1847-48 Newspaper Reports
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
COMPILATION OF CANAL TRADE ARTICLES FROM THE ALLEGANIAN a Cumberland newspaper and THE BALTIMORE SUN BALTIMORE DAILY COMMERCIAL Two Baltimore, Md. newspapers and THE COLUMBIAN FOUNTAIN THE DAILY NATIONAL WHIG GEORGETOWN ADVOCATE DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER DAILY UNION five Washington, D. C. newspapers and ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE an Alexandria, Va. newspaper 1847 - 48 Compiled by William Bauman C & O Canal Association Volunteer [email protected] FEBRUARY 2011 Revision 1, MARCH 2018 Revision 2, JANUARY 2021 Revision 3, FEBRUARY 2021 CANAL TRADE 1847 - 48 A. PREFACE In this compilation, all the Canal Trade articles were transcribed from The Alleganian, a Cumberland newspaper and the Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Daily Commercial, two Baltimore, Md. newspapers, the Columbian Fountain, Daily National Whig, Georgetown Advocate, Daily National Intelligencer and Daily Union five Washington, D. C. newspapers, and Alexandria Gazette, an Alexandria, Va. newspaper, unless otherwise footnoted. The articles were compiled, chronologically in a two-column format, just as they appeared in the newspaper. Some dates during the boating season were missing. The Alleganian was found on microfilm at the library at Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD. The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Daily Commercial, Columbian Fountain, Daily National Whig, Georgetown Advocate, Daily National Intelligencer, Daily Union and Alexandria Gazette newspapers were found online and articles therefrom are preceded by Sun, BDC, CF, DNW, GA, DNI, DU and AG respectively. There is some duplication in information due to the different newspapers publishing similar articles about, for example Canal Trade, wherein the reporters for the newspapers had different deadlines for reporting the data and thus the lists have different boats, distances, and/or cargo. I have tried to reconcile the data as best I can, thus this is an edited report. Descendants are encouraged to contact the transcriber if a consistent spelling is wrong; e.g., McIllhenny or Leetch or Reichter. This report includes some long articles regarding societal conditions of the time as they relate to the canal. Readers not interested in those articles should just skip over them. This February 2021 revision consists of additional articles from the Alexandria Gazette and Daily National Whig. It would appear that Washington was warmed with fire wood prior to the arrival of coal from Cumberland. The reader will notice the occasional ascending freight from Alexandria, Va. consigned for a city interior to the State. I am thinking the ascending canal boat unloaded at Harper’s Ferry, the freight was transferred to the Winchester and Potomac (W&P) Railroad and on to Winchester where a Freight Forwarding business then loaded the freight onto wagon(s) for the trip to Strasburg wherein the freight was loaded onto another railroad for the further trip up the Valley to Staunton, or intermediate points as required. Remember in 1847 and 48, the Canal was not open to Cumberland. Both the C. & O. and the B. & O. were scrambling for freight to pay their expenses. Other entities were also hustling for business. Readers not interested in that larger picture of events should just skip over the text. The research continues, the reader may yet find a missing date, or better yet a missing newspaper. Readers are encouraged to search the enclosed report for information on their ancestor, as their time and interest permits. Feel free to send additional observations for the benefit of others. William Bauman February 2011 Revised March 2018 Revised January 2021 Revised February 2021 [email protected] 2 CANAL TRADE 1847 - 48 Canal Trade 1847 – 48 be, for many years to come, the terminus of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and is AG, Mon. 1/4/47, p. 3. CANAL COMMERCE unquestionably the fixed and permanent terminus Arrived, January 2. of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The mines on Boat Charles, Artz, Williamsport, 384 bbls. flour Jennon’s and Braddock’s Runs, have also the to T. M. McCormick & Co. advantage of Railroads leading from them to Cumberland, and are, at the same time, capable of AG, Thu. 1/7/47, p. 3. CANAL COMMERCE affording so large a supply, that no deficiency can Arrived, Jan. 6. be apprehended, for a period of many years. Boat Mermaid, Dam No. 5, 600 barrels flour, to If, however, the navigation were extended Lambert & McKenzie. from the Cumberland basin, according to a very Boat Stranger, Mouth of Monocacy, 100 bbls. of feasible plan, which has long been matured, and flour to Johnson & Keefer. which will no doubt be executed, so soon as the Departed, development of the resources of that region shall Boat Mermaid, Dam No. 5, plaster, by Lambert & afford a sufficient assurance of immediate McKenzie. business to justify