Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-11-29
LOCAL MATTERS.

EAcuauSo' 1oC Guo puEpuSc vi Cou'Ad.',oe :,
proposition of Col. James G. Berret that the
millers advance one years water reGt for the
purpose of having the damage done the george,
town level by the late freshc repaired; the caoal
company pledging themselves to have tee ne
cessa,y repairs completed in ten working days,
provi0ed the m;llers accede to their PROPOSE
tion. After o full and free Interchange of opn-
inn \ reference TO the proposition, It was unau
mon ,v agreed to accept the offer made by CoL
Berr.t, after which the meeting adJourrro.
Information has been received at the ohce OF
the canal company Of seventeen nrcaSs a'to-
pether on the canal from Cumberland to GeorGe'
town, several Of them being 9 great deal more
extensive than those on the Ueofeeo"h lesel
President German returned to Georgetown
0esterdav. He estimates that the damages can
be repaired so as to allow working tue caua to
Cumberland for about 5000, 900. though 1t will
take much greater amount to plao. the canal
in anything like tho condition 1t WAS before the
flood. Work of repair will comuIehce at cGce
It is hoped that the canal may BIZ opcucd some
time next spring, but that vial dcpcnd upon the
weather this winter, whether The seas 70 Is la
vorable or adverse to the work.
The losses Ia canal boats cannot DO Kactiy
stated, but so far as kpowa there are about one
hundred stranded or carried away and lost or
injured. The boats, old and uew together, Kill
Mr.. German, the president reports htHvy
breaks 10 the canal backs at several ;,o,p's be
tween Georgetown aod Sercca. 80 Log
WALL" ten or twelve mllas Mc>t Gt Ge"rgt!0To,
one of the most rouS breaks crcuriaG: large
portion Of the wall having tu::u swept away -
The toW.path is damaged all alnas tie $50
miles of the canal, and much s1ni and debris
washed into it., but light boats have been able
to pass from Seucca to Monoeacy lock, near
Weverton, and along that !cnt'ou the damage
is not 80 serious as Ia other paris From MOO
'ocaoy lock to above Harpcr's Ferry there IS
scarcely vestige of the tow path, ana large
sections Of the back are washed bodily out icto
the river. Looks 30 and So, at and Gear liar
per's Ferry, are almost totally das'r3>et, tile
stone work being torn up aud washed or, <
cept theinner f.c!ugs. AbJv, these lJcs' TIC
heavy embankmcntS ate washed on: Tor ab'u
. hundred yards almos. dawu to the bottom OF
the canal.
From Harper's Ferry to Autietau iron works
the damage is very great. The guard tauk at
Harper's Ferry feeder, two miles west OF tlar
per's Ferry, is washed entirely away t1r DIS
tauce of half mile. The damag: at this
point cannot be given with cXactDesS. B:twe3u
the feeder and dam No. I. cast Of WIFI
port, there arc several breaks. A. dam No.
it is known that about 125 feet Of the masonry
and bank of the dam have been washed away,
and it is feared that other parts Of the dam are
materially ir ured, but the water Is still too
high to allow of full examination. THIS dam
coss nearly 100000. s. lar as Is Known 10
auleduct or culvert on the canal has been scrl-
.ousy Injured.
The damage between Wllliamsport aud Gun
berland has not been detioitey ascertalned ADD
the division superintendent is now on the line
for inspection. The portion OF the llne between
Wcvcrton and Anlietan creek will be very tl-
cult to repair, as it will be bard matter to get
materials in place.
Adispatoh from Baltimore says: The autben.
tic dispatch 1rom Cumberland states that the
damage to the Chcsa pcaka aod Ohio Canal,
though serious, was not 80 destructive as ut
first supposed. Navigation is ended for the
year, but the canal will be repaired durioc the
winter.
MEETING LAST NIGuT-The meeting at
Peabody Hall lass night. in iurtheranca OF the
proposed agricultural fair, was but SHINY at
tended. Among those who were prescott, how
ever, we're many of the most prominent aud 10
fuen,ial citizens.
The meeting was called to order by Mr.. John
B. Ssaoot, who stated the action ot the previous
nceiiogs, held at the Commercial Exchange,
and the object Of the present meeting. lie
then called Mayor Kemper to the chair.
honor Of presiding over meeting comprising
80 maHv of the solid ard Influential men OF the
city. lie traced the orgu and progress CT iaiTS
and exhibitions from remote period TO ttc
prcscut time, and urged upon those present the
great necessity for something Of the sort here,
and the benefits to be derived thercfrom.
Chalkley Gillingham, esq Prcsid eut of the
NWoodlawn Agricultural Club, was Introduced
by the Mayor and addressed few remarks 10
the meeting. lie declared Himself unprepareo
to make speech. not kGo|lrg that one was *
pectcd of him. lie argued the great value OF
fairs, not only as means O! sho"lcg aEd ea'
welcoming the products of the country, out also as
source of actual financial benefit. lie coo'lt
cred Alexandra as the central poiut ter al toe
surrounding country, on both sides OF the river
and would do all he could to promote tue eStao-
ljsbment of 40 annual agricultural talr ct THIS
The Mavor then introduced Gen. W. III. e.
lee State Senator from this district, who dc
Evered most chaste and beautiful! address, re
nletc with SQUAD Argument aad good ADVICE
and iuter:pcrscd with eloquent appeals. Inc
Generals address was listened to With undiV!
dcd attention, znd was frequently interrupted
by sppauso. tie urged upon all the great N
nortancc cf these agricultural exhibitions as u
means of developing cur resources aoG pudding
M the waste places.
MIR. Edgar Snowlcn heia$ called for, related
the cordi.ity witt, which he was received while
collecting Subscriptions to the proposed t tar,
Ue further expressed the opinion that, ny. q
thorough canvass of the city, the requisite
amount could Be raised to buy and improve the
necessary GROUNDS. lie moved to appoint
committee of Eve 20 canvass the city and obtain
subscriptions.
After some conversational debate between
Massrs. Smoot, Hooe aud Srowdc2, the rcsou
ton was adopted.
On molten Of Capt. L. IS. Hooo, the thaGS:
ortho meeting wero rendered to Gen. Lee auc
Mr.. Gilnghsm for their presence aud words O
cnocuraecment, and the former was requested
to furnish copy of his speech for publication
The meeting then adjourned.
TIE G GEORGETOWN CHANNEL.-The Wash
iugton Republican says that yesterday mnrn'ns
T. hNln Z