Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-06-29
LOCAL NEWS.

The ALEXANDRIA CANAL-SpEEDY RE-
SUMPTION OF NAvIGATIoN-M have been in
formed by Mr.. Quigley one of the lessees of
the Alexandria Canal, that the repairs on the
Long Bridge are iu such progress, that on Mon
day, the 10th proximo, the work will be com
pleted, spd travel again resumed over that i'm
portant structure. Furthermore, We are most
happy to announce, on the same authority,
that on the 23d of July, three weeks from Mon
day next, the repairs on the Aqueduct and Ca
nal, throughout its entire length, will be COM
'pleted, and this important work once more be
in good navigable condition; and boats, loaded
with the products of the Cumberland Coal
Mines, will be discharging their cargoes at our
coal wharves This Information, we arc sure,
will be hailed with delight, by our citizens-all
of whom are most anxious to see the Canal
again 10 operation.
AS appropriate to the above We publish the
following extract from the Cumberland Civil
ian:
The Coal trade Of Allegheny county has
never been 50 brisky carried on as during the
present season. but unfortunately there is a
great stumbling block in the way, and one which
must be removed at the earliest possible mo
ment. This obstacle is the aqueduct ca the
Alexandria Canal, which, since the beginning
Of the war, has been used by the government
authorities as public highway, and has there
fore been rendered useless as a means Of trals
portation by boat In consequence of this
state of affairs our coal companies have been
compelled to have their cargoes discharged at
Georgetown, point at which there exists no
facilities or accommodations 1T all commensu
rate to the demand The wharves are Of such
limited extent as to preclude the accumulation
of large quantities of coal, even if that was de-
sirabe, ADD the means of unloading and depos-
iting the cargoss are such as to reduce the quail
ity and increase the cost 4 sufficient number
of vessels to transport the coal cannot be had
at Georgetown, because only vessels of light
draug hit can ascend to that point, and they
would prefer loading at other points at the
same rates, and consequently Our coal operators
must take just wha: they can get. Every sort
of inconvenience arises from this 9cplorablc
state of affair. Our coal companies have been
compelled TO reduce their shipments almost enc
half, because they cannot have their Goa! taken
from Georgetown our 5oatmen now must take
fifteen to twenty days to make a tlipwhen they
should make it in ten days. The necessary re-
suit is dimnution Of business in all branches
of the trade, and consequent suffering In
view Of these facts the great importance OF
opening the Alexandria Canal at once becomes
apparent With that channel in working order
we will find happy solution Of all our difficult
ties There would then be no scarcity Of yes
sells and coal could be shipped from Alexan-
dria at rates that would cause demand sufi
Gent to place every coliery in the region at
work to its fullest capacity; over thousand
boatmen would then be enabled 10 make fair
wages while throughout our county there
would be the utmost activity and prosperity
The aoueduct is now leased to company Of
gentlemen who are at work in making the nee
essary repairs, and We have been told that it can
be placed in working order by the middle of
August, if reasonable degree Of energy is dis
played in its prosecution. The work is meet
ing with considerable opposition both in Wash
ington and Georgetown, by parties, who, to put
few dollars in their pockets, would sacrifice
the prosperity Of whole communities.