Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-08-08

/
andoah. Having examined those rivers,
| frequently surveying their meanderings,
he pronounced the water power at two
points unsurpassed IN any country. The
first at tho Great Falls, the second at
what is now Harper's Ferry.
This thought was put to rest for the
time in his bosom. as the most important
event ever happening to any country was
near at hand. Three millions Of people,
thinking these colonies ought to be free,
were in open revolt against the mother
country, Great Britain. Revolution was
certain, and the surveyor boy of 174S
was appointed by the Congress, with the
| approval Of the whole people, as the
|.Commander-in-chief of the American
Armies" This great appointment, the
duties Of which were discharged so sue
cessfully, absorbed every other thought;
hence his great landed estates and the
improvement Of the Potomac were almost
entirely neglected for eight years.
/ Soon after the close Of the Revolution
airy war Gen Washington renewed his
desire for water communication between
Bellhaven (now Alexandria, and the val
ley of Virginia. To consummate this his
practical mind, energies, and tho power
of his influence were directed. And al
though the resources and means Of the
nation and people, after seven years
war, were entirely exhausted, he sue
cceded in forming "The Potomac and
Shenandoah Navigation Company Ger
tain it is, considering the bankrupt con-
dition of the country, thatno other man
in America could have effected so much
at that time. He gave to this. his ia
vorite project, without official position or
reward, much of his time and attention,
until he was elected President Of the u.
States, in 1850. The general manage
ment passed to other hands, and Wash
ington's advice and presence were 50
much missed at the board Of directors
that the work went but slowly on for his
Presidential terms.
Washington refusing TO serve for a
third term, his successor, John Adams,
than whom purcr patriot never lived,
was inaugurated President Of the United
States in Philadelphia, March 4, 1897.
Immediately after the retiring Prcsi-
dent had seen Mr. Adams installed in
bis high office he (Washington) left
Philadelphia with Mrs. Washington and
nine servants. All these were slaves,
and with this cortege in coach and four,
two carriages of two horses each,
and two mule wagons for baggage,
the party made the overland journey,
via Chester, Wilmington, Havre do
Grace, Baltimore, Georgetown, Alexan-
dria thence on to Mount Vernon. Every
where whether in cities, villages, or
farmhouscs, the whole people were ont in
! full force to make their chest bow" to
Mrs. Washington and her illustrious
| husband.
When tho party arrived at Chester
the following incident may be Of interest:
Being seated at supper, General Wash
ington addressed his fricnd--a Mr.. An
derson, the grandfather Of Admiral Por-
ter--"Sir, how different is this sumptn-
GUS feast to my arrival here nineteen
years ago. Our troops were sore footed,
hungry and weary / encouraged them all
| could advised them to cheer up and
march slowly on to Chester, where |
hoped get them something to eat =
After Washington's retirement from
public life he found the Potomac and
Shenandoah Navigation Company in
very crippled condition. 1t was without
money or credit, but his never-tiring
zeal in every duty gave it, in the course
of a year, . new start. It's credit was
improving, and it was yielding some
revenue, when its last hope was cut short
by the death Of Washington, December
18th, 1893.
This work never was completed, still
it must be confessed that, by the blast
ing Of many dangerous rocks, and build
ing locks at the Great Falls and at Har-
per's Ferry, great improvements on the
former navigation Of these rugged rivers
were effected.
Remaining in this half-fnished state
for so many years, another Virginian,
Gen. Charles II. Mercer, who was well
acquainted with Washington and his
views, brought this subject before Con-
gross in another form. The result was
charter to build the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal. OF this we need not speak,
but refer the reader to its presidents an
nual reports. This, however, VIC are
bold to say, that if the wise men Of the
world ever complete this great work 70
the Ohio river, it will surpass in useful
ness, profits, and emoluncnts, any SINH
lar enterprise on the face of the globe.
| Washington, always sparing OF his
words, would talk for hours on the sub
ject Of the immense water power at the
Great Falls. His prophetic remark that,
t.in the course Of time it would be great
manufacturing point" may soon be reali-
zed, as popular newspapers are bringing
that valuable property to the notice OF
business men and capitalists.
Our country is yet in its infancy
There are at this time 400, 900, 900 acres
Of land to be reoplcd, and the boy is
born who will see before be has gray
hair on bis head. this city of Washington
numbering population Of 800, 900 in
habitants. lie will also see large
manufacturing town at the Great Falls,
with railroad TO it, and dwelling houses
for the business men Of the capital Of
the nation in every direction.
Reader, do not laugh at this until the
1st January, l900.-Harper's Nag.