Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-13

rent money; Thomas Richaidso 50 pounds
Pennsylvania currency; Thomas Johns. so
pounds common current money: Adam Stephen
200 pounds Pennsylvania currency; Robert and
Thomas rutherford. 100 pounds Pennsylvania
currency; Francis Deakins, 100 pounds common
currency of Maryland; Oh. Carroll Of Carroll
ton. 900 pounds, dollars at rs. Cd.
RIVER IMPROVEMENT URGED.
After the war more favorable temper was
developed in Virginia. but the merchants Of
Baltimore were powerful in that day as in this,
with a legislature in opposition to any measure
which 1t was supposed would attract trade 10
any other market tend. directly or indi-
rectly. to advance its interests. After the
proclamation of peace Washington made q tour
Of the western parts Of New England and New
York and trayersed the country at the head of
the Eastern branch of the Susquehanna and his
mind reverted to the scheme of former years.
He became more convinced of the advantages
OF the Potomac route and he addressed himself
with renewed vigor to the effort of making the
Potomac the channel for the conveyance of the
extensive and valuable trade Of the rising en-
pire." as he called the country west Of the
mountains. He wrote letters to the gov
ernors Of Maryland and Virginia and to
members of Congress urging the inn
portance Of action. In letter to
Jefferson. after adverting to the measures
that would be un4uestionably taken by New
York and Pennsylvania to acquire and keep the
trade of the western country, he says; 81 am
not for Encouraging the governors of any state
from drawing the commerce Of the western
country to its seaports. The more communica-
tions we open to it the closer bind that
rising world (for indeed it may be so called) to
our interests and the greater strength We ac-
quire by it. Those to whom nature affords the
best communication will, If they are wise, en-
joy the greatest part Of the trade. All would
be understood to mean. therefore. is that the
n Providence m rpvlecfpi
The recommendations of the successful gen.
eral of the revolution received more attention
than bad been bestowed upon those of the
Fairfax county surveyor and his efforts
suited in the incorporation OF the Potomac
Company of the two states in 11S4 with author-
itv to improve the navigation of the river. to
charge tolls. &c. The citizens Of Georgetown
approaching the importance Of the enterprise
to them subscribed literally to the stock OF
the company.
RATHER UNCERTAIN COMMERCE.
After years Of toisome work and the ex-
penditure of $780, 900 in digging canals and
removing distractions the company succeeded
in establishing an uncertain sort of naviga ion
for gondolas and keel boats, as they were called.
The burthen of the boats averaged from ten to
twenty tons. The goudola a roughly con-
structed open boat and when it arrived at
its destination on tidewater was sold after the
cargo had been removed. The keel boat was
more costly ana pretentious. being fitted up
with cabins and convenience, and would return
with light freight. 1t seems difficult to real
izc in this dav of spendid transportation faciii-
ties by steamboat and railroad that the return
trip against the current was accomplished by
''poleing, assisted by iron rings placed in
the rocks along the bank at regular distances
and by the de-ice called "a Yankee w,iIdlass"
at Others. One OF the men who thus navigated
the river the elder Dickey at the Great Falls
on the Virginia side of the river, was alive at
an advanced age few years ago. He told me
that the policing of the boats up the Poto-
mac was tine hardest work ever done by
man."
While it was used 1. 211, 1903 barrels of flour and
q, 456 barrels of whisky, among other articles.
were brought to tidewater. realizing S23S, IL 66
ill tolls. The value of this merchandise was
go. 935, 964. and 5000 boats, of 179,54 tons
i'll the aggregate, were employed in its transport
tation.
TO THE MISSISSIPPI AND TIE LAKES.
During its existence the trade of George
town extended as far as Fort Usage on the Mis-
souri, to Lake Erie and to Mobile. The route
to Fort Usage was first up the Potomac 220
miles, then overland to Brownsville, on the
Monongahela. a branch Of the Ohio. TWENTY-FIVE
miles. thence down the Ohio to its junction
with the Mississippi. up the Mississippi to st.
Louis and afterward by the Missouri to the
fort. For Lake Erie the goods were sent over
the same route to Cincinnati on the Ohio,
thence up the Miami Of the Ohio to its farthest
point at Lorimer's store, thence overland So
miles to Fort Wayne, on the Miami Of the lakes.
and down this river to Lake Erie. For Mo-
bile the goods we're sent from Georgetown to
Brownsville by the above route. Their down the
Monongahels and Ohio to the mouth Of the
Tennessee river. then up this river to the Mus
sci Shoals or to Colberts Ferry. thence over
land to the Tonbigbee at the juncture OF that
river with a branch called the IIbby. l20 miles.
thence down the Tombigbee to Mobile.