Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-12-05

enactment. But the original oath is on
file here in the Office of the surveyor Of
the District of Columbia.
The original custom house over which
the bewigged and powdered aristocratic
Lingan presided still stands on Con-
gress street, and looks very much rs
it used to look, but for the fact that
time has placed upon it the marks of
decay, and neglect has permitted the
unrestra;ned ravishment3 of the wealth
er. Just little bit of oil and paint
would make the quaint and curious lit
tie frame building look quite pretcn-
tious again.
Directly ecross the street is the
substantial government building which
was erected in 1856 and in which the
dwindling business of the Office is trans
acted. 1t is substantial granite struc
ture with a frontage of 60 feet. 1t sits
back in the yard 20 feet from the side
walk and is surnlounted by trees as old
as the hills and as large and widespread
ing as the tree beneath which the viii
lage smithy stood. 1t is an aristocrat-
| ic-looking building, and if the govern
ment will sell it, after the Office is re.
moved, it would make palatial resi-
dence for some rich man. The lawns
are large and we'll kept. 1t is not very
far from the aqueduct bridge and is
within a short distance of the home OF
Francis Scott Key, the author of The
Star Spangled Banner"
During these latter years we hear con-
siderable of the eNtravagant river and
harbor appropriation bills. One of the
| first appropriations of that character
was made in 1888, when congress set
aside the sum of $l5O,O0O for the pur-
pose of clearing the channel of the
| Potomac. Briggs and other large ves-
sells could not reach Georgetown on ac-
count of the gradual filling of the
| stream. The appropriation was neces-
sary. Since then many millions have
been expended on the Potomac. If the
government had not cleared the channel
of the Potomac n grand canal would
have Eeen built trc IL Washington to the
Ohio river.
| The grand canal was practically set
tied favorably in public opinion, and on
July 4, 1928, President John Quincy
Adams, the members of his cabinet.
members of the diplomatic corps and
heads of the corporations o. the three
cities of the District of Columbia,
namely, Georgetown, Washington and
Alexandria, assembled in Georgetown
and formed II procession which
marched 10 the custom house wharf,
and there embarked on the Surprise. n
revenue boat, and went down the river
TO the place where the new canal was TO
be started. There President Adams
| with II spade turned the first sod in the
proposed canal, reverently saying:
BE fruitful, replenish the earth and
subdue it," But the canal project was
finally abandoned. 1t is well. Very
soon thereafter the locomotive began
the career which rendered canals un.
necessary, and which have almost
tralfic from our internal streams
In 1894 the supervising officer of the
uoastine trade at Georgetown made
record of the fact that 5000 vessel Is
anchored at the wharves and there was
an annual tonnage of 100000. For thai
day and age of the new world that was
|, an immense business. and it is not t.
be wondered that the government lib
orally provided for keeping open tn,
channel of the river.
But all that is past and gone. Th.
port of Georgetown has lnnguished
and will soon be thing of the record
and memory only. Very few larg,
: ships now come to Georgetown. More
, over, there is soon to be built grant
memorial bridge over the Potomac ant
it will not be narred by span for con,
merce. The ships which come thu
| far up the Potomac must land Mt Wash
ington, and the collector of customs fo
| this city will transact all federal busi
ness with such ships. Poor old George
town. SMITH d. FRY.