Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-08-30

ALEXANDRIA, FIRST ENTERPRISE. After
nearly a century Of schemes, devised with Wis
dom. and often carried out with sagaclty, for
the bencfi of Alexandria, it may not be use
less, as it certainly is oot 40 uunteresting theme
to cuauire into some Of the causes which have
prevented the iull fruition of these magnificent
eudeavors
Those there arc who decry Alexandria a.
without enterprise. The history OF the many
and great works of internal improvement, sug-
pested here, and carried out primarily IN the 10.
terest of the town, vii! beat rcfute sucn sense
less chatterers.
No ordinary engineer made the preliminary
surveys Of the trade roues, designed to feed
the commerce of Alexandria. The compass
and the skilled eye Of the foremost man Of
all the world" marked out, more than cen.
tury ago, the main iues that were to make the
teemiug Yves, tributary to our advantage. Nor
up to the-hour of his death, did Washington
cease to initiate and TO promote schemes Tor
the benefit OF Alexandra.
> The principal of these schemes, aud the hrst
of Alexandria enterprises was plan for MAX
ing navigabe the Potomac to Il point as near
the Ohio river as possible, and thence a con-
nection by canal between the two rivers.
Doubtless such plan flashed 90 the mind of
Washington, when he took his first mission up
the Potomac Valley, and thence across to the
head waters Of the Ohio to Fort Du Quasoe.
But the busy scenes oil the FfcDch War, and
the subsequent years of the Revolution, left 90
time or thought for the arts OF peace. When'
however, Independence was secured, the plan
was renewed. Alexandria was then town OF
some2, 900 inhabitants, without paved street,
and with few houses outside the limit of s..
Asaph, Princess, and Wolfe streets. George
town was Two htlle villages near the mouth OF
Rock Greek. Washington city was not even
on paper.
The plan took shape as 1.-The Potomac Com
psny," designed 10 improve the navigation OF
the upper Potomac; and was chartered BY both
Virginia and Maryland.
Ga the SL Of February, 1855, John Fitz-
gerald aud VIM. Hartshorne opened books OF
subscription for the new enterprise 10 the house
formerly occupied by the Sun Fire Company.
The Potomac Company erected locks at the
Great Falls in 1898, which are sill existing.
Even before the close Of the last century most
of the obstructious 10 the river from Savage
river to tide water, had been removed. and
navigation had been made possible at Hook S
Falls and the Little Falls. 1t was found, how
ever, that to secure safe and smooth navigation
on tie river rapids a great sum was needed and
lotteries were resorted to to fill the treasury Of
the company.
The navigation Of the upper Potomac was
conducted in boats similar to the present canal
boats, and almost as soon as trade began to
come down the river, it was found that George
town reaped the advantage, because many OF
the boats, especially 10 stormy times, were afraid
to venture out into the vide aud deep water
between GEORGETOWN and Alexandria. Besides
this the Long Bridge had been built, and was
then bar to our commerce from above, as it
is now hindrance to tue commerce OF George
town from below.
Accordingly, 10 order to avoid both the open
water and the Long Bridge, the Common Coun-
Gil of Alexandria. 10 1911, applied for, and OBJ
tanned the right to cut a canal from the Poto
mac, opposite Georgetown, around the west
end Of the causeway from Mason Island to the
western shore OF the river, and into the arm
of the river that passes around the western
side OF that Island, and along the west side of
Alexander's peuiusua and through auy points
# land between Mason's Island and Alexandria,
,,ch might improve the boat navigation OF
Ever. The design was to bring boats down
'o.n Three Sisters, close along the Vir.
s'ula 81 then between Aexander's Island
auu ~. r !" shore, and across the Washing
wv u'Dp' near Roach's Spring; thence
% 1Us' S s.00s Irirgiula shore to Alexandria.
49, .n"-. 49, ,cll was bound to complete
Great Britain came and KEEP, people busy
with other matters un' the two wears had ex.
PRED, and the work was
The Potomac Company sso soanaonsa:
work, the c. & 0. Canal wa sas failed to 90 ITS
what the former was unable '0'N y Ao'IA
aud, on the 10Th of May, 1925, Z ''v "
Company, at meeting, held in Gti o.oua0
was formally merged In the G. d O..',",
Company.
The Tammany aud anuIammany dd"ea
tions of the New York democracy have con
81