A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 66

Author: Martin, Joseph. ed. cn; Brockenbrough, William Henry
Publication date: 1835
Publisher: Charlottesville, J. Martin
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 66
USA > Virginia > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 66

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

GEORGETOWN.

with the flattened poles, and knocked| way by the crew of one canoe on .a on the head one by one; thirty or for- single tide." ty dozen are sometimes killed in this

GEORGETOWN.

GEORGETOWN is a Port of Entry been recently completed. Its princi- and . Post Town in Washington coun. pal export trade consists of tobacco, flour, leather, soap, candles, beer, &e. ty. It was originally laid out under an act of the Colonial Assembly of The annual inspection. of tobacco, Maryland, passed in May 15th, 1751. has recently amounted to 5,000 hogs- In 1789 the town was incorporated, heads; the inspection of flour to more than 80,000 barrels. There is a con- siderable foreign trade with Europe, South America and the West Indies. INTENRAL IMPROVEMENTS .--- The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal passes through the heart of the town, at the level of thirty-seven feet above the river, and is let into an extensive basin, formed from. Rock creek by and is under the government of a mayor, recorder, alderman and com- mon council. This town is situated on the left bank of the Potomac river, at the head of tide water and the na- tural navigation of that river, and is separated by Rock creek from Wash- ington, with which there is a ready communication at present by means of two bridges crossing the creek at four detached locks. Being the high- two principal streets of Georgetown, and an additional means of commu- nication by a pier, of the width of scent, its situation is peculiarly favor- 160 feet, lately constructed across the mouth of Rock creek.

est seaport on the Potomac, and the first reached by the canal in its de- able for enjoying the trade which is wafted on that great high way, and which establishes a ready communi- cation from a rich back country, to the basin at Rock creek.

The town is remarkably salubrious, and it has at all times escaped those summer epidemics that have prevail- ed some years in the adjacent coun- "The Locks arealmost all of 8 feet. try. It is handsomely situated on a lift-are built of cut stone, and laid in the best hydraulic cement.

succession of hills, rising gradually from the river and creek, to which "The canal from the head of. Lit- tle Falls, 5 miles above Georgetown, receives water from the Potomac ri- ver; and the river being at that point, raised by a dam across it, of 4 feet in height above the surface. This level of water is brought down to Congress street in the heart of Georgetown, and is there 37 feet above low-water all its streets incline. So that every considerable rain thoroughly cleanses them of all impurity. . For some years after the late war, a very active business was transacted in the town, and the improvements during this time were very numerous and orna- mental. Subsequently, and until with- in the last two or three years, its trade of the Potomac; on the east side of has declined, and improvement been Congress street there is a Lock, and in a great measure suspended; with- at the tail of the Lock on Jefferson street, a bridge; below Jefferson street a second Lock and bridge, to pass Washington street; below Washing- ton street, a third Lock and bridge at in this period, however, there has been a very considerable progressive amendment in trade, and numerous valuable buildings, and other improve- ments are now in progress, or have the foot of it, to pass Green street;

492

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

and below Green street a fourth Lock, have accommodated the trade with so to let down into the basin of Rock creek.

"The plan of the Basin at Rock creek is one of the most important of the details of the whole project, and nature seems to have placed Rock creek at a point calculated by this im- provement to be invaluable.

"By the project of forming a mole

"The route of the Canal passes very direct (almost straight) through Georgetown; and the cutting is gene- rally only what is wanted. It is true that between Potomac street and High strect, there is a short space of 300 · or dam across the mouth of Rock feet, where it was found necessary to creek, the outer part of which is along the side of the channel of the Potomac, where there is from 9 to 12 feet water at low tide. This mole is . 1200 feet long, and 160 feet wide, made of stone on both sides, and fill- ed between with earth taken from the Canal, as it passes through George- town.

"This mole is intended to raise the water of Rock creek 3 feet above common high tide in the Potomac, and retain it uniformly at this height. About the middle of the mole there is a Lock to let down boats into the river, and this Lock has a lift of only 3 feet at high tide, and 6 feet at low tide. This Lock with the form pre- viously named, brings the boats into the Potomac river.

great facility and economy, any where in the neighborhoods of Georgetown or Washington.

cut 30 feet, in one place 32 feet. All this earth is deposited to form the mole or pier; this is the deepest cut- ting or excavation on any part of the Canal.

