Evening star., 1907-08-03

mercial interchange. DR.. p. S. Montgom-
cry, in a paper read recently at meeting
in this city, gave graphic account of the
Potomac scheme which was the idea OF
George Washington, and which later de-
veloped into the first railroad Of the United
States.
He said: In looking over the early history
of the Baltimore and Ohio road find that
1t really dates back to the time Of Gen.
George Washington. His wonderful fore
sight in the development of our country
and the advantages to be derived from some
means Of communication with the west.
which at that time really meant the vicinity
in and around Fort Duquesne led him to
devise what he termed the Potomac
scheme;' that was to clear the Potomac
as far possible for navigation; thence
by canals over the Allegheny mountains to
the waters of the Yough. and the Ohio
valley. Washington early saw that Balti-
more, seaport, was 200 miles nearer
the Ohio valley than New York, and 100
miles nearer than Philadelphia He also
early saw that a northern route might be
selected by way Of the st. Lawrence and
the great lakes. While this was a long
route from New York, he had great re-
spect for their business ability. as will be
noticed later on.
* II
His interest in the development Of this
territory began before the revolutionary
war but was broken off during his fight
for his country. History states there Is a
report in his own handwriting, dated 11o4,
stating the benefit Of a short route to the
west. as well as the difficulties to be over
come in rendering the Potomac navigable
n
after an extended trip over the same route
as taken by. Gen. Braddock, and which
afterward became the National, or Cum
berland, pike, and later on the route prac-
tcally of the Cumberland, and later Con-
nellsville, division of the Baltimore and
Ohio.
After resigning his commission at Annap-
oils, Washington retired to Mount Vernon.
arriving there December "a. 1873. The
scene is at last closed he writes, four
days afterward, to Gov. Clinton Of New
York who had accompanied him on some
of his explorations. Il feel myself eased
of load of public care. / hope to spend
the rest of my days in cultivating the
affections of good men and in practice OF
domestic virtues" But it was impossible
for Gen. Washington to remain quiet for
any length OF time as a private citizen on
the banks of the Potomac. In letter to
Thomas Jefferson in the spring Of 11S4 he
says: My pet scheme, the Potomac
scheme would be set at naught, and the
immense advantages which this country
would derive from It. would be a great
stimulus to drive me to the undertaking
of forming the Potomac Company. other
letters show his interest; one to Thomas
jefferson little later in the same year, in
which he asks him to confer with Ihomas
| Johnston, formerly governor of Maryland,
| on this subject as he had been much in
| terested and a warm promoter of the "Po-
tomac scheme" previous to the revolution
In September 1884, Washington made an
other western tour in the interest of this
sch9rln He was absent about one month.
but did not get as far west as he intended
on account of the host,lities OF the In
dians At this time he made an extensive
map Of the country between the waters OF
the Potomac and those Of the Yougheghany
and Monongahela. He now designated a
new route of portage from Cumberland 10
the Ohio valley, which does not deViate
materially from the line taken by the
National pike.
washington now employed men at his
own expense to explore the country FAR
ther west, and from their reports and his
own experience he arrived at the conciu-
sion that there were two principal routes
to the Ohio valley; one over the mountains
from Cumberland by way of Wills creek,
which is now the Connellsville route, and
the other through the mountains from the
Cumberland along the upper branch or the
Potomac. which is now the main line to
Wheeling.
Late in October, 17s4, he wrote to Benja-
min Harrison, governor Of Virginia saying:
| 81 shall take the liberty now, my dear sir,
to suggest matter which would, am
sure Cf l am not too short-sghted poll
tician). mark your administration as an
important era In the annals Of this country,
II IT should be recommended by you and
adonted bv the assembly" We must
gard this as the real historic beginning of
the Potomac enterprise with prophetic in
stinct Washington seemed to realize the
greatness Of his scheme) In this letter
he proceeds to support by facts what had
long been hts decided opinion; that the
shortest route and least expensive to the
west was by way of the Potomac Again
showing his interest in this scheme, he
points out the prospect or pennsylvania
opening up communication with the west
by way of the susquehanna and Tobys
creek, and then cutting a canal from the
former to the Schuylkill river river Wash
ington's words were almost prophetic. He
says: "A people who are possessed of the
spirit of commerce, who see and will pur-
sue their advantages may achieve almost
anything" That New York would join In
smoothing the roads and paving the way
for the trade Of the western world he
clearly foresaw. On this point, he says:
No person who knows the temper. genius
and policy Of those people well l do
can harbor the smallest doubt"
Again in a letter to Gov. Harrison a little
later he points out the fact that the TANKS
| and rear of the United States are possessed
| by other powers. and formidable ones, too;
namely, Spain and England ready to take
! advantage OF any opportunity to increase
| their territory trade. "All parts should
| be cemented together" he states THE
western states stand on a pivot; a touch
would turn them; the stream Of commerce