Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-09-19
The ALEXANDRIA CANAL--A New SCHEME.


The Georgetown correspondent Of the Wash,
iugtou Union says I'VE had talk this
morning with gentleman from Alexandria,
and in his conversation be stated that the
streets of Alexandria presented almost the APP
pearance OF pasture field. J The gentle
man S reason for this is, that Washington and
Georgetown are absorbing all the trade--the
coal trade, 10 his estimation, being the princi-
pal branch This, we think, is a mistake; We
of Georgetown are, of course, anxious to retain
sill the trade We have, and as much more az
ne can GET but to say that the coal trade is
the principal part Of our business is mistake,
and should We lose it all, and gain our share OF
the farming products OF Virginia and Maryland
ne would he benefited.
This whole difficulty could be amicably set
tied by 10th parties 10 the following way =
Instead Of the lessees OF the Alexandria canal
building new aqueduct, let them extend their
canal up the Virginia shore until it reaches
the feeder dam, where it could be connected
with the dam, aud boats could pass out of the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal into the Potomac
and thence into the Alexandria canal The
owners of the canal could then have the full
use of the Potomac water for power purposes,
aud would not be dependent upon the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal for supply of water.
We do not know what it would cost to extend
the canal, but add the cost OF building u new
aqueduct and what the old piers would sell for,
it would probably be more than the cost Of the
canal.
Then the purchaser Of the piers could build
bridge for rail and wagon road with draw,
which would end all the troubles, and Alex
andria could have full share of the coal and
all other trade coming down the canal, and
would not be complained Of by the citizens of
Georgetown, as obstrGcting the harbor. That
something of this sort will have to be done be-
lore many years, if the people Of Alexandria
expect to have any share in the trade OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio cana :here IS little
doubt.
It they persist 10 rebuilding the aqueduct
and succeed, it cannot last long, as the people
Of this city are determined that their harbor,
given to them by natures God shall not be
obstructed by man. and if they are not sustain.
ed now, 10 their honest efforts to gain what
Dslongs to them by nature, the time is not lar
distant when they will be- The people Of
Alexandria should see and act wisely, and by
so doing we have 40 doubt th6y will be the
gamers in the end .
That grass is growing in some OF the back
streets Of Alexandria, is not to be denied, but
it has grown in the same streets every summer
Tor long number Of years, with the exception
OF those occurring during the war, when the
city was military camp, and its thoroug hfares
always crowded with army transportation. Is
there not grass in the streets of some other
cities: not y hundred miles off? That the coal
tfadels wanted here, is also undeniable- because
this is it's legitimate depot, and that it will
soon be centred in this city is made evident
ny the fact of the arrival in Georgetown OF
master carpenter with large force Of work
men, who propose to proceed with the re-
e'ectlon Of the aQucduct, as soon as the nm,
Ger, which is expected some time during the
present week arrives there, aud which according
10 the terms Of contract will be completed By the
lSt OF next January 10 this connection, it is
mentioned, that in the opinion of some Of the
Prominent business men Of Georgetown, the
GOAL trade is a disadvantage TO that city, in
consequence of the coal depots occupying
ground that otherwise could be appropriated
~ more profitable manufacturing purposes