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1 Compilation of Canal Trade Articles from Alexandria

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1 Compilation of Canal Trade Articles from Alexandria COMPILATION OF CANAL TRADE ARTICLES FROM ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISER AN ALEXANDRIA NEWSPAPER 1/1848 TO 5/1851 ARLINGTON COUNTY, VA Compiled by William Bauman C & O Canal Association Volunteer [email protected] JULY 2013 1 2 A. PREFACE This compilation of newspaper articles about the C. & O. Canal is one of a series. In 1848, the ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE was published daily by Edgar Snowden The microfilm boxes indicated that the contents went from Jan. 1, 1848 through May 30, 1851 which is true as regards the first and last edition. However, every edition between those two dates was not found, and every edition found did not contain articles about the C. & O. Canal. This compilation follows the format of the other compilations; specifically, the articles are transcribed in a two-column format as in the newspaper. Normally, articles from page 2 are not transcribed because they tend to be editorial or opinion pieces, which was also true for this newspaper. However, by 1848 the Alexandria Aqueduct had been built and there was some discussion about development of the Alexandria waterfront, north and south of the mouth of the Alexandria Canal. How many feet should the coal wharves be extended; should the development be with public funds or private funds; should the necessary lands be condemned with the attendant angst of loss of property rights, etc.? The editorials tend to be wordy vice concise; I made no condensation of them. Readers are encouraged to read: "THE ALEXANDRIA CANAL: Its History & Preservation" by Thomas Swiftwater Hahn & Emory L. Kemp, West Virginia University Press, 1992. Of particular interest is: Chapter 3, The Excavation and Rehabilitation of the Alexandria Canal Tide Lock and Basin. From Georgetown to Alexandria there were no locks; then there were four locks to the waterfront through the city. It was at the basins, between the locks, and on the waterfront where the commercial activity took place. There was also considerable competition between Alexandria, Georgetown and Washington city for the prospective coal trade, which was discussed in the editorials. Readers must bear in mind that these editorials were the thoughts and opinions of publisher Edgar Snowden; an opposing view has not been found. Also note that the canal boats mentioned under Canal Commerce were not likely the big coal freighters subsequently built by the hundreds in Cumberland. The origin of these boats (i.e. the boat yard in which they were constructed), their owner and even their captain remain to be found. Many more boats were coming down the canal than are recorded herein; their destination was Georgetown or Washington city and thus were of no interest to Alexandrians. I have also included several advertisements concerning steamboats operating from Alexandria. By the time the canal opened in 1850, the concept of steam-powered canal boats was not a new concept. 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 Transcribed July 2013 [email protected] 3 4 Sat. 1/1/48, p. 1. [Transcriber's Note: While the Wed. 1/12/48, p. 2. COMMUNICATION. following advertisement has little to do with the I perceive that the following resolution has C. & O. Canal it does illustrate that the citizens been offered in the Common Council, and will of Alexandria, Georgetown and Washington probably be acted on at the next meeting of that City were familiar with steam powered, body: passenger carrying boats in 1848.] "Resolved, That in the opinion of the Common Council of Alexandria, the business of providing facilities for the shipment of Coal, brought down by the Canal, should be left to private enterprise; and to that end, that the Council will grant the right of way to any persons or companies not using Locomotives, who may desire to lay down railways through the streets of this Town, under the direction of Council, to conduct the Coal to the Southern end of town, at or near Keith's Wharf." This proposition, even if its adoption were desirable, comes too late. At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Alexandria Canal Company, held in the month of May, 1846, in which the Common Council was represented, the following resolution, on motion of H. C. Smith, Esq., was unanimously passed: "Resolved, That it is of the greatest importance to the interests of this Company and community that proper and ample accommodations for the Alleghany Coal trade should be provided at the outlet of the Alexandria Canal, either by the resources of this Company or in connection with the coal mining companies; and that, in order to an early and efficient action in this business, the President and Directors, in case they should consider it necessary, be authorized to appoint a Committee of the Stockholders to confer with the managers of those Companies on the subject." In accordance with this resolution, M. C. Ewing, Esq., Engineer of the Alexandria Canal Company, at the request of the Board of Directors, visited Cumberland, and conferred with a number of the officers and agents of the different mining Companies, and made a written report to the Board of Directors of the Alexandria Canal Company, which report was Mon. 1/10/48, p. 3. CHESAPEAKE AND submitted, with the Annual Communication of OHIO CANAL. - The Georgetown Advocate the President and Directors, to the Stockholders, learns that there has been another break in the at their general meeting in May last. Since Chesapeake and Ohio Canal at the Seneca then, the directors of the Canal Company have which it will take eight or ten days to repair. received applications from three mining Companies to know upon what terms the 5 Alexandria Canal Company would furnish any Company at Alexandria, other than the facilities, for the shipment of Coal. The Canal Company, be prepared in season to enter Directors, believing that they were acting in into such an engagement? And should anyone compliance with the wishes of the stockholders, be, will that Company be one in which the and in conformity with the views of our citizens citizens of the town generally are as deeply generally, have made propositions to those interested as they are in the Canal Company? companies to accommodate them, by erecting And why may not one company accommodate works at the mouth of the Canal, to the extent the trade on the north side of the town as well required for the shipment of 600,000 tons per as another on the south side? Especially if the annum, supposed to be the capacity of the water former can do it on more reasonable terms. I front (650 feet,) at present owned by the Canal feel, and trust the directors of the Canal Company. Should those Companies, or any one Company feel, no partiality for either the north of them, on or before the 1st of February next, side or the south side of town, but have been the extent of time granted, accept the terms, the and will be influenced, in all that they have Canal Company will be bound to honor and in done or may yet do, by higher considerations law to comply with its engagement, and of and are looking solely to the interest of the course, to that extent, prevent the shipment of Canal Company and the whole of the Town, Coal by private enterprise. But suppose the which it was intended to benefit. I fear that the Coal companies decline the offers, and the increased distance to the south side of the town, Common Council pass the resolution now under will prevent any Company that may be formed consideration, what policy are the Canal from entering into engagements satisfactory to directors to pursue in that event? Must they the mining Companies; and what I still more consider themselves instructed by the Common fear is, that, should the canal company abandon Council, or still make further efforts to carry its contemplated work, and we doubt and out the expressed views and wishes of the hesitate with distracted counsels, every man stockholders? Should they adopt the former wishing the coal to come to his own door, we course, will any individual, individuals, or shall finally lose the trade entirely. We have company, bind themselves to conduct the Coal powerful and vigilant rivals. I doubt not we through the town on railways, with or without have natural advantages for the accommodation Locomotives, and place it on board vessels at of the trade over any other place; and I have Keith's Wharf, in as short a time and on as always looked upon Alexandria at the place, favorable terms as the Canal Company can and almost the only place, from which much of afford to deliver it on board of vessels at its the Cumberland coal would be shipped; yet we wharves? I think all will answer in the should not be too confident. I have heard of negative. I understand that the mining these natural advantages for more than a Companies are now sending from 80 to 100,000 quarter of a century, which we have too long tons of Coal per annum to Baltimore, which relied upon, whilst works have been constructed may be gradually increased by a gradually all around us leading to other cities; and, but for increased expenditure. If they select the Canal this very canal, and retrocession to our good old for the transportation of their Coal, they will be mother, we should soon have expired, with immediately subjected to the necessity of "natural advantages" upon our breath.
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