Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-09-27
LOCAL NEWS.
FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 81.


The AoUEDUoT4 AND THE GEoRaETowN
MERCHANTS. -There has seldom been an enter
prise or an occasion over which so much fuss
has been kept BY any people, as that made by
the Georgetownians over the Aqueduet.-
Whether it will be simply fuss and nothing
more, remains TO be seen But few persons
who notice the startling threats Of the people
of that uneasy city, will believe that anything
more than abig scare is intended If they
mean to do anything, why the necessity Tor so
much preliminary noise? Or is the noise SIM
ply like that Of the Chinese gongs and drums,
intended to frighten us out of our wits, and
paralyze our energies? First, and long ago,
the Secretary of War was appealed TO, who, to
would get the coal trade, retained the aque
duct on the ground of military necessity"
But even the Secretary saw, at last, the spe
ciousness Of such plea. and the Aqueduct was
tardy and reluctantly yielded to its owners--
When boats began to arrive here, laden with
coal, the walls and lamentations of our neigh
bors over the alleged loss OF the coal trade,
we're waited by the bretzes to ourears, minge led
with perfect chorus Of how. they could mt
and would Mt stand it, aud they ended the
spasm by employing tugs to tow to their
.wharves, free Of charge, all vessels that would
accept the offer This fit of accommodation,
however, lasted just as long as the aqueduct re-
NAMED in use. for as soon as it was abandoned,
it is said, our generous neighhors notified the
owners ol vessels thet they must thereafter
pay their own towing bills Then the Com
mon Council of Georgetown took the aqueduct
in hand, and to forever demolish that structure
voted SO, 900, on condition that the merchants
who made such a fuss about it, would appro-
pirate like sum- So far, it seems, the mo-
chants have not been as prompt with the APP
preparation as they were in aeitatiug the sub
ject, Us nothing more has been heard of their
$4,000 Lately. hySterica calculations have
appeared in papers 10 the interest of George
town, to the effect that ''the harb ,r given them
by natures God shall not BE- ohstructed by
man !" And uow in agony at the sight of the
arriving work men and timbers nr the new con
structun their lat cry Is Tor All injunction.
The merchants OF Georgetown would enjoin
the public from the benefits of the coal trade,
unless it is all laden at their wharves They
would prevent the shipment OF coal in any yes
sci larger han schooner, as that Is The capac-
ity of their channel The world is to be forbid
the benefits Of the magnificent harbor OF Alex
andria, because the people Of Georgetown de-
sire monopoly of the coal trade. The fable
of the "dog in the manger" is not amiss in
relation to them They cannot load ships
themselves, ami we shall! not
''The harbor given them by natures God, -
is, in the slow process Of nature being rendered
useless Within the memory OF not old men,
large ships swung 10 the channel and lay at the
wbayes OF Georgetown. The irresistible hand
of nature is gradually closing that port. Time
will most surely demonstrate the Tact that
Alexandria was located none too low down the
Potomac. And when the channel above this
city is obliterated, and Georgetown is no longer
a port of entry, when fat-boats and PUNCHES
shall wait for high tide to pass up to that city,
its citizens will be glad TO take down'the brist-
hing spikes they are now fixing Oh their walls,
and acknoWle ledge that other cities and other
merchants have rights as we'll as themselves
.