| IL'ashing-ton and the Potoinac 719
3d Query. When will it probably be completed.' Certainly within
two years, unless interruptions. which cannot at this time be foreseen,
should occur.
4th Query. " What per Cent trill it probably vield in the present
State of population and produce "?
In order to answer this satisfactorily- it h=ill be necessary to observe
that the law establishing the rate of tolls allows three places for collec-
tion-vr. one below and near the mouth of the South Branch, one at
Paytte's falls below the Shatltlandoah and one at the Great falls. at
each of the 2 first places 3 d. sterlg. pr. bble is allowed for flour etc.
and
at the last place 6 d. st'g, this would make t/ st'g in the whole; but to
Inake a fair Statentt. it will only be proper to say that the whole will
pay at the two last places, making 9 d. st'g pr. bble. And to proceed
on sound data it is best to take the quantity of flour etc. exported from
Alxa. and Geo. Town 9/to the of which is brought from such parts of
the Country as will naturally send its produce down the River when the
navigation shall be completed. I-lie follow'g statetnt in figures will place
the matter in a clear point of view-
orign'1 Capital of the Potom'k C'y £ So,ooo St'g
say htterest on the aboxe accord'g to instalmts p;tid 15,000
too Additional shares at 130 £ .t'g each " T3,ooo
£ ;8,000
Flour and NVheat, Tiulian Corn Rye, Oates, Beans, Pease etc. exported
from Alex'a and G. I'Oovn in 1795 estimating the whole as flour 20
20o,ooo bbls at 9 d. E 7500
Tobacco t5oo Illuls at least from about the River above,
at 3/ 225
Pig Iron and Castings at a low estimate 1000 tons, ¢/ 200
The only return Article that can be fairly ascertan'd at
present is salt of which more than 20o,ooo buslt'ls at
3 farthings pr bush'1 625
£ 8.550
'fltis alone will give an interest of almost eleven per Cent, on the
accumulated Capital of 78,000, immediately on the completion of the work.
Should the forgoing be exaggerated (which I believe is not) it would be
much more than made good by articles not enumerated, and to you who
know the Comriry so well it is umtecessary to remark on the addition
which must arise from the returns of the produce of the Western Coun-
try and from the indian trade from lime, coal and other articles brot
down the river and from the opening the extensive passes of the Poto-
mac, vhich will be attended to by the Potomac Co. they having the
power so to do. On the Connigochegue one lock is already made which
opens that valuable branch to a considerable distance into a rich Coun-
In j;95 books were opened for one hundred additional shares in order to
commence work on the Shenandoah River.
'"* UrVards of 150,000 bbls flour was exported from Alex'a and about
io,ooo from G. Town, the other articles would fully made up the 4o,ooo bbls.
[.Vote i,c original.]
AM. nIST. REV., VOL. xxvIl7-q7.
|