" After leaving the streets in George- town, the Canal runs along the steep bank of the Potomac for a mile and a half, the greater part very steep, form- ed of rock, which required blasting with powder; above this last distance the country assumes a little more gentle declivity and better shape for a Canal, and it passes along sloping ground, till it intersects the old Poto- mac Canal, and following that to near the western end, it then leaves it and rises to a higher level by a Lock of 8 feet lift, and soon after, another of the same lift, and then it passes on for one and a half miles, and then a Lock of 8 feet lift; then one and a half

"By the side of the Lock which lets into the Potomac, there is a waste weir 200 feet long, over which the miles and then another Lock; then surplus water of Rock creek passes.

half a mile, and then commences a succession of 6 Locks, at Intervals or spaces of 100 yards between each; then commences a long level of more than 4 miles without a Lock. This brings you to the Great Falls, where

"This mole or dam flows the water of Rock creek back about three quar- ters of a mile, and makes a beautiful basin from 100 to 250 feet wide, which has a depth of 6 feet water in nearly the whole distance, and gives on the are 6 Locks more, at intervals or spa- Washington and Georgetown sides of ces of 100 to 200 yards between. We Rock creek, the greatest possible ad- then reach the head of the Great Falls, and have ascended 20 Locks, or 160 feet from Rock creek. This part of the Canal about the Great Falls presents features in the forma- tion of the country, which are very striking and bold; and nature has done a good deal by forming a ravine vantages for wharves and ware houses, 'which can be imagined. It appears that nature never formed a more con- venient and useful spot, to end a great and important work of this kind, than Rock creek, with these improvements upon it. And we do not see any place where a useful and capacious basin of nearly a mile in length, with huge could have been formed, which would ledges of large blocks of granite or

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493

· GEORGETOWN.

gneiss, forming its sides, and where the |peake and Ohio Canal extending water will be from 10 to 30 feet deep, & 100 to 200 feet wide. Along this we pass, and a towing path is formed by levelling some, and raising other parts so as to make the path regular on the side of it; at another part of the Canal there are vertical walls to sustain the Canal 50 feet high among . the rocks.

"To those who have but a limited knowledge of the duties of a Civil. En- .gineer, it has been objected that the plan of cutting so deep through . Georgetown was wrong. It is how- ever, believed, that the plan presents 2 Episcopalian, 1 Presbyterian, 2 manyadvantages. Ist. It enables the Methodist and 1 African, -also 2 banks incorporated by Congress, the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Georgetown, and Union Bank. with a joint capital of $9,64,130. . It contains also a considerable number of dry good and grocery stores, 1 ex- tensive brewery with several manu- factories, and every mechanical pur- suit necessary to a town of its magni- tude, and immediately above the town is an extensive cannon foundry. Canal to pass through Georgetown with less inconvenience to private pro- perty than any other route, and a great deal cheaper. 2d. It furnishes an . easy pass way by bridges over the Canal, nearly or quite level with the streets, thereby not incommoding the buildings along the streets, nor mak. ing the ascent of the streets (which are now considerable) any steeper. :3d. It furnished the earth to make a mole or pier of great width, and ca- The academy under the direction of " The Sisters of Visitation," has been established 33 years, and aver- ages generally from 70 to 80 young ladies as boarders, and from 30 to 40 young ladies as day scholars. With- in the nunnery enclosure, but detach- ed from the academy and approached from a different street, there are up. ward of 400 young girls Nught gra- pable of receiving warehouses in the "centre of it, where boats can discharge at one end of the warehouse, and · ships take in at the other. This fur- nishes a plan for transhipment of pro- perty with the least possible expense. 4th. By making this basin at Rock creek, it presents shores where boats can lay in safety for one and a half miles on both its sides. It also finds tuitously, about 200 attending daily. a place in its upper part, where boats not in immediate use, can lay without paying much wharfage or expense, and be perfectly safe."

MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, &c .- The vicinity of the town naturally offers peculiar advantages for extensive manufactories. The river falling near 40 feet in 4 miles. The Chesa-

over this space at an elevation of 37 feet above tide water, and of a width of 70 to 80 feet, with a depth of 7 ft. may supply very numerous manufac- turing establishments with water, without obstruction to the navigation. The public institutions and buildings consist of the GEORGETOWN COL- LEGE ; a society of Nuns incorpo- rated by Congress, under the name of " The Sisters of the Visitation," who conduct a very flourishing female academy. There are 8 houses of public worship, 2 Roman Catholic,

At the Lancaster School, there are annually taught about 100 boys, and 70 girls. There are 3 other acade- mies for young ladies, in which are taught all the branches of polite and fashionable education, and 3 acade. mies for young men, with several other respectable schools all conduct- led by competent teachers.

