American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1814-1822, 1822-02-15
REPORT.


On the subject Of the Chesapeake and Delaqvart
Canal, Feb s, 1892.
The committee appointed at meeting of citizens
held at Judd's Hotel, on the 4th day of September
last, on the subject of the Chesapeake and Delawa
Canal, report -
That they have collected all the laws passed by
the States Of Maryland. Delaware. and Pennsylya
mia, to incorporate the Chesapeake and Delaware
Canal Company, and the supplements thereto In
the law of the State of Delaware. there disco
vered some provisions fixing the rates of TOLL anc
Teserving to that State per centage on the annual
profits, which, though they were rendered less oh
jectionable, by supplement passed on the 5th Feb
ruary, 1909, seemed still to inerprose very serious
obstacles For the purpose of having them reno
we'd, memorials TO the Legislature of that State, then
in session at Dover, were prepared by the Com
mittee, and two of their number were, deputed to
present them. On their arrival there, it dis
covered that the obnoxious provisions had been re
peaed, and that the best disposition existed among
the members, to promote the important work to
which these laws have relation.
Notwithstanding the primary object of the visit
was found to have been already accomplished your
committee think that the trouble of the lou ney
was more than compensated, by the opportunity it
afforded of removing by explanation, preju
dces and misconceptions, which EXISTED in the
minds OF few Of the members of the Legislature
Your Committee are not aware that there is any
ching in the laws OF the several states in their pre-
sent shape, which requires alteration amendment;
at least antecedently to the re-commencement Of
operations by the company
Your Committee have also individually and bv
sub committees, endeavoured to obtain info maton
of the progress made by the company in executing
the work; of the causes which produced its sus.
pension of the present condition Of their affairs
and oil its practcaby and probable usefulness to
the nation, and of the citizens Immediately connec-
ted with it, well OF the advantages promises
d to the stockholders. For these purposes, and TO
collect and compare the Information obtained, the
committee have held meetings from week to week
since their appointment and have derived from a
h pamphlet recently published by MIR Joshua Gilpin
much information of the most interesting kind
part of which only is deemed necessary to lay be-
fore you in this report. The book itself is calcula
ted to instruct and persuade all those who take
interest in the canal both by the authenticity Of it;
documents, and the manner in which they ex
planned The opinions of the author with regard t.
the route of the canal, will of course have their
4 merits tested by future surveys; your committee
however have learned nothing which could justify
them in doubling the general correctness of Mr.
Gilpin's statements
In the course of their investigation, your com
mittee have found cause to applaud the zeal and
diligence of the former boards of managers They
speak, however, only 10 reference to their dslnttr
'& SStcu CUoltS Ill tOrWdTuhS BFCdt WotN Soihhl
q ted their charge. They will not presume 10 give
N an opinion upon the psns which those manager
"A may have adopted in relation to the course of thu
canal, or the waters intended to be used feeders
vi those topics, as already limited, should be left a
your committee believe, to the decision OF the pre-
sent board of managers, in full confidence that the
will be guided by the result Of careful surveys, ant
81 an honest desire to benefit both the public and tn
sd stock. holders.
W The original subscriptions to this stock are a
~ follows.
M In Pennsylvania, chiefly in Philadelphia,
# 824 shares, by 429 subscriber:
M In Delaware, 712 do 247 do
@ III Maryland, $50 do Sd do
# 1892 $50
E& On these Pennsylvania has paid S7S.4O
# Maryland about 1880
sN Delaware 1850
M Total l0s,0O
Nh Leaving due upon the instruments
* called for:
# FSom Pennsylvania 1910
" From Maryland $50
Erom Delaware so 90
Total 1880