The Prospects Ahead, 1851

Herald of Freedom
January 15, 1851

The Prospects Ahead

Under this head, the Clearspring Whig of last week makes the following remarks;—

The Canal is now complete to Cumberland, and the time is fast approaching when this great work will change the appearance of the upper part of our State. Instead of wilderness that was to be met with along the Potomac, new towns with busy inhabitants will spring up along the line of Canal, and bringing to market the produce of the soil that heretofore was of but of little use to its owner.

We expect to see great additions made next year to the revenues of the Canal Company; we look for the amount to be double what it was last year; and to see the business that formerly enlivened our County, and made the turnpike our pride, brought back again to our State by the Canal.

There is however one thing that we would like to have brought about and that is a line of Packets on the Canal; we feel confident that the travel between Alexandria, Georgetown and Cumberland would justify the expense. How could our District friends spend a few dollars better, than in taking a pleasure trip up the Canal to see the great Tunnel ? The sight of it alone would repay them without taking into consideration the many other objects that would afford them both pleasure and profit to behold.— If our members of Congress could be induced to take such a trip, we think even they might profit by doing so we think that it is only necessary for them to see the Iron works of our Cumberland friends, to be convinced, that to extend a helping hand, in the shape of a Judicious Tariff, would be but sheer justice. We have not the vanity to suppose they will listen to us, we therefore make bold to call on the Intelligencer to take up the gauntlet for us, and we will pray they may be successful in this, as they have been in convincing the people, that the glory and prosperity of America consists in our Union now and forever.