一

494

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

Assessed valuation of real and personal property.

Real, Personal,

280,311

Total,

$2,680,311

Population at different periods,

Whites,

Free Colored,

Slaves,

Total,

In 1810,

3,235,

551,

1,162,

4,948

" 1820,

4.940,

894,

1,526,

7,360

" 1830,

6,057,

· 1,209,

1,175,

8,441

ANNALOSTAN ISLAND .- Opposite ]on the northern bank of the Potomac, to Georgetown is Mason's Island pro- commands a full view of Georgetown, Washington, the Potomac, and a great part of the District, Its situation is peculiarly healthy. It is under the direction of the incorporated Catholic clergy of Maryland, and is the oldest Catholic seminary in the United States: it was first incorporated in 1799; and in 1815, it received an ex- tension of its privileges from Con- gress, and was authorized to confer degrees. The college library con- tains 12,000 volumes. The academic or college year commences on the 15th of September, and ends on the 31st of July; and commencement is near the last of July. The number of students is usually about 140 or 150; a considerable part of them being day scholars. The number of graduates is not great. The number graduated at the commencement of July 25, 1833 was 7 .- There are 19 professors and tutors, of whom 3 are professors of theology. perly called ANNALOSTAN ISLAND. It is the seat of GEN. JOHN MASON. It has a highly cultivated surface of about 70 acres,-the natural soil, light and sandy. A causway on the Virginia side, and a horse boat ferry from Georgetown, facilitates commu- nication with this beautiful spot from the shores. The highest ground above the level of the river is elevated about 50 feet, and upon this eminence the dwelling is situated. The usual tides rise about 3 feet. In digging for water, it is procured at the depth of 20 or 30 feet from the surface. Aga- tized wood has been discovered in well digging. The house which is approached through a fine avenue of trees, is extensive, with a number of convenient buildings attached: from it the public buildings in Washington are seen to advantage. On the N. side of the Island an alluvial mea- dow is rapidly forming. The S. side is substantially walled, and dotted with neat white cottages for servants buildings.

Warden justly remarks, that "the view from this spot is delightful. It embraces the picturesque banks of the Potomac a portion of the city, and a noble expanse of water. Numerous vessels ply backwards and forwards to animate the scene.

'The course of ordinary studies is completed in 7 years, at the end of which, if the student has made suffi- cient progress, he may receive the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts. When a scholar presents himself to be receiv- ed into the College, he is. examined by the prefect of studies, and placed in that class, for which his prior ac- quirements may have fitted him, he

GEORGETOWN COLLEGE .- This then passes on in regular succession . College which is pleasantly situated (to the final class of Logic and Moral

$2,400,000

481

45.00 00

495

GEORGETOWN.

Philosophy. If he remain longer, and Moral Philosophy is studied- and study the higher branches of Mathematics continued.

Mathematics and Natural Philoso- phy, he may take the degree of Mas- ter of Arts. .

RULES, REGULATIONS and COURSE OF INSTRUCTION .- Ist. In the lowest school or class of Rudiments, the scholars study the English and French Grammars, Caligraphy, A- rithmetic, &c .- and at the conclusion of this year (for each class, unless some student by their particular ap: The College possesses a select Li- brary of about 12,000 volumes, the use of which is granted to the se- charge. plication and talents, should merit promotion, occupies one year) they are supposed to be able to read and nior students without any additional write English correctly.

2d. During the next year, (third class of Humanities,) the scholars continue to study the English and French Grammars, and begin to com- pose in those languages-Arithmetic is continued and towards the end of the year they commence the Latin Grammar.

3d. In the second class of Humani- . ties, they continue English and French composition, (these studies are continued till the end of Rhetoric,) and Arithmetic : they begin Latin ex- ercises and read some easy Latin au- thors-as Nepos, Cæsar, &c. During this year a course of Geography is studied, and Greek is begun.

4th. In the first class of Humani- ties, they read portions of Sallust, Ci- cero's minor works, and some of Ovid's Elegies, Prosody-and com- mence History. They study portions of the Greek Scripture, Xenophon, and Lucian's dialogues. Algebra is begun.

