Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-06-11

Chronicle volunteers, or is melted by Others, tt
denounc", and attenlrt is to injure the AlCxaE.
dria Canal It pronounces it as originally
foolish scheme, as being now dead and
buried, and declares that the present effort tc
revive it, is. only galvanz Eng corpse. II says
that it will take $500 900 to $500, OCO to repair
the Aqueduct- and then it will cost cents pei
ton to transport coal from Georgetown to Aley
andlla and much more to the same effect. =
Altogether it houts at the idea of any body
| having anything to do with the Alexandria Ca
nal Whence this sudden inspiration? The
article, apparently, has more than ordinary
business opposition about it. There seems to
be spite if not msgnity, in speaking OF the
Canal, and its death" ana its fortunate
death" at the outbreak Of he rebellion, &c.
This is not the 1elcoale from the District, is it
Yes it is, and worse than this! Only let poor
old Alexandria s interest, interfere with those
Of Georgetown and Washington, as in this case,
and our people would soon find the worse than
overthrow of all their hores! However, in
this connection, it is proper to add, that the
Chronicle states that it has seen an offer in
writing, made by The Potomac Tow Company
to the New York coal companies having Inter
csts at Alexandria. to tow their boats contain,
ing the same commodities between the same
points, and down and back by way of the Poto-
mac river, for four cents per ton--just onc-hat
the proposed toll on the Canal. =" But how are
the boats to get out Of the Canal? Some Of the
statements, contained in the article referred to,
are 50 utterly at variance with tho facts in The
case, that we are compelled TO contradict them.
So far from the truth is the assertion that from
$500, 900 to $500, 600 vii! be required TO repair
the Auucduct, that we merely mention the fact
that the original cost Of the Aqueduct was
So, 900, exclusive of the piers, which are all
in perfect state of preservation . The estlma-
ted cost Of the rcpairs-a considerable portion OF
which have already been completed-is $40, 900.
The essees utterly deny the statement that they
offered to sell their lease to citizens Georgetown
or any other parties, and affirm that they have
neither power or ability 10 effect such l sale, as
u
of the lease preventing the occurrence OF such
an event, had it been contemplated; and by
the lease they bind themselves to open by a
specified time, keep open perpetualy, and In no
wise make use OF the improvement for any other
purpose than was originally intended-a Canal.
They can neither sell, dispose of in any way, or
assign the Canal property; and they believe
their lease is worth far more as Legitimate
and perpetual source Of business and profit than
any rival interest could afford to give for 1t
with view to closing the Canal. Alexandria
assumes that the successful opening Of her Ca
nal, whilst it at once enhances our prosperity
does not involve injury to the trade or business
of either Georgetown or Washington, but by
developing one Of the most important interests
of the country, will be Of substantial advantage
to the three cities, reduce the prize of coal: and
afford largely increased revenue to the Gov
ernmcnt, and the lessees were SO strongly I'M
pressed with this view of the subject that when
negotiating with several Of the larger Coal
Companies who had leases Of part Of the dock
property at our coal wharves, which leases
bound the companies to ship all their coal from
here, they, their essees, voluntarily abrogated
that clause in the lease, thus allowing the
Coal Companies to ship at their option from
Georgetown, Washington, Or elsewhere, with
out rest, iclion or limitation. They believe that
the trade cannot be permanently driven from
its legitimate channel, and that it, inevitable
growth and development will afford all tie
business that the three cities have facilities
for transactng.