Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-10-24
LOCAL ITEMS.

Tnr STAR on TIE Coal TRADE The
Washington Star of yesterday in speaking of
IN, probable effect of the coal famine in Eng
land says that coal is actually being shipped
IN English account from the port of George
Town. District of Columbia, direct to India,
number of Mediterranean ports, to South
Amrrica the West lndlcs and several other
distant points. and that the circumstance is
unurcccrntcd in the history of the Cumber-
land coal trade. We are assured on reliable
authority that several hundred thousand tons
rt' American coal have recently been purchas-
tl on orders transferred from England to the
ned States The greater portion of these
purchases is doubtless OF the soft or bituminous
coal Of Marylaud and Pennsylvania, as the con.
sumption Of that kind of coal, which somewhat
resembles the English production, is much
greater in Europe than that of anthracite or
hard coal. \ large number Of these English
orders will be filled at the Cumberland mines,
and. since actual experience has demonstrated
thar the most economical route to tldewater
from the Maryland coal regions is by way of
the Chesapeake aud Ohio canal, it is safe to
predict that il large proportion Of the coal ship
ped from the point mentioned Will hnd an out
let through that channel to Georgetown,
whence it will be forwarded direct to its destlna
ton Several vessel have already lett that
port within few weeks with cargocs of soft
coal for foreign countries, and others are expect
cd to arrive and clear before the close OF navl-
CATION Foreign bottoms are mainly employed
Tor this service because of their peculiar rig
ani con truction, which renders them more
Scawnrthy than American vessels American
coasters are admirably adapted to the purpose
i,r which they are intended, being of light
caught aud fast sailerS, but 1t Is sad fact that
they caunot successfully compete with foreign
tSttoms in the ocean carrying trade, and that
our merchant marine is rapidly Disappearing
from the sea.
But there is serious drawback to this ship
lilcnt Of coal to foreign ports IRON Georgetown,
il. ;he shailowuess of the river, channel, which
r.ore than sixteen feet of water and by hut few
suuarc Triggers of four hundred tons burden. -
SQUARE rugged vessels carrying four hundred
tons or more caunot be fully loaded 10 George
town for the reason before mentioned, but they
can as a rule receive only three hfths OF their
cargo at the latter port, aud vessels OF smaller
h,,Iicn can be wholly latlcd at the Georgetown
coal wharreS.
We stated the other day that the new connec-
tons of the Pennsylvania Central railroad with
the Cumberland coal regions would not mate
rally affect the coal shipments OF the canal.
Further investigation confirms that impression,
AID develops the fact that while the amount
shipped from Cumberland by rail will be great,
,r than ever before, the business OF the canal
wi not be affected. A. proof Of this We may
mention the fact that the receipts at George
town by several companies Tor month past
have been considerably greater than ever be-
fore within the period mentioned The coal IN.
Il, ll.,lt MI hIo
Of Baltimore city will probably be affected ty
the rival freight liue, but it is not believed the
canal, and consequently Georgetown, will suffer
from the same cause. Last year the coal ship
ned to Georgetown by canal was between
500 900 and 100000 tons; this year there Is
every indication that the receipts OF last year
will be largely increased.
We have another instance Of the necessity
for good harbor in the case OF the Russlan
harque ''Oskar aud Georg," which recently ar
rived in the Potomac from Scotland with 500
tons Of drain pipe, and 800 tons of pi iron.
Owing to the shallowness of the channel she
could get no nearer the Washington WharVes
than off Giesboro Point where she was lighted
Of the pipe and still could not make landing.
All these facts point out the necessity lor
entering promptly and with energy upon the
work of improving our river channeL Inc
river commissioners who have been carrying
Oh surveys under the act OF Congress Will proc
ably be able to recommend some suitable plan.
TnE FRENCH IMMIGRANTS. The Washing
tonStar in commenting upon the account given 10
the Gazette of the French Immigrants about to
settle near this city says: The atlves OF Alsace
and Lorraine, no one need now be told, are
leaving their humes and their tiresldes, not by
hundreds but by thousands. THOUSANDS OF
them have gone to what is iudisputably France;
thousands have gone to seek and ind sympa
thy aud friendship in Belfast among the IRISH,
an,, thousands have come here. Since the LIST
Of january last, between six aud seven thouS-
and have reached New York Of nearly all
tL,>c the "Societe Alsaccnne Lorraine has
taken care. Numbers have been procured
places and situations of all kinds, as painters,
,,,az,rs, hair. ,lrcSScrs, basket makers, mllners
>cau,>tresscs and household servants. And
the hegra continues still, and the most slngu-
lar part of it seems to be the utter astonlsh-
mcnt which each and every one OF them ex,
presses, and evidently expresses slncereiy,to nnd
that any one else expresses surprise at what
thew have sacrificed and at the extent to which
they are attached to la belle France. Many OF
them are very Intelligent people, and some OF
them speak French, German and English. One
II; them. on being asked in New York why
.hev did not remain in AlSace and Lorraine
and become PrusSian subjects, answered =
impossible We could not unite ourselves
with the enemy of our country, the people who
devastated our fields, insulted US 10 their march,
conquered u at last, and starved our compra-
triots in Paris 1t would have been lnta-
nous.
RADICAL BARBECUE IN FAIRFAX.-lhe
Radicals of that portion Of Fairfax county
nearest Washington city, gave barbecue yes
tcrday at Langley. About two hundred per,
sons of all ages. sexes, color and previous ana
present condition were in attendance, the most
Of whom were attracted by an OK and some
sheep thar were roasted, whole, and SeVeral
bushels of roasted sweet potatoes, when were
distributed gratis. \ brass band discourseu
music, rIee club sang songs and salute was
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