: 5th. In Poetry, Cicero's minor works, Virgil, Horace, Livy and Ho- mer, are read. History is continued and a treatise of Mythology learned. Mathematics continued.

6th. In Rethoric-The scholars study Rhetoric, Cicero's Orations, Homer, Virgil, Horace, History and Mathematics.

. 7th. This year a course of Logic

During the whole course, great at- tention is paid to Composition, par- ticularly English. There will always be a class of Book-keeping for the convenience of those who wish to learn it. The Italian, Spanish and German languages will be also taught if required. Music, Drawing, Dan- cing, &c. will form additional char- ges.

There are two examinations in the year. The minor one in February or March, and the other immediately before the commencement, which will always be a day of public exercises, towards the end of July.

No student is admitted, who cannot read and has not a good moral cha- racter.

As the members of the College pro- fess the Catholic Religion, the exer- cises of Religious worship are Cath- olic, but members of other Religious denominations are received, of whom it is only required, that they respect- fully assist at the public duties of re- ligion with their companions. Were not this enforced, no proper order, such as should be found in large lite- rary institutions, could exist in the College.

No student will be permitted to leave the College on visits of any length oftener than once a year, viz : at the great vacation. If his parents live in the District, he will be allowed to visit them once a month, but not oftener -- and he must then always re- turn to' the College before night.

TERMS .- Every student shall pay on entering the College, ten dollars. He shall bring a mattrass, a pillow, two pillow cases, two pair of sheets, four blankets and a counterpane, or pay $6 per annum for the use of bed

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496 .

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON CITY.

and bedding. He must also bring) expense of clothing for six months. with him one suit of clothes, as a uni- form-which is in winter, a blue cloth coat and pantaloons with a black vel- vet waistcoat; in summer, white pan- taloons with a black silk waistcoat are used.

With regard to pocket money, it is desired that all the students should be placed on an equality, and that it should not exceed 12} cents per week; and whatever is allowed must be deposited in the hands of the di- rectors of the College. Half-board-

He must likewise bring with him two suits for daily wear, for which'ers are received on the usual . terms, viz. 85 entrance, and $65 for board Iper annum.

no particular color is prescribed; six shirts, six pair of stockings, six pock- et handkerchiefs, three pair of shoes, a hat and a cloak or great coat, also a silver spoon. These articles if not brought by the student will be furnish-

Day scholars, 85 for fuel and ,ser- vants, as no charge is made for tuition.

CONVENT .- The Convent of the Sisters of Visitation, is a plain, sub- ed by the College and included in the stantial, but gloomy-looking, monas- first bill.

tic institution, which must recall, lamidst its solitudes, to the recollection of the contemplative mind, the touch- ing story of Abelard and Eloisa .- The solemnity of the scene is in strict

'The pension for board, washing, mending and mending materials- use of books, (philosophical and math- ematical excepted,) pens, ink and writing paper, slates and pencils is keeping with the object of the edifice. $150. Medical aid and medicine, unless parents choose to run the risk of a Doctor's bill in case of sickness, $3 per annum. All chargest must be paid half yearly in advance.

The visiter is admitted into the speaking room, as it is called, which is separated from the sanctum sancto- rum, by substantial wooden bars, re- sembling the grates of a prison. The Sisters are clad in sable garments, with deep black hoods, and white

For the convenience of parents, particularly those at a distance, the College will undertake to supply the veils descending to the waist. The students with clothing. The annual Nuns are from various States of the expense cannot be specified, as it de- Union, and generally number about pends upon the age and wearing of 50. The process of initiation is the the student : all that can be said, is same as the other nunneries, the no- vitiate being two years, the first for the white veil, and the second for the the strictest economy and simplicity will be observed. If parents wish the College to supply their children black, after which, there can be. no with clothes, a deposit is required by retreat, the College equivalent to the probable

WASHINGTON CITY.

