Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-11-03
LOCAL NEWS.

.IrxANpRA AoUEDUcT.-At meeting of
- CITY Council of Georgetown, held last
Thnrsday night, communication from the
M ,L was received transmitting the following
.mor;al which was referred toa committee:
luy n, The Hon. Boards OF. Aldermen and Com
,,o ~ Council: The petition OF the subscribers
nso nnoetfnlly showeth, that they are citizens Of
r TppsSetoWn. who feel deep interest in its
de asasr;tv. and that believing the Aqueduct
prospeiittssyh arbor to be great impeachment to-
aelo Commerce, and that its reconstruction for
~ n1rposes would be fatal to the future
G 1saaslopment of the trade which was designed
Sa sppcured BY the completion of the Chesa-
u,aka &, Ohio Canal, therefore, deem it proper
hat all legal and honorable means should be
ln laS r. reclaim for the Town, its natural ad-
rsntages destroyed by the SAID Aqueduet-
T Tsu petitioners, therefore, desire: "a pre-
r nou step, that eminent counsel be engaged
l ad Inroeeedings, thereafter, be instituted as
anu anu as possible by the proper parties, by in
;nuct;on or otherwise, to suspend all repairs
la non said Aoueduct now being made, and to
u upu for final adjudication before the legal
tribunals the question, whether the erection OF
sa;d Aoueduct was authorized, and whether
ss;d structure, so prejudcial to our navigation,
!. not common nuisance Your petitioners
t,rther represent that some of them have con
.rhnted largely of their private means towards
the expenses of prosecuting the appropriate
.amedes, in the premises, at law, and are will
;ua To contribute further TO the extent of their
oh6ties but conceive that matter of such
vital i'm ortance to the common welfare should
not DEPEND upon the efforts of individuals
Sosv, but that its burdens as well as it's benefits
Sbonld be shared by the petitioners at large.
Tonr petitioners, therefore, ask with confidence
fnom your Honorable bodies an appropriation
If the most liberal character in aid of the pro-
rosed measure, and that the Corporation
Should also join in any indemnity for damages
that may be required. Your petitioners fur
ther represent that they have received from
counsel of eminent ability Satisfactory assurances
Of success in the undertaking, and they, there
fore, respectfully urge upon your consideration
that now is the decisive moment that the
present opportunity of action is the best, as it
may be the last, that ever will be offered that
now or never must the blow be struck to re-
cover our right, and that after obtaining legal
advice so decided and encouraging, not to as
srt our rights would seem like inexcusable in
difference to them.
a.. u, L.
D. L. Shoemaker, and forty-two other leading
citizens, merchants and manufacturers of the
Town.
From the Georgetown Courier OF this morn
iug, the following extract is taken
We rejoice to see that there is now fair
prospect of removing the aqueduct, as nui.
sance too intolerable to be borne Since the
lessees of the Alexandria Canal obtained pos
session of the bridge, the business Of this town
has suffered materially. Indeed the receipts
Of several Of our houses have been diminished
at least 500 day by this obstruction to trade.
To say nothing of the utter worthlessness of
the aqueduct for the passage OF boats to Alex
andria the continued retention OF it by the
Iessees of the canal acts materially to the detrl
ment of the business prospects of Georgetown;
and no better evidence can be cited that our
people ale law abiding than their seeming pas
sveness in this annoying matter, because al
most ony other community we opine, would
soon find means for Kidding themselves of the
encumbrance. We arc gra1ifed therefore to
know that eminent legal gentleman give it as
their opinion that the aqueduct cannot longer
TO our interests would gladly apply it, and that
its further USE As preliminary measure, a
memorial numerousy signed, was presented to
the City Councils at their meeting on Thursday
evening, praying that counsel might be employ
ed to test the right OF the Alexandria Canal
Company to further impede the commerce of
Georgetown. Concert of action, energy, and
perseverance is now required Of all our people,
and the legal right of the town to uninterrupt-
ed trade, will ere long be asserted beyond the
possibility of doubt"
The whole course of Georgetown, in this
matter, has been highly Liberal, unjust, and
iadetensible.