CHAPTER IX.

TRANSPORTATION,

The First Exploration of the Potomac River-The Potomac Company-The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company-The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company -The Metropolitan Railroad Company - The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company - The Washington and Alexandria Railroad Company - The Washington and Potomac Railroad Company-The Washington and Chesapeake Railroad Company - The First Bridge across Rock Creek -The Chain Bridge - The Long Bridge-The Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company - The Metropolitan Railroad Company - The Columbia Railroad Company - The Anacostia and Potomac Railroad Company - The Capitol, North O Street, and South Washington Railroad Company - The Rock Creek Railroad Company-The Eckington and Soldiers' Home Railroad Company - The Georgetown and Tennallytown Railroad Company-The Norfolk and Washington Steamboat Company - The Mount Vernon and Marshall Hall Steamboat Company - Other Steamboat Companies.

IN

N this chapter on "Transportation," an attempt will be made to describe, somewhat in detail, the means and methods of transportation, and the developments in these means and methods which have been employed and made from time to time, since the first historic exploration of the Potomac River, with the view of improving its navigability, by the great founder of the city of Washington, the District of Columbia, and, indeed, of the Nation itself. This exploration was of the river above tide water, as but little, if anything, was necessary to be done below the location of the District of Columbia, which, indeed, had not been decided upon at the time; but it is well known that the future President of the United States had, in his own mind, selected the present location even long before the exploration under consideration was made. It is also stated by numerous writers, doubtless on sufficient authority, that the present situation of the Capital of the United States was chosen, in part, because it is on a tidal river, the tide water of which penetrates farther into the heart of the country than any other, so that when communication should be necessary between the Atlantic seaboard and the interior of the country, it would, from this point, be the most easy and inexpensive. Of course, this means of communication was to be by the improved navigation of the Potomac River, or by means of a lateral canal, as railroads had not then been considered. Indeed, for many years after the practicability of this latter means of travel had been demonstrated,

many of the people could not be convinced that anything was superior to a canal.

But at the risk of repeating what has been stated so many times, we must introduce at the outset in this chapter a brief account of the famous exploration referred to above. It took place in 1783, and in a canoe, or pirogue, hollowed out of a large poplar tree, and was undertaken for the purpose of determining whether the Potomac River could be navigated above tide water at Georgetown. General Washington was the principal character engaged in this work, for which he was eminently qualified by his early education and practice as a surveyor. There were several other gentlemen in the exploration party with him in the pirogue, among whom was Governor Johnson, of Maryland, who had been a gallant soldier in the Revolutionary War. The humble bark, when ready for the water, was hauled to the banks of the Monocacy on a wagon, launched into the stream, and received its distinguished burden. It immediately started on its interesting and important reconnoisance. As night came on, the party would land and seek accommodations of the planters or farmers along the banks of the river, who were then, as now, far-famed for their genial hospitality. The work of the exploration was accomplished, and was followed, as a result, by the organization of a company for the improvement of the river. This company expended, in the attempt to render the river navigable, nearly a million of dollars, in a series of years, and at length gave way to a more extensive company working on a different and more feasible plan.

The company first referred to was called the Potomac Company. This company was incorporated by the legislatures of Maryland and Virginia in 1784. Its affairs were managed by a president and four directors, who were elected at a general meeting of the stockholders on the first Monday in August each year. The purpose for which the company was incorporated was to extend the navigation of the Potomac River from tide water to the highest practicable point on the North Branch. While a great deal of money was expended, yet the object was but imperfectly accomplished on account of the natural obstacles in the way, and for want of experience in such matters in this country at that time. The fall in the river between Cumberland and tide water was as much as 578 feet, and the distance was one hundred and eighty-five miles; hence the difficulty of rendering the Potomac River navigable. The company did, however, execute great and beneficial works, as the locks at Little Falls, overcoming a fall of 37 feet; the canal and locks at Great Falls, overcoming a fall of

77 feet; the long canal at Harper's Ferry, and several other small canals around falls in other parts of the river.

The locks at Great Falls were opened in 1800, and from that time to August, 1826, there were brought down 1,308,911 barrels of flour, 48,909 barrels of whisky, and other articles, the aggregate in value being $10,534,000.

At the Great Falls the canal was 1 mile long, 25 feet wide, and 6 feet deep; and the descent of 77 feet was made through 5 locks, each 100 feet long and 12 feet wide. The canal at Little Falls was of the same capacity, and 2 miles in length, furnished with 3 locks. These locks were constructed of wood, and were each 100 feet long and 18 feet in width. Of the five locks at Great Falls, two were cut in the solid rock, and the other three were made of wood and stone.

Besides these canals with locks, there were constructed 3 canals without locks. The first was below Harper's Ferry, at Shenandoah Falls, where the Potomac breaks through the Blue Ridge, and was 1 mile in length. The second, along the Seneca Falls, was of a mile in length, and the third, at House's Falls, five miles above that at Shenandoah Falls, was 50 yards in length.

On the Shenandoah River there were 5 locks, each 100 feet long and 12 feet wide; and 6 canals, each 20 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and extending 2,400 yards. But navigation, in 1830, of the main or North Branch of the Potomac River, extended to Western Port, near its source, a distance of 219 miles above tide water.