WASHINGTON CITY, the seat of from Boston, 595 from Augusta, the General Government of the U. Maine, 546 from Detroit, Michigan, S. of America, and capital of the Dis- trict of Columbia, is situated on the left or Maryland side of the Potomac, near the head of tide water, and by the river and Chesapeake bay, 290 ms. from the Atlantic. It is 38 ms. S. W. from Baltimore, 136 from Phila- delphia, 225 from New York, 432 the junction of the rivers Potomac

1,068 from Little Rock, Arkansas, 856 from St. Louis, 1,203 from New Orleans, 662 from Savannah, Georgia, and 544 from Charleston, S. C. The capitol stands in lat. 38º 52' 45"; long .: W. from the . observatory at Green- wich 76° 55' 30.", and is located at

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497

WASHINGTON CITY,

and Eastern branch, extending nearly |ritory, probably the richest, and com. 4 ms. up each, and including a tract manding the most extensive internal resources of any in America, to re- commend it as an eligible place for the permanent seat of the General Government; and it has grown up with an extraordinary degree of ra- pidity. But its growth is rather to be attributed to the vast amount ex. pended in it by the Federal Govern- ment, and the numerous strangers brought thither, than to its commer- cial advantages, great as they are .- The city of Baltimore being so near it, and having such immense advan. tages in the greater capital enterprise and skill of her merchants, in conti- guity to the ocean, and greater facili- ty of approach, in her greater age and established commercial character and intercourse,-and lastly in being a city of a state with a much more ex- tended territory, all the advantages of which that state naturally desires to pour into her lap .- and that identical territory too, being the very source from which the materials of com- merce would have to be drawn by Washington,-the latter can never hope to rival the former in her com. mercial prosperity. of territory, exceeded in point of con- venience, salubrity and beauty by none in America. For although the land in general appears level, yet by gentle and gradual swellings, a varie- ty of elegant prospects are produced, and sufficient descent formed for con- veying off the water occasioned by rain. Within the limits of the city are a great number of excellent springs,-water of the best quality may readily be had, and the never failing streams that run through that territory, are also collected for the use of the city. The waters of Reedy branch and of Tiber creek, may be conveyed to the President's house. The source of Tiber creek is elevated 236 ft. above the level of its tide wa- ter. The perpendicular height of the ground on which the Capitol stands is 78 ft. above the level of the tide in Tiber creek,-the waters of Tiber creek may therefore be conveyed to the Capitol, and after watering that part of the city may be destined to other useful purposes. The Eastern branch is one of the safest and most commodious harbors in America, and is sufficiently deep for the largest Ships, for about 4 ms. above its mouth, while the channel lies close along the bank adjoining the city, and affords a large and convenient harbor. The Potomac although only navigable for Small craft for a considerable distance The fact, however, that Washing- ton is not likely ever to be an over. grown commercial city, is not at all to be regretted by the statesman. The legislation of the Union would not be at all benefitted by the presence of a noisy, disorderly mcb, -- which is al- most sure to exist in a large commer- cial city. from its banks, next to the city, (ex- cepting about half a mile above the junction of the river,) will, neverthe- less afford a capacious summer har- bor, as an immense number of Ships may ride in the great channel oppo- site and below the city. The situa- tion of this metropolis, is upon the great line of communication, about THE PLAN of this city appears to contain some important improvements upon that of the best planned cities in the world, combining in a remarka: elegance of prospect, and a free circu- equi-distant from the northern and southern extremities of the Union, and nearly so from the Atlantic and Pittsburg; upon the best navigation, ble degree; convenience, regularity, and in the midst of a commercial ter

The city of Washington has also to compete with the town of George .. town, Alexandria and Fredericks burg, much of the commerce of which would flow to her if those towns did not exist.

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498

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

lation of air. The position for the the Union. These diverge from the different public edifices, and for the Capital and President's house, and a several squares, and areas of differ- ent shapes, as they are laid down, were first fixed on the most advanta- geous ground commanding the most extensive prospect, and from their sit- uation susceptible of such improve- ment as either use or ornament might at any time require. The soil is generally sterile, mixed with pebbles and sand, the length of the city from S. E. to N. W. is 4} ms .; mean width 22, containing a fraction less than 84 sq. ms. The city was laid

direct line of communication between these two edifices is formed by Penn- sylvania avenue, the principal and finest street of the city. The avenues are crossed by streets running N. and S. alphabetically arranged, and others running E. and W. numerical- ly arranged. Many of these are shaded, and all of them very broad,- the former being from 120 to 160 feet in width, and the latter from 70 to |110.

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A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 66

Author: Martin, Joseph. ed. cn; Brockenbrough, William Henry Publication date: 1835 Publisher: Charlottesville, J. Martin Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Martin, Joseph. ed. cn; Brockenbrough, William Henry
Publication date: 1835
Publisher: Charlottesville, J. Martin
Number of Pages: 1278