Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-13
COMMERCE AND THE POTOMAC.
The larry Efforts Made TO Improve the
Navigation of the River.

GEN. wAsHISGToy SOON REALIZES TIE I'M
FoRTANcE OF THE RIVER AS A STIMULUS TO
TRADE-IS An IMPERFECT SORT OF WAY COM
NUSIcATIoS Is ESTABLISHED WITH THE WEST.
After the declaration of peace in 1888 the SIR
vivOrs OF the Georgetown contingent in the
military service, writes Mr. Hugh t. Tagrart.
returned to their homes and engaged in BUSH
ness in the town, as did many other officers i,
she Maryland line not previously residents of
IL. Gen Jriah Forrest. who was originally
from St Marys county and who lost a leg at
Germantown, went to London a. the close of
the war and established there the firm of For
rest, Stoddart & Murdoch. which Immediately
secured a large trade with the Potomac planters
He anlassed fortune in London but returned
TO the United States after the location of the
seat of the federal government on the banks of
the Potomac and engaged in business in
Georgetown- He purchased largely of lots in
the new city and of property in its vicinity and
In the vicinity of Georgetown. He built and
occupied the large dwelling on the south side
OF Bridge street which subsequently passed into
the ownership and occupancy Of the late Will
lam Marbury. Gen. FORESTS country seat was
Rosedale. now occupied by one of his descend
ants Oak View. the country seat of President
cleveland during his first term of office,
built upon part Of Gen. FORESTS Land
Col Chas. Beatty of Frederick county. also
gallant officer In the Maryland line during the
revolution, located with his family in George
town at the close of the war and engaged in
business, a. did also Benjamin Stoddart of
frince ueUrge . county, who became the first
Secretary OF the Navy Mr.ssoddart purchased.
about the close of the last century, the square
bounded by Prospect, Bridge, Fayette aud
Frederick streets and erected his mansion upon
the northeast corner the bold bluff which
rises on this corner to considerable height
above the rIver. The magnificent view of the
Potomac and neighboring part of Virginia
which Is afforded by tho locality cannot be sur
passed. and 10 doubtless the controlling
consideration which influenced Messrs Stod-
dart. Mason, Templeman. Worthingtou and
others In erecting their dwelling houses IN this
Vicinity There Is n flavor of colonial architec-
tare around the ccmmodious old mansion.
which !. sIill standing. The property belonged
20 and was occupied BIZ the late Mr.. John L.
hidweil for many wears prior to his death, and
now belongs to one Of his children.
LAasE FOREIGN TRADE.
That the town enjoyed a large foreign trade
after the revolution may well be inferred from
the fact that the following vessels. among
many others. piled regularly between her port
and the ports of England, viz, Charlotte,
Potomac Planter, Eleanor, Washington. Betsey,
Sally. Maryland. Nnntis. Lady Mary and the
Changeable. The Maryland. which was a ves-
sci of 400 tons burthen. WAS the first to sail
from the city Of Washington after its estab-
lshment with a full cargo and bound for
foreign port. She sailed from Barry's wharf
on the Eastern branch laden with -four and
bound for a foreign market il the year 1893.
In 115S Thomas Corcoran, the father of the
late W. W. Corcoran, stopped for a few DAYS in
Georgetown while on his way to Richmond
with view of permanently locating at the
latter place He was pleased with the APP
pesrances of business activity and commercial
enterprise at Georgetown that he concluded to
remain. At this time he stated that there were
In tine harbor ten square-rigged vessels. two of
them being ships. He also saw about this time
small brig from Amsterdam taking in to-
bscco from a warehouse on Rock creek at the
point below the present p street bridge.
The situation Of the town at the head of nav
igation, on one OF the noblest rivers of the
world, which penetrated far into the interior of
the continent. and the unsurpassed water power
ct her very doors. coupled with other natural
advantages. justified the faith entertained at an
early period in her history by her peopie-and
which has been cherished by the generations
who have succeeded them-that she was des-
tined to become the seat of extensive COM
Inerce and of large manufacturing enterprises.
NOT DUE To A LACK OF ENTERPRISE.
1mbued deeply with this idea her efforts to re-
move impediments to trade and intercourse with
the country surrounding her and to improve her
business facilities have been energetic and I'M
renting; SO long as she possessed the power
OF individual municipal action she never hest
taied to spend her funds literally for the ac
eomplishment of these objects. she extended
her favor and practical aid to every project
and to every enterprise which promised to pro-
mote the welfare of her citizens, whether it had
for Its object the purchase of toll bridge or
toll road, the Improvement OF the navigation
of the river. in which she spent upward of
ESQ 600. the opening of some new channel Of
communication with the country around her.
or the exemption from taxation Of manufac-
turing enterprise That her ambitious dreams
have not been realized and that she has lost the
rank and commercial eminence she had once
attained and held as a seaport town to be at
triouted to the perversity of that fate which
dlsappoints the best grounded hopes and ex-
pectations of men. rather than to any lack of
enterprise or energy on the part of her people
\ brief glimpse at her history Will Illustrate
the past aspirations and temper of her people
and show that she deserved success to the full
measure Of her hopes, although she failed fully
TO attain il.
Prior TO the year I174 the possibility of i'm
proving the navigation of the Potomac to a
point convenient TO the western rivers had been
suggested. Gen Washington. who had spent
his youth and early manhood IN the valley Of
the Potomac and who had acquireda thorough
familiarity with it through hunting expedi-
tions. surveys for Lord Fairfax and in the mill
tary service OF the colony of Virginia. which
latter took him across the mountains to Ohio
on several occasions. became convinced at an
early day of the feasibility of such improve
meEt by the construction of canals around the
various falls and of It's necessity from = mill
tary well a a commercial point of view as "a
protection to British interests in the territories
west OF the mountains against the encroach-
ments OF the French. He sought TO enlist the
provinces of Maryland and Virginia in the
scheme long prior to the revolutionary war.
WASHINGTON AND THE roroMAc.
In ITO be wrote TO the governor of Mary
land. SAYING: "There isthe strongest speculative
proof in the world TO me of the immense ad-
vsntages which Virginia and MARYLAND might
de-ive (and at a very small expease) by max
ing the Potomac the channel OF commerce be-
tween Great Britain and that immense ;e rrltory-
q tract of country which II unfolding to our
viev-the advantages of which too great
and too obvious. should think. to become the
subjects Of serious debate. but which. through
Il-timed parsimony and supireEess. NAV be
wrested from Us and conducted through other
cnanneis" His efforts were nnayaillng. The
jealousy OF central Virginia in favor of the
James river route initiated against she Potomac
scheme while in MARYLAND the jeaiousies Of
Georgetown and Baltimore for the western
trade had grown uD and what Was attempted to
be accomplished by one in the way of legisla-
tive action was opposed and counteracted by