The South Branch of the Potomac was navigable for 100 miles above its junction with the main branch, and the north fork about 60 miles. The boats used for the navigation of the Potomac and the Shenandoah were 75 feet long, 5 feet wide, and drew 18 inches of water. They carried 20 tons.

The original capital stock of the company consisted of 701 shares, which, at $444, amounted to $311,560. Of these shares, 220 belonged to Maryland, and 70 to Virginia.

In 1821, the affairs of the Potomac Company became the subject of investigation. Commissioners appointed by Maryland and Virginia assembled at Georgetown June 2, 1822, and afterward reported that the company had expended not only the whole of their stock, but in addition had incurred heavy debts, which their resources could never enable them to pay; that not only the whole of their original stock, but also all their tolls had been expended in an attempt to improve the river; and that the failure to accomplish the objects of their incorporation was attributable to lack of information on the subject

many of the people could not be convinced that anything was superior to a canal.

But at the risk of repeating what has been stated so many times, we must introduce at the outset in this chapter a brief account of the famous exploration referred to above. It took place in 1783, and in a canoe, or pirogue, hollowed out of a large poplar tree, and was undertaken for the purpose of determining whether the Potomac River could be navigated above tide water at Georgetown. General Washington was the principal character engaged in this work, for which he was eminently qualified by his early education and practice as a surveyor. There were several other gentlemen in the exploration party with him in the pirogue, among whom was Governor Johnson, of Maryland, who had been a gallant soldier in the Revolutionary War. The humble bark, when ready for the water, was hauled to the banks of the Monocacy on a wagon, launched into the stream, and received its distinguished burden. It immediately started on its interesting and important reconnoisance. As night came on, the party would land and seek accommodations of the planters or farmers along the banks of the river, who were then, as now, far-famed for their genial hospitality. The work of the exploration was accomplished, and was followed, as a result, by the organization of a company for the improvement of the river. This company expended, in the attempt to render the river navigable, nearly a million of dollars, in a series of years, and at length gave way to a more extensive company working on a different and more feasible plan.

The company first referred to was called the Potomac Company. This company was incorporated by the legislatures of Maryland and Virginia in 1784. Its affairs were managed by a president and four directors, who were elected at a general meeting of the stockholders on the first Monday in August each year. The purpose for which the company was incorporated was to extend the navigation of the Potomac River from tide water to the highest practicable point on the North Branch. While a great deal of money was expended, yet the object was but imperfectly accomplished on account of the natural obstacles in the way, and for want of experience in such matters in this country at that time. The fall in the river between Cumberland and tide water was as much as 578 feet, and the distance was one hundred and eighty-five miles; hence the difficulty of rendering the Potomac River navigable. The company did, however, execute great and beneficial works, as the locks at Little Falls, overcoming a fall of 37 feet; the canal and locks at Great Falls, overcoming a fall of

77 feet; the long canal at Harper's Ferry, and several other small canals around falls in other parts of the river.

The locks at Great Falls were opened in 1800, and from that time. to August, 1826, there were brought down 1,308,911 barrels of flour, 48,909 barrels of whisky, and other articles, the aggregate in value being $10,534,000.

At the Great Falls the canal was 1 mile long, 25 feet wide, and 6 feet deep; and the descent of 77 feet was made through 5 locks, each 100 feet long and 12 feet wide. The canal at Little Falls was of the same capacity, and 23 miles in length, furnished with 3 locks. These locks were constructed of wood, and were each 100 feet long and 18 feet in width. Of the five locks at Great Falls, two were cut in the solid rock, and the other three were made of wood and stone.

Besides these canals with locks, there were constructed 3 canals without locks. The first was below Harper's Ferry, at Shenandoah Falls, where the Potomac breaks through the Blue Ridge, and was 1 mile in length. The second, along the Seneca Falls, was of a mile in length, and the third, at House's Falls, five miles above that at Shenandoah Falls, was 50 yards in length.

On the Shenandoah River there were 5 locks, each 100 feet long and 12 feet wide; and 6 canals, each 20 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and extending 2,400 yards. But navigation, in 1830, of the main or North Branch of the Potomac River, extended to Western Port, near its source, a distance of 219 miles above tide water.

The South Branch of the Potomac was navigable for 100 miles above its junction with the main branch, and the north fork about 60 miles. The boats used for the navigation of the Potomac and the Shenandoah were 75 feet long, 5 feet wide, and drew 18 inches of water. They carried 20 tons.

The original capital stock of the company consisted of 701 shares, which, at $444, amounted to $311,560. Of these shares, 220 belonged to Maryland, and 70 to Virginia.

In 1821, the affairs of the Potomac Company became the subject of investigation. Commissioners appointed by Maryland and Virginia assembled at Georgetown June 2, 1822, and afterward reported that the company had expended not only the whole of their stock, but in addition had incurred heavy debts, which their resources could never enable them to pay; that not only the whole of their original stock, but also all their tolls had been expended in an attempt to improve the river; and that the failure to accomplish the objects of their incorporation was attributable to lack of information on the subject