
which we could, without injury to navigation,
draw an abundant supply OF power TO urlVe LOT
the manufacturer the wheel and spindle, which
are as necessary to the prosperity VI clIy ~
is commerce Itself.
These designs were neither new Or original
with us, for the wise men who projected the
Canal many Of whom are still living to instruct
Younger, but not wiser men, contemplated all
of these objects. Therefore it WAS that they
acquired and left unoccupied land enough on
the bernie side for a railroad, and also obtained
an agreement on the part OF the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal to furnish the Canal Company
Six square feet OF water for manufacturing pur-
poses, and also one half OF all the additional
water they might have to dispose OF: This last
provision is now for the first time likely soon to
be valuable, for arrangements are beng made
TO raise the first dam on that canal, which Will
turoish large increase of water And there
fore it was that many years 10 the General AS.
seu,t,y of Virginia authorized by an act still
in force, the Alexandria Canal Company to sell
any portion of its property which might be ne
cessary, to any Company, for the purpose OF
building railroad from alexandria to Wash
ington. .}s-
These objects we have kept steadily in view,
mourning in their pursuit severe opposition
from many quarters, and spending TOR their &C.
complishmenta very large sum OF money. Can
any one affirm Of either Of them that when OBJ
tsincd they will have an unfavorable influence
upon the property or other interests OF this
CITY |! Will not rather all admit that each OF
them are desirable and we'll calculated to pro.
m He the growth, Importance and prosperity OF
tha-city May We not assume that 1t IS now
too late to question the advantage and desra-
bIroess of having speedy and direct commu-
n;cat;on bv reilroad with other cities and fields
of activitv en-, terprisc wealth and productive
industry; and admitting. tac fact, ought we
not to aid such an .oterprlse, and be only careful
that the measures h'ch are lnaugurated De SO
surrounded with guards and cheeks as to we'll
protect the municipal RICH IS as well as the inter-
ests of all the ctizens
Does the bill which is now before the Gener;
al Assembly do this? We thonght 1t did, and
Thick so still, but objections have been made
and an amended bill has been prepared, TO when
YOUR attention is asked. Does 1t MT protect
and add largely to the value of the canal by re-
nuirine that ne1u nQueduct shall be built n
conjunction with the bridge: that the roso
shall not be so laid out or operated as to prevent
the convenient and legitimate use OF the Cana!
asa Canal for the transportation OF persons ana
property by water and that the lesseeS snail
repair all injuries, and be liable for all damages
which the railroad may cause to the canal =
Does it not protect the interests or Alexanurla
by requiring that the railroad shall end here;
and by prohibiting the building OF any Toaa
that does not commence or end here, ana by
recurring it to connect at Alexandria with the
Orange and Alexandria Railroad, thus afford
ing to that important public work in which the
corporate authorities Of this city have three
hundred thousand dollars invested, a convenient
outlet, relieving it and all the citizens OF this
Commonwealth, who may wish to pass over
It, from an unjust monopoly, which now com
no Is that road to pay fifty cents Tor every pas
con, rer it transports from Alexandra to W ash
; ;o"n y, while those who avoid the trains of
t tbst cad are carried for one-tourth of that
snn9 Does it not also fully protect the Canal
SSr not only by the provisions before
mentioned, but by requiring that whatever
is done sha Il be subject to the rights of the
GanaI I Comp; my, and by also allowing it at any
and al times 10 take possession Of and own the
H uu ~. DAD hy having the actual rn1Ne