National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-09-24
VIRGINIA NOTES.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN THE STATE.
Quantico and Observation-Disclosures on the POto'
mac In the Oldcn Tlme-The River ChOk-
ing Up with Mud--NAtural Advantages
congressional stupidity.


The early settlers of Quantico, nearly
ono hundred years ago, were divided in opinion
as to the most proper place to establish shipping
port. erect a custom house, build wharves, ware
houses, and other buildings necessary to the COM
mcncemcnt OF new commercial town. Some
favored the point on the Potomac where the
steamer Excelsior now lands and others were In
favor ola site four miles up the Quantlco River,
which was at that time navgnblc for large sea.
going vessels. It was argued that In case OF for
eign war town erected on the banks Of the Poto-
mac would be at the mercy Of If not destroyed by,
THE ESEMY's FLEET,
while located four miles up narrow stream prob
ably would escape pllage and distinctions; hence
the argument in favor of the up-rvcr site pre-
vailed and the new town erected was called DUN.
fries This selection was an unfortunate one.
letter that n commercial town be nearly, II not
entirely, destroyed by an enemy's feet than by
premature decay by obstructionsc continually
accumulatiug In a channel sufficient TO prevent
vessels from reaching port to discharge and re-
cclvc cargocs. Had the banks of the Potomac been
selected for shipping point thriving village
would soon have sprung into existence, and to-
day Quantico, no doubt, would have been large
and Gourishing shipping port, with railroad cx-
tending to the coal and iron fields Of West Vlr-
Iinia. It would have surpassed Alexandria in
size and importance.
AT THE TIME DuMFRIEs WAS SELECTED
for town.site Quantico River contained q SUM-
Client depth water to float the largest vessels TINT
assembled the Potomac, and ships, barks and brigs
without serious difficulty passed up to the wharvcs
and warehouses Of the new port and discharged
heavy cargoes of goods from Europe and the West
Indies, and received cargocs of Virginia aud
Maryland tobacco for returning freights. Eighty
years the wholesale merchants of Alexandria,
Georgetown, and Baltimore received large share
Of their goods through the custom house at Dunn
fries, the crockery dealers in particular. At that
time Dumiries had several fine whnryes aud sew
entcen brick warehouses; generally well filled with
tobacco and imported goods. The wharvcs have
long since disappeared, but the ruins Of the ware
houses still remain. Now the question arises,
what caused the great and rapid change in the
channel of Quantico River, and what prevented
ships going to Dumfries as they did In days Of
yorc? The answer is the same cause that
so SERIOUSLY AFFECTS NAVIGATION
on the Potomac between Washington and George.
town, and the same cause that calls for an annual
appropriation from Congress of from $4,000 to
900 TO admit vessels drawing fourteen feet of
water to ascend the James River to Richmond.
AS long as mud and debris float down n rapid cur
rent and tides cbb and flow channels will fill up
aud navigation will be obstructed. The moment
q descending current meets an up-nowing tide
both are brought to q dead stand, and the mud
and debris instantly settle TO the bottom of the
channel, and there 1t Will remain until removed
by the dredging machine or some mechanical con.
trivancc. When Dumfrios was first settled the
country for miles around was covered with dense
forest and the streams that flowed into Quantico
River were as clear and free from mud as spring
water; but the demand for tobacco and corn to
| supply the foreign market and to sustalmthe ship.
ping interests of that port demanded more cult
vatcd fields and original forests had to succumb to
the axe and the plow; then the rain descended and
the floods came, and thick mud rapidly flowed
into the heretofore
CLEAR AND DEEP CHANNEL,
where II met the up.ilowing tide, which checked
its progress, and the mud settled to the bottom
first an inch, and from inches TO foot, and from
foot to several feet and now to day where ships,
barks, and brigs passed to and fro with ease n
canoe can scarcely float. In those days approprla-
tons from Congress to improve navigation, dredg.
ing machines, and contractors ever ready for job
were unknown, and Dumfries and Quantico River
had 10 succumb to tides, floods and mud. SIC
transit gloria m7idi! few years Ngoan attempt
was made TO christen Quantico with n new and
| high fuluten name-Potomuc City-but as tho
| "city" failed TO show itself and honor the title
| by common consent the plain original name
Quantico, has taken its former place. 1t could bC
called very properly the City of Blunders, fol
| every effort TO give IL q prominent position IL
community has proved failure. The carly set
tiers Numbered In discarding a natural and mer.
| itorious position for a commercial town for Al
unnatural and unreliable one; and the recent ut
tempt TO make It city was a series OF blunder'
| from the beginning to the end. About ten year:
ago a Mr. Bangs, of BROOKLYN ~ Y, discovered
this place, aud seeing
ITS MANY NATURAL ADVANTAGES
for shipping purposes he prevailed on friend in
New York city, and millionaire, to assist him In
the enterprise and he did assist him to the amount
Of not less than 100000 Mr.. Bangs went to work
aud purchased all the land within circle of sew.
eral miles. about five thousand acres. He wen
before Congress and succeeded I'm getting a bill
passed making Potomac City n port of entry, will
proyiSIon for a deputy collector of customs witt
a salary of 81 900 per annum; also an appropria
ton of 900 for light house on the premises ant
furthermore came very near getting an appropria
ton of 100000 for a breakwater, which, had III,
money been expended, would have been of n,
| moro bpupIt
|