Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 1 of 2]Weld, Isaac
History
Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 1 of 2]
Weld, Isaac
Canada -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; United States -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
will be held out by congress to those who settle in the city, which will
be refused to such as go to any other part of the territory. Although
Alexandria and George Town, then, may rival the city while it is in its
infancy, yet it cannot be imagined that either of them will be able to
cope with it in the end. The probable trade of the city may for this
reason be spoken of as if neither of the other places existed.
[Sidenote: PROBABLE TRADE OF WASHINGTON.]
It may be taken for granted, in the first place, that the whole of the
country bordering upon the Patowmac river, and upon those rivers which
fall into it, will trade with the city of Washington. In tracing the
course of the Patowmac all these rivers were not enumerated; a better
idea of them may be had from an inspection of the map. Shenandoah, which
is the longest, is not navigable at present; but it has been surveyed,
and the company for improving the navigation of the Patowmac have stated
that it can be made so for one hundred miles. This would be coming very
near to Staunton, behind the Blue Mountains, and which is on the high
road from Kentucky, and from the new state of Tennessee, to the city of
Philadelphia. Frankfort, the capital of the former of these states, is
nearly eight hundred miles from Philadelphia; Knoxville, that of the
other, seven hundred and twenty-eight. Both these towns draw their
supplies of foreign manufactures from Philadelphia, and by landcarriage.
Supposing then that the navigation of the Shenandoah should be
perfected, there would be a saving of four hundred and thirty-six miles
of land carriage from going to Washington by the Shenandoah and Patowmac
instead of going to Philadelphia; such a saving, it might be imagined,
would draw the whole of this trade to Washington. Whether the two
western states, Kentucky and Tennessee, will trade to New Orleans or
not, at a future day, in preference to any of these places, will be
investigated presently.
[Sidenote: WATER CARRIAGE.]
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