| 720 Documents
try and another will carry it into Pennsvlvania and take in the vicinitv
of Carlisle, Yorktown etc'. The ~;hanandoalt has been inspected by two
judicius Engineers then of experience in inland navigation, who unite in
reporting the facility and light expenses (not exceeding 40,ooo dolls.)
with which it call be made navigable to the Potomac. All the obstruc-
tions that can be considered as of any note, 1av within Seven miles of
its junction with the Potomac and nature has done so much toNNards
facilitating the navigation of this part that at least 2/3d of the labour
under other circumstances will be saved. And, as a favorable addition,
the U. S. have lately purchased the property at the junction of the Poto-
mac and Shanandoah for alt Arsena1,21 [foundary?] etc. To convey the
water to their works they must go tln-ough the most difficult part of the
work that must be done to make the Shanandoah navigable, and should
the Pototn'c Co- join with them (as they ttn(loubtedlv will) the cut may
be made to answer all the purposes of navigation all(] to supply the work
with water, and dividtrg the expense will make it light to each. When
the Slianaudoah is made navagable more produce will be brought throu-h
it into the Potomac than will come through the Potomac above the Shan-
andoalt.
5th. Can Shares be bought? Perhaps 20 or 30 tnay be bought up
at present; but beyond that no. 1 presume thay are in hands who know
their value and not being pressed will hold them.
6th. At what price.' 'the additional Shares were placd at £ t,3o
Stg to include the interest on the instaltut. paid on the original shares,
that the old and new subscribers might be placed (n, the same footing.
These shares are all taken up Viz. 40 by llarvland, 20 by Virg'a and
40 by individual S.22 The no. of shares above mention or less tnav now
be bought for about five hundred dolls. each all paid up which is less
than the new shares; but those who are willing to will do it only in con-
sequence of being pressd for money.
q. Is it known whether the proprietor, will be safe against further
contributors, or how far they will p,-obablv be called upon ' The ad(li-
tiolial Shares are fully equal to completing the work upon the most ex-
tended calculation. Should more be wanted for the navigation of the
branches, whielt will probably be the ease, it will arise froth the revenue
of the tolls on the main River. At the last Gcnl. meetg of the Stocl~
Holders in Augt. it was determined to collect tolls at the two places about
tile Gt. Falls this year: but the Board of Directors upon weil-hing the
matter thot. best to defer the collection at present as some small repairs
and improvtnts are wanting on the River abo% a which could not be done
'till the low water of summer and murmerings Nvoul(1 naturally arise on
the demand of tolls unless the navigation was in a more perfect state.
Had this toll been collected it would have produced already more than
4ooo dollars to the Company; but, for the reasons mentioned, it was pru-
dent to delay- it.
T have the pleasure to add that the Directors have lately engaged an
experienced Ingineer=3 to superitited and direct their works. particu-
aSee Letters and Recollections of George Washington, being letters to
Tobias Lear and Others (New York, igo6), pp. 96, ro(; Washington as Presi-
dent of the United States urged the purchase of this property for an
arsenal.
"Mrs. Bacon-Poster states that Maryland took sixty and individuals the
remaining forty. The Potomac Route to the West, p. (8(.
"Captain Christopher Myers; Letters to Lear, pp. y; ioi.
|
