National Republican., 1880-09-06
A SAIL DER SUMNER SEAS.
Down the Potomac and Chesapeake by
Steamboat.
Some Reflections on the Commercial and
Agricultural Possibilities OF tho Potomac
ynliey-Picturesque Loveliuess, Etc.
A Trip From yyashIpgton to Norfolk.


lanIic slope of North America south Of the st.
Lawrence is the Potomac. More like lake
than q river running through fertile and
pleasant country, navgablo for the largest ves
sells from its mouth 10 the Little Falls save for
the distractions which man has planted In its
bosom by the introduction of the long bridge
and the consequent deterioration of its channel
above and below that causcway, the Potomac
should be the seat Of a vast commerce, and its
basin be as dcnsely populated TO the square mile
as any other section of the country
Instead, however, of a Aourishing city
on Its banks, every ten miles Of
its course, and prosperous, thriving, manu-
featuring, ommorcial and agricultural popu-
lation supporting those cities, VIC have the
melancholy fact that there is absolutely
less number Of people to tho square mile in
the Potomac basiu to-day than there was one
hundred and ten years ago. This statement
excludes the District cities From Point Look
out to the Little Falls In all the Potomac
valley there arc now but three citios, and while
they are much larger than the ruined and
deserted cities that once studded that valley,
but now live only in their names aud their
rottening wharfposts, like Bladensburg, Pis-
getaway, Dumfrics, st. Mary's, Port Tobacco,
| OcCUquan aud others, IL is unpleasant TO re.
member that one hundred aud ten years
ngo and prior to that date there
were dozen fourishing towns here
| that might have grown up 30 DO large and
wealthy cities Whatever the cause OF their
decadencc, they are gone but there is no
reason why as many others should not be
built. Tho basin of the Potomac both for
soil and climaCtic advantages, is the great
| frut.growing country of the United States.
| 1t is the native country Of tho American
| II. L.. A L.. l..
watermelon acquire such size aud such rich
ness of flavor. The peaches of the Potomac
valley are larger aud swcetcr than those on
tho eastern shore and Delaware peninsula,
Above all places in the world, whether IN the
favored Severn valley orEngland or the Loire
aud Gironde regions of Frauce, does the pear
love the Potomac valley and there attain
| the maximum OF size aud quality The wild
strawberry has favor on the Potomac banks
which it lacks elsewhere. The buckle.
berry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, aud
all other small fruits attain here their greatest
perfection. The plum, the nectarine aud the
fig are perfectly at home, and even the apple
scarcely yields in this county to the crop OF
tho most favored northern site. Added to
these advantages are those of fish ana game
| the waters swarm with all kinds of scale and
she'll fish, the air is darkened IN season with
the choicest game, the soil is fertile and kindly
responsive to the slightest care, the climate
exquisite and the whole region perfectly
healthy. There is no reason why the entire
Chesapeake country, especially the basin OF
the Potomac, should not be filled with II dense
population. There Is no reason why the broad
waves of the Potomac should not be tecked
with one continuous gleam OF white sails,
bearing the results Of prosperous trafnc from
one end to the other of Its lake.like bosom.
Yet the excursonist, for he only is the trav-
cer on the Potomac, save the oyslerman
and the soine-hauler, looks over its broad blue
surface aud halls the white glitter of sail as
a novelty. Its ripplcs, silvered by the breeze
sparkling in monotonous loneliness beneath
| tho rays of the sun or ruflled by tho low
1ying wing of the gull or tho swan, sing to
| his ears the same song of unbroken silence
| that they murmured TO the hearing OF John
Smith and his venturGsome mariners that long
gone September when tho keel of the daunt.
| less saxon's shallop first parted those blue
waves in search of III Dorado aud the south
seas over the purple hills and the shadow
haunted woods OF the Virginia shores The sun
set fingers lovingly. rs If 10th 10 quit the
broad blue waves that mirror in their cool
DEPTHS the varied hues that steep the grave of
| the suukon sun in one vnst, gorgeous waste
of splendor and of beauty. II 10 beautiful
stream the Potomac. Lacking every cle-
ment of the sublime, it yet POSSESSES much
of the romantic aud Of the picturesque.
There are no mountains OH its shores--no
hills, indeed, save those rounded semi-cones
that plant their green girdled feet Into the
water and rear their lcafy crowns Ia banks
of dense foliage above, They are hills only
by courtesy. But If they lack the rugged the
savage the sublime, the Potomac shores give
you the quiet the picturesque, the beautiful.
Nature on the "Rivor of Swans has no frowns,
| but only smiles. In these coming beautiful
days of autumn, when even amid the brick
walls and dusty pavements of the city the
heart rejoices In the full toned splendor of
charms that cnrobe the mature year, you may
drink in TO your bosom's content on the wide
| Potomac, those glorious draughts of beauty
which nature pours with such profuse liber-
ality only In the fall. Iu tho spring the
Potomac basin Is literally tho Feast of tho
Roses" in the autumn nowhere in the world
burn the glories OF the sunset in such radiant
and magnificent bursts Of flaming, flashing,
fiery splendor as over the River
feast his eyes aud heart on tho glories of the
sunken sun us nowhere else on this broad
planet save perhaps IN some snowy dell far
IN some Alpine height, take trip down
the Potomac one Of these coming autumn ewes,
when the mir is filed with the fruity fragrance
of the ripened year, and every pulse is throb-
bling In unison with the full, deep-toned
breathing of the perfect season. He will
realize q glory of color and splendor offauoy
that will haunt him with grateful remem'
brances and satisfied longings for many day
TO come
TO tho average excursioniat, however, a
well.set table has more charms than beau
tinll twilight, and savory supper is more
soothing than u splendid sunset. All the
varied beauties of the Landscape are Of course
enjoyed by him in the mingled attractions Of
wood aud water, but chiefly us part
of the trip for which he has paid.
His object is relaxation FROM the
daily routine of business rest from monot-
onous care and work, and no gets both best by
paying more attention to his comfort on an
excursion aud less to the beauties of nature,
lie wants Il smooth sea, an easy-going boat, II
luxurious table, courteous and accommodating
attendance and experienced mariners to man
age said boat leaving him nothing TO do but
to enjoy his recreation, All these tue Poto'
mac excursiOnist finds to his hand. Mature
gives him tho broad, lake'like river and
the beautiful bay whose silvery surface is sell
dom surged into storms. The steamer George
Leary furnishes all the rest. A skillful cap.
taiu whose skill ia equaled only by his
courtesy and both surpassed only BY his popu'
larity; board Of officers and crew
who thoroughly know their business, both in
the matter Of making the voyage aud making
their passengers com tortSble;a u boat that glldes
over the waves rs smoothly as the "oid bour~
bonn Of its bar gides down tho throat OF q
thirsty opicurc; splendid table aud a cook
who can create an appetite and Danish indigcs'
tion with the same DISH together with force
of attendants who persuade you that looking