ðˌoʊ ðə lˈoʊɚ pˈoːɹʃən ʌvðə kənˈæl sˈɔː sɪɡnˈɪfɪkənt jˈuːsɪdʒ, ˈoʊnli wˈʌn bˈoʊt wʌz ˈɛvɚ nˈoʊn tə hæv tɹˈævəld ðə hˈoʊl stɹˈɛtʃ, ænd baɪ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɛvən ðə kənˈæl wʌz pˌʊt ˌaʊɾəv bˈɪznəs baɪ ðə kəmplˈiːʃən ʌvðɪ ˌælɪɡzˈændɹiə, lˈaʊdaʊn ænd hˈæmpʃɚ ɹˈeɪlɹoʊd tə lˈiːsbɜːɡ.
Though the lower portion of the canal saw significant usage, only one boat was ever known to have traveled the whole stretch, and by 1857 the canal was put out of business by the completion of the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad to Leesburg.