DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLtjMBIA 163 



secure a convenient location for the Federal capital. One of 

 the elements, however, which is important in treating the 

 'economic development of the District of Columbia, must be con- 

 sidered. The commissioners appointed to select a site after the 

 cessions by Maryland and Virginia were actuated very largely 

 by the dream of making the Federal capital a great commercial 

 center ; but in most cases dreams go by contraries, and this was 

 not an exception. Nevertheless, the hope which inspired Wash- 

 ington himself, that the new city was destined to become the 

 ** greatest commercial emporium" in the United States, was not 

 without reason, and when the particular location was determined 

 upon, facts and prospects were sufficient to sustain this dream. 

 Of course, a central position, accessibility, agreeable surround- 

 ings, were necessary elements in considering the particular 

 location. 



The President was given great latitude in the choice of the 

 site. He could locate the city anywhere "between the eastern 

 branch of the Potomac, Anacostia, and the Conogocheague," a 

 stream entering the Potomac at Williamsport, Md. With his 

 great familiarity with the whole territory from which the site 

 could be selected, Washington determined upon the present 

 location of the capital. Georgetown, Alexandria, and Carrolls- 

 burg (where the Arsenal now stands), were in existence, but the 

 site of the capital was located between Georgetown and Alexan 

 dria, in a section without population except a few farmers. 



The economic considerations for the selection lay in the fact 

 that the site was at the head of navigation of the Potomac river 

 and at the terminus of the projected Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. 

 Transportation in that period followed water-courses. Con- 

 gress, very naturally, paid little attention to land routes. Wash- 

 ington had his eye on what he considered the double advantage 

 of a site which should be at the junction of inland and tide navi- 

 gation. The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal was projected in 1784, 

 and it was supposed that with its construction the middle west 

 would find an outlet for its products either at Georgetown or at 

 Alexandria, and that Alexandria, then being something of an 

 important port, shipping to all parts of the country and to 

 Europe, would increase and emphasize the wisdom of the 



