Harpers Ferry Free Press

FROM THE FREDERICK CITIZEN, AUG. 15.

POTOMAC CANAL.

Tuesday last was the day fixed for a convention of the people of Frederick county, for the purpose of hearing the report of the committee appointed on the 14th of June to confer with similar committees in other sections of the country, who feel an interest in the improvement of the Potomac; and also for the purpose of considering and discussing the most eligible means to be adopted in order to effect the desirable and important object. The meeting was opened at 4 o'clock in the court room, but the crowd becoming so great as to render respiration extremely difficult, it was adjourned to the area in front of the court house. The following deputations from other places attended on this interesting occasion:

Baltimore—Gen. Winder, Henry Payson, R. B. Taney, and James L. Hawkins, Esqrs.

Washington—T. Munroe, R. C. Weightman and W. V. Seaton, Esquires.

Alexandria—Doctor Humphrey Peake, Col. Jonathan Swift, and Tho's Swan, Esq.

Leesburg—Col. C. J. Mercer and Wm. Chilton, Esq.

Rockville—Benjamin Forrest, Esq.

After the meeting was organized, Mr. Goldsborough on the part of the committee of correspondence for Frederick county, read the report of their labors and researches, which will be found in this paper. It was then proposed that the resolutions accompanying the report should be read and submitted to vote; to which it was objected on the ground that the meeting was probably not prepared to go into an investigation of them immediately; and a motion was made that the meeting be adjourned until the next morning, in order that each individual might be enabled to act deliberately and understandingly upon them. An animated and interesting discussion thereupon arose, (in the course of which the motion to adjourn was withdrawn,) which lasted about two hours, and in which the following gentlemen developed their views: Wm. Goldsborough, F. A. Schley, Col. Mercer, Col. Ritchie, Gen'l Winder, John Nelson, Augustus Taney, F. S. Key, and Beene S. Pigman, Esquires. In the discussion some slight sectional feeling and contending interests are supposed to have been exhibited; but we may add that in the end, a perfect understanding took place, sentiment the important unanimity of sentiment of improving the Potomac, without regard to the particular section of country which may be most likely to be benefitted by the work, was strikingly manifested. Finally, the resolutions were unanimously adopted; and will be found subjoined to the report.

REPORT
Of the Frederick Committee of Correspondence.

The undersigned, being appointed a committee on the part of the citizens of Frederick county, to correspond with the constituted authorities of the cities of Baltimore, Washington, Alexandria, Georgetown, &c. on the subject of the contemplated canal from Cumberland down the Potomac to Georgetown, and the lateral or cross cut canal from the Potomac to Baltimore, beg leave to report:

That they have given all the attention to the subject which its imposing importance, not only to the state of Maryland but to the United States, so well merits: and although they regret that the inability of the commissioners to complete the survey of the lateral canal from the Potomac to the city of Baltimore, deprives them of the opportunity of making as full and satisfactory a report as they wished and expected, yet they feel gratified in being able to make the following report of their proceedings:...

The committee have communicated with the constituted authorities of Baltimore, Washington, Alexandria, Georgetown and Leesburg and have the pleasure to inform their fellow citizens of Frederick that those constituted authorities, duly impressed with the importance of the occasion; have promised to send a highly respectable delegation to attend the meeting, and secure us on a subject so deeply interesting the interests of the whole community.

From the united efforts of such a meeting, actuated by motives purely patriotic, having in contemplation the commercial interests of so large a section of country, and the harmonious intercourse of the citizens of this great republic, the committee felicitate their fellow citizens with the anticipation of the happiest results.

To our western fellow citizens in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana, and to a large portion of the western country which is watered by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, great facilities will be afforded in the transportation of the heavy and bulky agricultural productions, to a choice of markets as good as any in the union. To the state of Maryland commercial advantages will be afforded of incalculable amount and infinite extent—and Baltimore will rise to a pitch of aggrandisement that will enable her to vie with the proudest cities in the union.

The intercourse with the seat of the general government will also be greatly facilitated and increased, & commercial prosperity given to Washington, Georgetown and Alexandria, which we shall view with great gratification. The committee regret that the commissioners appointed by the state of Maryland to survey the lateral canal, have not yet proceeded so far in their arduous task, as to afford an actual designation of the location; they have, however, the gratification to inform their fellow citizens that the survey, so far as it has progressed, affords every prospect of success, and that the lateral canal running through the heart of Frederick county to Baltimore can be effected with great facility.

The committee have also infinite gratification in being enabled to say, from a source of information not to be questioned that the elaborate and highly wrought difficulties in the communication between the Ohio and Potomac, which have been so fully pourtrayed by Mr. Kenworthy in his late treatise on the subject, have, by an actual survey made within a few weeks past, been found to dwindle into absolute insignificance. That the 'dismal and midnight darkness of a tunnel two miles in length and two hundred feet in depth,' has vanished before the sunshine of actual experiment. That, instead of a tunnel of two miles in length and two hundred feet in depth, to connect the waters of Deep Creek (a branch of the Youghiogany) on the west side of the mountain, with those of Crab-Tree Run or Creek, a branch of Savage River on the east side, which empties into the Potomac, no tunnel at all is necessary; and the Herculean task which Mr. K. has so adroitly prepared for us, is completely superseded by the discovery of a different route across the mountain. It is but an act of justice to state, that this highly important discovery has been made within the last thirty days by our enterprising and meritorious fellow citizen, James Shriver, Esq. a gentleman of well known experience and scientific acquirements, to make the survey, in which he is now engaged with the laudable and patriotic view of making a map of that mountainous part of the country, which map will soon be published.

