Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-08-02
LOCAL NEWS.
FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 2.
NATURAL DISTRACTIONS TO NAVIGATION.

NATURAL. DISTRACTIONS TO NAVIGATION.
Some years ago, during war of words on the
enbiect of the Long Bridge, and its damaging
effect on the commercial interests of George
town and Washington, it was stated that the
day would probably come when the fact would
he developed that Alexandria was located none
too low down the Potomac that the flats,
shoals, and bars would encroach upon us, and,
nerhaps, fill up our navigable channel. Aud
in reviewing the subject it would seem hat the
standing complaint of the Georgetown people
should rather be directed at nature and natural
causes, than at the Aqueduct or Long Bridge
and that their reproachea should be heaped
rather on those who located their city, than
levelled at Alexandria. It may yet be proved
that they are but lighting fate. %
The truth seems to be, 80 far, at least, as re-
lates to Virginia streams that al the point in
the bed of the river where the descending cur
rent meets the tidal flow, in all cases, at that
spot bar is formed, the slow accumulation OF
sediment, brought down Ivy the rains, forming
shoals, fats and bars, and rendering navigation
difficult or impossible There is not a river on
the Atlantic coast, in fact, which has not
''bar' some few miles below the head OF tide
water, the result Of the counter influence of the
currents the one washing down, the other
throwing back and heaping up some part OF
the debris. In many instances this aggregation
of particles is slow, but, in course OF time,
sure, filling up with shoals what was once deep
water Neither bridges nor aqueducts bring
about this result, for it is a change in progress
and carried on by the hand of nature. There
are number Of instances, not to 60 out Of the
State, to illustrate these facts The village Of
Dumfries is a case in point When it was
founded hundred years ago, the creek at
the mouth of which it stood emptied into
bay, which foated the largest vessels, and the
village was thriving seaport, with 4 fine har
Dor; but at this day only fat-bottomed long
boats can approach Dumiries. and itS Once ca
pacions harbor is a swamp. Occouuan Is being
rapidly isolated from the same causc SO Of
other villages and landings on the Potomac
Richmond suffers in tie sam. way, as does
Fredericksburg also, both situated at the head
of tide water, and at the foot Of rapids.
1t would be interesting in this connexion to
refer to the Mississippi, which i year by year
becoming more uncomfortable from the filling
of its channel bed Its levees keep the water
within bounds, but the stream resembles a
huge trough laid on the surface of the earth,
with the water flowing past lands several feet
lower than the water level How long mans
ingenuity may be able to keep it within bounds
is question not easily solved. No more water
flows past New Orleans to. day than when it
was founded, bat the bed of the stream has
filed up many feet
In view of the above, Alexandria may yet
stand at the head Of tide water, and Georgetown
and Washington may become for all practical
purposes, inland cities At all events their IN
habitauts are not alone in losing their harhor
advantages; and they may See from these state
ments that other cities ana harhurs are suffer
ers with them, who have no Long Bridge or
Aquednct to harbor spite against.