the expenditure, by a system of Slack-water navigation on the Potomac, to the AG, Tue. 1/12/47, p. 3. CANAL COMMERCE mouth of the Savage river, an easy access will be Arrived, Jan. 11. afforded to the center, and most productive Boat Ellen Douglass, Goose Creek, 220 bbls. portion of the mineral region. It may be as well to flour, to Hooe & Powell, 90 bbls. flour, to P. H. mention here, that the attention of the Virginia Hooff. Legislature, is at this time engaged in the consideration of this improvement, although, at GA, Sat. 1/27/47, p. 1. From the Cumberland the same time, we hope to be pardoned for saying Civilian CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL in homely phrase, that the wrong end is foremost, – The principal streams which, besides the and that it will be of much greater importance for Potomac river, intersect the coal field, opening Virginia to lend her aid to the completion of the practicable avenues to almost every part of it, are Canal to Cumberland, than, before that event, to George’s Creek, Savage River, Three Forks Run open a communication with Savage river. In the and Wolf-Den River, which fall into the Potomac vicinity of Savage river, however, are the deepest on the Maryland side, and Deep Run, Spring Run, and most productive portions of the coal strata of Abram’s Creek and Stony River on the Virginia this region, lying both on the Virginia and side. These are exclusive of Jennon’s Run and Maryland sides of the Potomac. Braddock’s Run, which fall into Will’s Creek, which in turn empties into the Potomac at AG, Mon. 2/1/47, p. 2. Communications. Cumberland. The mines upon these last named THE SHENANDOAH IMPROVEMENT. streams, although at the present time claiming the To the editor of the Alexandria Gazette: greatest attention, yet are not situated in that I have been much pleased to see that the people of portion of the coal field where the vein possesses Alexandria, as well as those whose interest it is to the greatest amount of thickness. They, therefore, take their produce to that market, are turning their contain a less quantity of coal and iron ore, within attention to various schemes of improvement – an equal acre, than those which are situated upon such as the projected railroad from Harper’s Ferry and near the Potomac river. They possess, to Alexandria – the extension of the Fauquier and however, the very important advantage of being Alexandria Turnpike road, and the railroad from situated nearer to Cumberland, which is likely to Alexandria to the Ohio river, crossing the Blue 3 CANAL TRADE 1847 - 48 Ridge at a place to suit the Louisa Railroad and it is believed that little, very little, more flour Company. I say, I am much pleased with these has been sent to market, than would have been exhibitions of public spirit, and have long been sent without those improvements. The expenses convinced that the people have only to examine of transportation on turnpikes and railroads are the subject and see how they are to be benefitted too high to justify the farmer in sending to market by any particular improvement, and they will not anything he raises except wheat or flour. Give hesitate long before they adopt the measures him, however, a navigable river to take his necessary to accomplish the work. Entertaining, produce to market, and you would soon see as I do, feelings of gratitude towards the public thousands of boats loaded with corn, oats, hay, spirited gentlemen who have come forward with potatoes, vegetables of every kind, apples, their plans for the improvement of the Ancient peaches, &c., &c., lime of the best quality, also, Dominion, “the blessed mother of us all,” I have lumber, iron, cheese, butter, poultry and eggs. no desire to throw any obstacle in the way of Boats would return partially, if not entirely effecting their schemes, but in discharge of my loaded, with stone coal for the countless factories duty as a good citizen, I will suggest an which would spring up along the margin of the improvement which has been, in a great measure, river, as high up as navigation extended, and overlooked by the Alexandrians, and in which ten would be used in large quantities by blacksmiths, or twelve counties are deeply interested, and and private families likewise. – plaster, salt, sugar, which would cost incomparably less than either of molasses and merchandize, too, would give the above mentioned railroads, and answer every cargoes to a vast number of boats. purpose as well, too – especially the inappreciable The first and certain consequence of the advantage of furnishing the cheapest, safest and improvement suggested, would be the immediate most convenient mode of transportation for enhancement in value of the lands within fifty everything whatever, the mails and travelers miles of it, to 25 and perhaps 50 percent. This is excepted. – The improvement which I believe to so plain that any man at all acquainted with be most important to the people of the Valley and figures may easily prove it to be true.