Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-07-23
xLEXANpRlA GAZETTE AMI VIRGINIA
OccooUAN VA.-Occoquan situated on o.

OccooUAN VA.-Occoquan situated on o.
coouan river about FIVE miles from where that
stream empties in the Ooccoquan Bay, and
within seven miles Of the Potomac, whose
broad and beautiful bosom, dotted with the sail
of hundred vesse's is plainly seen from the
granite hills that tower hundred and fifty feet
above and around the town. The town was in.
corporated in 1904 by recent act of the Legis
lature trustees have been appointed, whose du.
ty will be to levy tax to keep the streets 10
order, and Tor other purposes, and have charge
OF the corporation property The town COD
taiDs some sixty or seventy dwellings, built of
stone, brick and wood It has a fine mer-
chant mill, saw mill on the most extensive
scale four stores (not cake sbors,) we'll filled
with all kinds Of goods, each employing several
clerks whose appearance indicate that they
have sufficient to do to keep them wide awake.
There arc also two establishments for the
manufacture of all kinds of light and heavy
wagons, each employing several hands, and,
we might add, that the work turned out is Of o
superior quality OF workmanship. There is
also good hotel in the place,
The town is watered by two springs, three
fourths OF mile distant, the waters OF which
are conveyed in iron pipes through the different
streets.
Occoquan river is navigab'c at this point for
small steamboats, pungies &c., several OF which
are kept constantly employed conveying -four,
grain, wood, barrels, &c., to the Alexandria,
Washington and Georgetown markets-the en-
tire business being 10 the hands oil the mer-
chants Of the town.
Above the town few rods, stands the ruins
of a cotton factory that once furnished employ
| ment for fifty or sixty hands. This factory was
established in 1928 by Samuel NJ. Janney (uow
of Loudoun county, and Indian agent for the
Government, apd Samuel H. Janney, who
| ran it up to about 1858 when the business was
suspended because it did not pay. The build
| ing, With it's contents consisting OF machinery,
was burned during the war by an incendiary.
| LIS walls still stand monument of the former
prosperity OF the town.
About quarter of a mile above the factory
on the banks of Occoquan and almost hidden
| by the growth OF trees, are the ruins Of an iron
forge, mill and two stores, whose walls once
echoed with busy life and the clear ring OF the
tilt hammer but which ceased to be hundred
years ago.
As we stood upon the moss-covered rocks,
that form what is now LETT of those old build
ings, and listened to the waters OF the Deco
guam as they dashed and foamed madly over
the great grey rocks that form the falls, we felt
as it We were upon enchanted ground. Above
our head and few feet back of those old brok.
en- walls, great shafts Of granite shoot up fifty
or sixty feet high, bidding defiance to the dash
ing waters at their feet, and seeming to say,
thus far shall you come and no farther" I be
falls are about one mile in length and very
much resemble the Great Falls OF the Potomac;
the scenery on either side being much more TO
mantle aud picturesque than that Of the Poto-
| mac.
The Fredericksburg and Alexandria railroad,
which is now being surveyed, and which it is
hoped, will be speedily completed will add
greatly to the business OF the town and perhaps
more than restore its former prosperity, as ii
will cause the now thinly settled country sur.
rounding it to fill up with useful and indus
| trious people.
There can be sufficient amount Of water
power obtained here to run thousand looms,
or as many run of burrs and we have ~ doubt
that ere long capitalists will avail themselves
OF the immense fortune that awaits them.
The placc is perfectly healthy-in fact, to
use DR.. Powell's language, 1.-THE ony physician
in the place. it is distressingly healthy. Prince
| William Advocate.