Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-03-09
Alexandria Gazette
The Great Southern Canal.


The Great Southern Canal.
IN the editor of the Alexandria Gazette:
We have recently examined a carefully pre-
,ared map of the two great proposed Southern
water lines, which are already attracting the
earnest attention of the practical business men
of the country These routes lie, the one along
tha Ohio I'M to the mouth Of the Great Ken
ahwa river, and thence along that river to the
most practacable point of contact with the
James river, and thence down said river to the
Sea. This is known as the Virginia route ana
is the one in which our own State Is more par
ticularly interested. Its construction Will I'M
medately open an unobstructed water line from
Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, West Virginia, lndl-
ana, and indeed the whole northwest with the
Atlantic Ocean, and give due impetus to the
trade of all that vast region hitherto unknown,
and be the means of infusing new HE ana
energy into our own dear old commonwealth.
These are matters of deep and vital interest TO
our future. prosperity, ind We would earnestly
call the attention of the press and or our ue'e-
ration in Congress to the movement now being
made to further these objects. The second
route, which is equally important to the general
interests Of the country, Is what Is known n as
the Georgia Water Line. The route OF this
proposed great outlet to the Atlantlc' lies along
the Ohio river to the mouth OF the tennessee
thence up that river to Guetersville, thence by
canal to the Coosa at Gadsden, i distance OF %
miles. thence to Mobile by the Alabama river
on the one hand, and on the other up to Rome,
Georgia.
From Rome it sproposedto construct canal
along the valley of the Etowah to It's nearest
noint of contact with the Chattahoochee, thence
across that river to the navigable waters OF the
Ocmulgee and down that river to Savannah or
Brunswick. This route like the one proposed
through Virginia will at all times be free OF ice &c
and never suffer from lack of water, and VIII
undoubtedly afford the cheapest possible Lines I'm
of transportation for all heavy articles, Ihe
advantages are so obvious that 1t Is not neces
sarv to noint them out in detail We are glad
that our sister State, Georgia, Is fully alive TO
TO the Importance Of this matter, and that their
agents and representatives are untlrlng IN their
exertons to secure the success OF their own great
enterprise. Their activity should serve as
spur to our own delegation aud wake them up
to the Importance of active, cooperation IN Sc,
curing to the South her just proportion OF aid
from the Federal Governments. We have never
advocated an indiscriminate donation OF the
public. lands to enterprises OF only local import
ance But these are grand NATIONAL improve
ments whose benefits will be felt in every por..
tion of the Union, and if any works OF internal
imnroyement merit and demand the AID OF the
general government these certainly do Fr,
sinia and Georgia each, in the early stages OF
their national existence freely donated to the
Federal Government priceless domains OF land,
and when they ask for aid their prayer should III
Justice receive favorable consideration.
Wewill refer again to this subject +.
LAWYERS SToR1Es.-Two little plums be-
low, from the Albany Law Journal:
WHICH? At recent circuit Of the Supreme
Court of this State question arose on<the con,
struetion of the pleadings The counsel read
their respective pleadings throughto the judge,
and argued. Then the judge took the plead,
ings and read them through to himself Al
the conclusion he handed the papers over to
the counsel, and with an expression OF the Ut
most nerplexity, said: II think, under the
present system of pleading, there 10 no safety
unless counsel come into court with the code
nnder their arm One of the counsel quickly
Jumped up and replied: Don't you think,
your Honor, it would be better to bring 1t IN
their heads2' '.. ."t....... .
KNowINa ONES FATHER. The following
story is told at the expense Of an 9shkosh
wis lawyer: One Smith had failed 10 10 Rusl,
ness and sold out, and having two OK three
yer for collection. Smith went to the office to
receive theS proceeds 4 The amount collected
was about $50: I''Tn,' sorry you have been 60
unfortunate Smith, for take an interest IA
YOU. j shan't charge yyeu,as much as j should
If I didn't feel so much interest in you. Here
he handed Smith sl5, and kept the balance:
You see, Smith, I knew you when you were
boy, and knew your father before you; and
take u good deal of interest IN you. Go9d
morning. Come and see me again. Smith,
moving slowly out of the door, and ruerully
contemplating the aEails, was heard to mutter:
Thank God, you didn't know my grand,
father. ......
'"THE SpIR1TUAL1srs' "A letter from knox
Vile gives the particulars Of an expose OF the
tricks of the Davenport Brothers at that place.
The famous cabinet devices of the Brothers
were made clear to the delighted audience by
committee Of citizens who chanced by accident
to detect the false hands which aid the Daven
ports, while confined in the cabinet, to deceive
the public When the room was darkened
and the scene representing the erlat guitar
discoursing sweet music III the air was gwen M
unexpected contretemps occurred. A country
man suddenly flashed the light from power
full bull s-eye lantern on the stage, when, IN,
stead of the arial guitar, streaked with phos
phorous, which had apparently been delightin9
the audience with its strains, an attendant was
discovered holding alott aud moving about ;
niece of board which had been rubbed with
ppbosnhoruus, pbh while the guitar lay on the chair
Another scene of confusion occurred, and tn
narraIor p Of the scene naively writes that I'VE
dan't a M think the Brothers will book this city Oh
Iua tha;r nsxt ronte,' 1t would be strange if the!
did lid The credit must be given to Knoxville o
having cleared up what has been a mystery u
many u wiser community. ..-.....-
RESULT OF ADVERTISING, - In illustnt!''
the fruits of ADVERTISING an exc hange says m ~
"A family in Florida lost Their little 'oS Th' d.
advertised for him in daily paper lh'
very afternoon and alligator crawlci up Gu.
swamp and died on the; front d1Sr or, S.rp
In his stomach was found a handful ol 'e
hair some bone buttons, a pair OF boot leeiS,
glass alley a pair Of check pants a paper collar
The advertisements did it. -