Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-05-27
, From the St. Mary's Beacon.
AN OLD THE DOCUMENT.

Our venerabk telloW-cltlZen, Col. II. u. ..
Key, has furnihed us, for examination, with
a manuscript contribution of Col. Athanasius
Fenwick, a gentleman of parts and learning,
we'll known to many elders still surviving to
us, on the subject of internal improvement in
our peninsula. The permission Of Col. Key
for the publication of this manuscript having
been obtained, and as it embodies the pioneer
idea of connecting Washington city by way
of our county 18th the seaboard, and contains
besides many Fepsible suggestions in regard
4 eAs- 1,ah1izs ssssrs heFe .t-.ssht ,hat- i
might ir terest our readers to see it. The
manuscript was intended for publication in
the National hattslligencer, but was never, we
believe, printed. 1t was, probably, written
about the close of the last war with Great
Britain, and is, consequently, over fifty years
old
Reading some time since 10 your paper
the proposition of surveyor to shorten the
road between Baltimore and Philadelphia by
Strengthening the road and building bridge
across the Susquehanna, which tits gentle
man says will cut off y miles, saving of no
small Importance to the pubicin general and
especially to those who have urgent business
or frequently travel the road, was induced
to present view of the saving that might be
made by Strengthening the road from the city
of Washington to Norfolk In the view
mean to take, shall follow the road and no.
tice the distances as laid down in Bradley's
map of the United States, the general correct
ness of which is universally admitted. The
distance by the mail stage route from the city
of Washington, through Williamsburg to
Norfolk, is stated by Mr. Bradley's map to be
238 miles. The distance by the stage road
from Washington, through Petersburg to
Norfolk, is 259 miles. The distance from the
city of Washington by the stage road to Leon
ardtown is by Mr.. Bradley marked at 50 miles;
thence to the mouth of St. Mary's is 10 miles;
thence across the mouth of the Potomac to
Northampton Court House is IA miles; thence
by the post road through Lancaster. Urbana,
Gloucester, York and Hampton to Norfolk, is
1O2 miles-in all from Washington to Nor
folk by that route 1872 miles, making differ
ence between this route and the road through
Williamsburg to Norfolk of .forty-sir miles,
and between that aud the road through Pc
tersburg to Norfolk of sixty-seven miles,
The distance from the city of Washington to
St. Mary's in straight line through coun-
try celebrated for good natural roads is GO
miles, thence in line straight across the 70
tomac to Kinsale is 10 miles; thence IN
straight line to Urbana is 81 miles; thence In
a straight line to York is 80 miles; thence by
the usual road to Hampton is 16 miles
thence to Norfolk Is miles, altogether making
the distance by that route 100 miles, making
difference between the road through Will
liamsburg to Norfolk and the Strengthened
road of 80 miles. A saving SO great on &
road forming link in the chain connectlns
the Northern and Southern States is OF suth
Gent Importance to attract the attention o
the Government, and in case of its establish
ment, the Legislature of the State of Mary
land would, no doubt, give encouragement t.
, improve and turnpike road which will b.
productive of infinite advantage to three
, the largest counties in the State. The only
and sole obstacle which is important in trans
porting the mail by the route suggested, i
, the crossing of the Potomac. To those VIII
know any thing of the construction OF Poto
! mac pilot boats, with which st. Mary,s
5 bounds, this difficulty appears ideal to thes
boats which buffet the severest storms on Tn
ocean, The river Potomac could never pre-
; sent an obstacle to their passage. The mode
, of these boats exceeds any in the world. am
packet boat on the largest pilot boat MODE
, would, in any weather, cross the Potomac
from St. Mary's to Kinsale, presenting as sh
does two harbors of easy entrance on ootl
sides Immediately opposite, viz: st. Mary
, and Cone.
, line>of stages from Philadelphia through
, the Eastern Shore of Maryland to Northamp