Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-03-23
The Potomac River.

The harbor of Georgetown and Washington
aud the channel OF the lower Potomac are sub.
jects of Investigation, 10 view Of the rapid re-.
vival of the whole Chesapeake basin. Let US
drift down stream on chip. The Potomac,
under the AQueduct bridge aud along George
town, is deep, and forms basin With the rocky
island of Aualostan, behind which, IN the stag
nant inOrus. emlgrant vessels us ii to lie. From
seventeen to thlrty-four feet OF water extends
below Easby's puint, and then the Georgetown
or Virginia shore channel falls OF to little above
seven feet, and grows narrow aud deeper to-
ward the draw of the Long bridge, where there
are, perhaps, thirteen feet. For all the di tin'
to Glesboro point, more than three miles, The
wide fats bctweeu this channel aud the capital
city ale covered by broad mile Of l,ond, FROM
one foot to five feet deep, problem indeed to
so great popuace Through this mud, under
shore, narrow channel of seven or eight feet
creeps up to the CITY wharves. The A"acoslla,
with thirteen or fourteen feet, 10 similar co.,
tracted gut satlrlzcs the superficial grandeur
with which it joins the Potomac making all The
show of amplitude that the Nacosline Indians
formerly did when they pressed to the Potomac
aud claimed to control its resources. Just be-
low the junction, off Giesboro point, the chan.
mel becomes broad and deep, ranging from 81
feet TO % at the wharves oil Alexandria. This
circumstance accounts for the living faith OF
the Alexandriaus 10 the fortunes OF their town,
which they hold to be the port OF Washington.
The boast is proper one, except In the matter
of railway interference. With such water We
would be thrice happy.
Before reaching Alexandria we pass -Four
Mile 1un on the Virginia side, celebrated for
it's perch and Oxen run, on the Maryland side,
noted amongst artists as giving an exhaustive
idea of Maryland streams, vast drainage, sub
icct to floods, rich with argillaceous coors, rank
with underground, good timber, and prospects
so distan, and so brown and soft in tone as 10
awaken regret that such beauties are yet at
tended with sterility.
Fox Ferry, between Alexandria and the
Maryland shore, here about one quarter OF a
mile apart, was probably used as early as 100.
1t was the main upper ferry between .Anoapo-
liz and the plantations of middle Virginia. A
steamboat has been used here for many years,
but no settlement has ever arisen 90 the Mary
land side. The fisheries begin in their vigor
below Rosters Bluff, and.the frequent windlass,
boat shed and short pier denote them. Then
begin series of bul-necked creeks Oh either
side, Broad, Swan, Piscataway, Pamunky. and
Mattawoman Oh the Maryland side, all nearly
filled up at the present day, but each the site
of landing or settlemeDt-Fort Foote, Fort
Washington, Pennington aud PlScataway,
Chapman landing aud Glymont Close uuder
Fort Washington the channel is trom IS TO 20
feet deep, aud about the same at White House
landing. The cbannel continues to be about
IS feet deep. Kettle Bottom Shoals, below
Pope creek, is one Of the most doubtful points
to pass. with but twelve and thirteen feet OF
water for much of the breadth of the river. At
the mouth the Potomac is six miles wide, and
with forty feet of water almost anywhere, and
good water 10 the Yeocomico and Cone rivers,
aud "a feet of water four miles up st. Mays
river. The following are Notable lighthouses
on the Potomac jones Point, 80 feet high;
Fort Washington; Smiths Point, SO feet;
Poip, Lookout, 81 feet; Piuey Point, IS feet
high.
Some running notes of the Virginia shore
will be 10 order, vagarious aud here and there,
as they will be found:
1907. May Is, the English settlers land at
jamestown.
zoos. June l6, Jno. Smith discovers the Po-
tomac and ascends it. The tombstone OF Lieut..
VIM. Herbs, who died 1908, was still recently
extant in Fairfax county, the oldest 10 the
United States.
1884 Catholic settlement of Maryland
l64S. The English in Virginia number 81
QUO; the negroes, 800; horses, POO; asses, ~;
cattle, 20, OO0 goats 5000; sheep 600 Ihlr-
~ vessels year caue to trade. 900 coloL-
lists on the Accomac shore. There we're II
Counties and 20 churches. Fruit and grain
were raised, and cider exported. This:y year the
Puritaus enigrate from Virginia to Maryland,
and King Charles is beneaded.
1857. The " ashingtou family settle 90 the
lower Potomac
1862 Captains Charles Brent, Geo. Mason
and others Cypress the Potomac Indians under
the chief WahangouOche, and are fined and
suspended from Office.
1865. The Doeggs aud other Potomac Iudi-