Interesting comment, John, and that likely was an acceptable and additional reason at that period.   
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Shroeder 


  In a message dated 9/17/2004 12:00:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

  I also recall that it gained great importance since the Arsenal was there in
  order that it be a great distance from any invader from the sea.
  And some (cynics?) have said that it was placed there at the behest of
  President George Washington in order to open up that remote country to further
  settlement to enhance the value of the large property holdings in the area of
  Charles Washington and the rest of the Washington family.  (There are far more
  Washingtons in the cemetery in Charlestown than at Mt. Vernon.)  The water power
  available at the convergence of the two rivers was the ostensible reason for
  its siting, though it later proved to be very susceptible to disastrous floods
  from those rivers.

  John

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