164 WRIGHT 



selection at the head of tide water. This was the dream for 

 the greatest commercial emporium in the United States. Trans- 

 portation by steam power was not anticipated, although Wash- 

 ington himself knew something of its efficiency in manufactures, 

 and prophesied its use in transportation — probably not however 

 to such an extent as to remove from his own mind the thought 

 that the river and the canal would serve as great tracks of 

 travel and freight and bring to the new capital that commercial 

 prosperity which he longed to see. 



The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, although projected at the 

 early date named, amounted to little until 1836, when 64 miles 

 were completed and in operation. It has had an influence in 

 the commercial and mercantile development of the District of 

 Columbia, but not sufficient to warrant its being considered as 

 one of the moving influences in this direction. It was an aid 

 in developing the District for a time, but whatever influence it 

 exerted in bringing the products of the soil and of the mines to 

 the inhabitants of the District, the influence was not felt in any 

 pronounced commercial sense ; certainly this influence was not 

 equal to that of the Potomac as a waterway. Ultimately rail- 

 roads brought new influences to bear upon the development of 

 Washington, and the canal became only a side issue. 



Georgetown and Alexandria were brought in as parts of the 

 District of Columbia, the first-mentioned place having a popu- 

 lation in 1810 of nearly 5000 ; it cannot be stated separately 

 from the District for any prior period. Alexandria in 1790 had 

 a population of 2748, and in 1800, when the capital was re- 

 moved to the District of Columbia, nearly 5000. The popula- 

 tion of the rest of the tract was insignificant. At the beginning, 

 in the 100 miles square composing the District there were 14,- 

 093 persons. 



The farmers of that tract lying between Carrollsburg and 

 Georgetown sold all the land which was needed for public build- 

 ings and improvements for 25 pounds per acre. All the lands 

 in the city limits were placed in the hands of trustees. The 

 largest owners of the site of the District made an agreement 

 March 30, 1791, to convey to the government out of their farms 

 all the lands which might be needed for streets, avenues, and 