According to this truly interesting discovery, it now appears, that a dam across Deep Creek at Hooppole Narrows, can be constructed at very inconsiderable expense, so as by raising the water about thirty feet, to reduce the cutting in the lowest gap to 70 or at most 80 feet, and this being only at the summit, the extent of this depth across will be inconsiderable. That the level through the ridge from the point to which the water may be easily dammed, will be but about 2 miles, and the average of the cutting for that distance by which an ample supply of water will be obtained, will not be more than 25 or 30 feet, affording an easy communication with the Potomac, and securing the trade of the Ohio valley, which, with the tributary streams of the Ohio, alone contains about 200,000 square miles.

Let the citizens of Maryland, and particularly those of Baltimore; let also the citizens of Washington, Georgetown and Alexandria; let also our western brethren, pause and reflect on this momentous disclosure—let them reflect on the close affinity which it is calculated to produce, and the infinite mutual advantages which it will certainly insure to our latest posterity—and they will join us in saying, that under such circumstances and considerations, the Alleghany mountain dwindles into a mole hill.

This information, on which we are assured the utmost reliance may be placed, removes at once all difficulties in this stupendous national undertaking, & at once throws open the door of commerce with our western brethren, on terms of infinite reciprocal advantage. What comparison will the boasted New York canal bear with this? Although we give our brethren of New York full credit for their noble and highly meritorious exertions, yet we do with gratitude reflect, that bountiful Providence has not been partial in the distribution of his favors—That on this central favored land, which is evidently intended as the special residence of Liberty, the mansion house of the rights of man, a kind Providence has lavished his favors with unexampled liberality.

With this truly auspicious statement of facts, the realization of which we do not for a moment question, the committee beg leave to submit the following resolutions to the consideration of the meeting:

1st. Resolved, That this meeting views with great gratification, the efforts of the Legislature of Maryland and the noble minded participation of the Legislature of Virginia, to effect the contemplated water communication by Canal from Cumberland down the Potomac to tide water, thereby affording to our fellow citizens in the western section of Maryland and Virginia all those advantages and facilities which are the result of water carriage in the transportation of the heavy and bulky agricultural productions of the country—and we hope to see this measure most strenuously persisted in until it is accomplished.

2d. Resolved, that in order to afford to our Western fellow Citizens and to the Citizens of Frederick County, all those advantages resulting from a choice of Markets, and to give to the State of Maryland and to the Citizens of Frederick County all those advantages which will necessarily result from the passage of a portion of the products of the Western Country through Frederick County to Baltimore, it is in the opinion of this meeting, indispensably necessary that the Legislature of Maryland shall reserve the privilege of a lateral or cross cut Canal from the Potomac through Frederick County to the City of Baltimore, and that the junction of the lateral Canal with the Potomac shall be made as high up the river between the mouth of Monocacy and Harpers-Ferry as is practicable.

3d. Resolved, that this meeting views with increased pleasure the contemplated connexion of the Potomac with the Ohio thereby affording to our fellow citizens in the Western sections of Pennsylvania and Ohio, (whom we cannot consider in any other point of view than as most respectable members of our great political Family) the same facilities and advantages which we shall ourselves enjoy and a measure calculated most eminently to increase and perpetuate that intercourse harmony and good fellowship, which now happily exist among the members of our great republic, and to perpetuate our great political compact, the basis of our national prosperity and importance, and which, from its truly republican principle and provisions, must result in the happiness of millions, yet unborn.

4th. Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting, it is an object primary importance to the future prosperity of Maryland, that the Potomac be canalized from Cumberland to tide water, and that the lateral or cross cut canal from the Potomac through Frederick county to Baltimore, to commence at some point between the mouth of Monocacy and Harper's-Ferry, shall be undertaken at as early a day as practicable; and we do most strenuously recommend to the legislature of Maryland the passage of a law to effect the object of these resolutions.

5th. Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the different newspapers in this city, and that the printers throughout the state be requested to publish the same.

All which is most respectfully submitted.

JOHN M'PHERSON,
WM. TYLER,
GRAFTON DUVALL,
WM. GOLDSBOROUGH,
B. S. PIGMAN,
Committee.

After the adoption of the foregoing report and resolutions, the following additional resolution was proposed and agreed to.]

6th. Resolved, That John M'Pherson, Abraham Shriver, Wm. Tyler, William Goldsborough, B. S. Pigman, John Nelson, and F. A Schley, Esqrs. be and they are hereby appointed a committee to correspond on the subject of these resolutions, with the deputations appointed by Baltimore, Washington, Georgetown, Alexandria and Leesburg, to attend this meeting; as also with the Potomac company, with such committees as may be appointed elsewhere, and such person or persons as they may deem expedient—and to concert such measures as may be best calculated to effectuate the objects of said resolutions.

JOHN GRAHAM, Chairman
SINGLETON DUVALL, Secretary