Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-02-22
An Early Transportation Company.

dno OnlO lanai company. DSHcNluS luS
facts.set forth are OF interest to the folks
living along or near the Potomac river,
we republish here the principal features.
The Potomac Company was one OF the
first if not the very first TO be organized
after the Revolutionary war to transport
products OF the interior 10 the Atlantic
coast. The waters of the Potomac river
were used TO float the boats, which were
propelled entirely by pole and oar.
When rapids or falls were encountered
canals, with and without locks, were con-
structed around such falls. THAT was
known as Sluice navigation"
The Potomac Company had its concep-
ton in the fertile brain OF George Wash
ington. The father OF his country had the
vision OF prophet. In the development
OF the country and building OF commerce
he was fully twenty years in advance OF
his fellow-citizenS The General left his
home at Mt. Vernon September lst, 1884,
on horseback, following the course OF the
river and its tributaries, making personal
examination OF the depth and rapids as
we'll as the settlements, who they were
and their ability 10 clear the forest and
till the soil. The General returned from
that preliminary survey October 4, being
absent thirty-four days. He travelled GAO
miles, an average OF 20 miles day.
Upon his return he Immediately began
the organization OF company 10 develop
that waterway.
The legislatures OF Maryland and Viz
ginia granted charters during May 1885 10
the Potomac Company and George Wash
ington was elected its first president. He
was also large share holder. The fol-
lowing citizens OF Loudoun county were
also stockholders and directors Joseph
Janney, Benjamin Shreve, George Mason,
John Hough, William Brown. John Har-
per, Benjamin Dulaney, William Ellzey
and Levin Powell. II cost nearly $780,
900 to build canals around rapids and
deepen the Potomac in shallow places.
The capital originally subscribed amount
ed to $3ll $50, divided into seven hun
dred shares, OF which the State OF Mary
land owned two hundred and twenty and
the State OF Virginia seventy. The total
amount expended, including an additional
payment received from late subscribers,
$3S, 900 arising from tolls which have been
applied to the work and debt OF $67 600
contracted by the company, amounted TO
over $500000. The annual tolls raised on
eight thousand tons freight valued lt over
one-half million dollars had not before
opening the company exceeded S25. 900;
the annual expenses and repairs were
5000. Later the State OF Virginia pre-
sented her stock TO George Washington.
The company began business in 1870
and continued for about thirty years, when
il was absorbed by the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal. All rights and property was
transferred TO that company August 10,
1928. The boats were generally con-
structed about Shepherdstown in order TO
avoid the excessive expense oi polling up
stream. although the company did large
business in transporting merchandise from
Alexandra as far up as Cumberland, but
when freight was scarce the boats were
often sold TO avoid the expense OF the
up trip empty. The boats were con-
structed with flat bottom, twelve feet
wide and about twenty-five to thirty feet
long and three feet deep.
Three miles above Washington, known
as Little Falls, was the first canal around
the falls of two miles long on the Mary
land side, with three locks one hundred
feet long, eighteen feet wide and six feet
deep. These three locks had a lift OF
thirtY-seyen feet Eight miles further
up at Great Falls there was canal on the
Virginia side one mile long. with five locks
with lift OF seventy five feet. AT Seneca
Falls on the Maryland side was a canal
one mile long without lock. Al Har-
per's Ferry there were several canals, all
OF them without locks, the first one on
the Maryland shore about one mile long,
the second one on the Potomac on The
Harper's Ferry side about one mile long,
the third one on the Shenandoah river.
In the first ten miles there are six canals,
the first one about six miles long and the
others from fourth 10 one milein length,
all without locks. Horses or mules were
used 10 pull the boats through these
canals, but when the boats were in the
river they were conducted entirely by man
power with pole and oar.
Tributaries flowing into the Potomac
were used for navigation as far as per-
mssible. The Monocacy river in Mary
land was made navigabIe as tar as Nc
Pherson's Mill without locks, Goose
Creek in Loudoun county was utilized by
light crafts as far up as Evergreen Mills.
The Shenandoah river was made navi-
gable as far up as Port Republic.
The trip from Harper's Ferry 10 Alex
andria was made in three and one-hslf
days. In one year the Potomac Com
psuy transported from up the river 70
Alexandra one hundred thousand barrels
OF flour. Produce of all kinds was trans
ported, the principal being tobacco, flour,
wheat. dry hides, cured meats and whis-
key. The latter was large item. as there
was not tax on If and If sold from 30: 10
4Oc per gallon in the German settlements
Of Loudoun county. There were eight
still houses in a radius OF one hundred
and fifty miles.
Two OF these canals constructed by
the Potomac Company over one hundred
and twenty-five years ago have been in
use ever since. When the company wss
abeort,od rs, sha Hhacaoa1La and Ohfo