Don't; forget the presence of the canal as well as iron deposits in Washington County, Md. Tom Foster ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Shroeder" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2004 9:45 AM Subject: Re: VA-ROOTS Digest - 15 Sep 2004 to 16 Sep 2004 (#2004-194) > In a message dated 9/17/2004 12:00:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > [log in to unmask] writes: > 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 > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at > http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html