Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-04-14

TIE ALEXANDRIA CANAL.-The Alexandra
Cot''f OF this morning publishes in full the
refnOnStTance OF Hugh Latham, Mayor of Al
eX1ncrIa, Reuben johnson, President Of the
Alexandra Canal Company, and a committee
OF three of The corporation OF that city, against
lhe passage OF the bill reported in the House Of
Represen tatiyes providing for the construction
OF draw bridge at the Georgetown aqueduct
The remonstrants say that the statements of
Joshua Richie and others in their memorial
10 Congress that the aqueduct is an insuffer-
able impeachment TO navIgation; that il has
proved TO BE- an abortiye project: that its trade
MS scarcely AZ any time exceeded its expenses:
that n Il row in a dllaPidated condition, and
used as military road, and cannot be restored
10 It's original use without a heavy oulIay of
money by Congress; but If il was Constructed
with draw for the passage of vessels, il might
be turned 10 profitable account, yielding TO the
Government revenue from customs paid by
commerce; are, though plausible, not Substan-
italy true. They say the aqueduct is not an
considerable impeachment to navigation" for
the reason that the Potomac, owing to the rap
ICIty Of the current, the rocks and bouIders in
Is bed, and the shOal water above the piers is
not nayigable lor large vessels, and was never
used except by fiat boats and vessels not carry
ing spars; for that class il is still nayigabie:
that the memorial treats the aqueduct as a dis
uuct work by itself, which it is not, but 1t Is
part and parcel OF the Alexandria canal, a
pubic improvement, constructed to furnish
ar outlet for the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
10 naVIgable waters. Prior 10 the commence
meEt Of this work its necessity was SO appar-
eut hat general meeting was called, at which
th'GONernment Of the United States, the Ches-
Hpedke and Ohlo canal, the cities of Washing
ton, Georgetown and Alexandria were duly
represented, and the location of the aqueduct
was then, by resolution, established where it
now IS, and Georgetown voted for 1t.
They give statistics OF the trade of the canal
20 show that the project has not proved abor-
ave, and say the placing of a draw in the
AqUedUct Will destroy the canal. and its only
other effect will be seriously TO cripple il not
destroy the trade of a rival city, Tor il is not
easy TO see, though so stated by the memorial,
bow the proposed draw bridge will yield to the
Government a revenue from customs "paid
by commerce" The amount OF coal or other
tonnage certainly will not be increased by the
mere change OF shipping on vessels above,
instead OF below the Aqueduct, but il Is true,
however, that by again opening the Alexandra
canal. and thus restoring the old outlet TO a
better harbor, and deeper water, at Alexandria,
the cost of coal will be reduced, and the quan-
uiy shipped by vessels be increased.
independent OF these considerations, there
y another, so broad and decisive not 10 be
overlooked. IL Is hIs:-The Alexandria Canal
company, private corporation, chartered by
the Con gress of the United States, Is the owner
Q: the Aqueduct. and among its most valuable
franchises, the one in fact on winch the value
OF all others depend, is the right to maintain
ard use the Aqueduct TOR the purposes Of the
canal To pass the bill in question is not only
10 impair the force of, but totally destroy the
contract, and take from the stockholders their
property without compensation.
The completion OF the canal and aqueduct
was deemed 70 be OF snch general importance
Il
and Alexandria, as well as 10 the whole Dis
tric[ that after perpetual succession was
granted 10 the company, the work continued
10 De fOstered by the Government. In May,
l-c}O, II WAS made a penal Offense for any one
EO- navigating the canal, or in the employ Of
the company, 70 use the aqueduct in any man
Ter whatever. In June, 1o:52, the Treasurer OF
the United States was required 10 pay TO the
president of the canal company S1O0,OOO to aid
IL the construction OF the aQueduct, as the work
progressed, and in March, 1887, Congress au-
thCTlZed the Treasurer of the United States to
advance S3UG.OOO TO the canal company, upon
the stock held by the city OF Alexandra, 70 aid
In the completion Of the whole canal, and upon
what principle can Congress now be asked by
this special legislation not only TO undo what
has been done, but TO totally destroy the prop
erty CO the stockholders, and render the work
yalueless at the very time when first relieved
from the hard necessities imposed by the wants
of the Government, IL was 10 be made yalua-
bic and productive! That legislation is asked
for because the aqueduct is out Of repair, and
rendered so, too, solely by the exclusive use
which the Government has had of il for more
than four years. There never has been aban-
dOnment by the company, but II was taken by
the Government, involving a loss OF tolls 10 the
company of about SSOOOO. Is this reason why
the work should be destroyed
1--WE respectfully request that this injustice
10 commerce, 10 the company and TO the city OF
Alexandria may not be done"