Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-10-23
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL.
Great Meeting in Allegheny County, -Harylana'
OCTOBER H. 1884.

Allegheny County, Nd, conVenea d. u'e oo
House, in Cumberland, on Saturday, the 10Th
October, 1884, at O'Clock, P. NJ, in pursuance
of public notice, to consider what measures
should be adopted to hasten the complexion OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal-the Court De-
ing in session, Chief Justice John Buchanan
presiding, and Judges Abraham Shrlver ana
Thomas Buchanan assisting, politely adjourn
ed to afford their citizens the use OF the
House, and favorable opportunity OF express
ing their opinions and wishes on SUBJECT so
important to Maryland and her sister States.
Previous to the adjournment of the Court, Chief
Justice Buchanan made some very eloquent
and appropriate remarks commendatory of the
objects of the meeting. The meeting was then
organized by calling WIN. Mcmahon, Esq, to
preside over it, assisted by DAVID SHRIvER and
WILLIAM RIDGELy, Esqrs., and appointing THos.
]. McKMG and JAMES SMITH to act as Secreta-.
ries.
The objects of the meeting were then stated
at large by B. S. ProMAN, ESQ.,, and the appoint
ment Of Committee proposed to prepare and
submit Preamble and Resolutions expressive
of the sense and wishes of this meeting upon
the important subjects then under consideration:
Whereupon the following persons, to wit: b.
S. Pigman, Richard Beall, s. P. Smith, Joseph
Shrver, and William Matthews, were appoint
ed said Committee, and accordingly reported
the following Preamble and Resolutions, which,
after several spirited and eloquent addresses,
evidencing the deep and momentous interest
felt by the citizens of this and the neighboring
counties in the early completion of this great
national work, were severaly considered and
adopted with unanimty:
WHEREAS it appears to this meeting, that the
Governments of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsyl-
yania, and the United States of America, con-
sidering the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal work
of National Importance, as well with reference
to the gricultme, Manufacture and Commerce
of these States, as the preservation of the Union
in which we happily live, wisely accorded the
wishes of very many Of the most enlightened
and patriotic citizens Of the nation, by granting
a Charter to the Company incorporated to exc
cute that work, and furnishing capital to be ex-
pended thereon:-And whereas it also appears,
that this Canal has been successfully and well
constructed by that Company from tide water,
along the left bank of the Potomac, 1OS miles,
at the cost Of about four millions of dollars,
which sum is but little, if any, more than its es
timated EXPENSE and that by the construction
of this work the further distance of IS miles,
which NAV be done at an additional cost OF
about one million and half of dollars, d line
of canal will be completed from tide water to
Cumberland, in the midst of region abound
ing with bituminous Coal of the very best qua
lily and inexhaustible extent, that would imme-
diately yield, from tolls to be derived thereon,
income enough to pay more than the simple in
terest of the whole cost of said Canal:-And
whereas il also appears to us, that the rapidly
increasing commerce Of the West proceeding
along the lakes and the valleys Of the Missouri,
Mississippi, and Ohio, by artificial ways to and
from the Atlantic cities, will at all times, and
the operations Of our State and National Co.
vernments will, especially in times of war, i'm
periously require the use OF as many avenues
as can be improved, and as great facilities as
can be provided for the transportation of per-
sons and things between the Western and East
ern portions of this Union, and particularly
along the central course of this Canal, which in
its whole line will ever be free from foreign vo-
lence, and is shorter and for greater period
of the year is less INSTRUCTED by ice than any
more northern work:-And whereas it also ap-
pears, that the value Of the vast national do.
main beyond the Allegheny Mountains and the
large portion Of the City OF Washington still
owned by the nation, would be greatly enhanc-
ed by facilitating and cheapening the inter
course between the West and the East, and the
expenses Vi StdlcS
and of those who administer it, would be much
diminished, by the great reduction which, so
soon as this Canal shall be finished to Cumber-
land, will occur in the price OF the fuel required
and used in large and increasing quantities for
the public works at Harpers Ferry and the Ma.
Wv Yard, and for the Public Offices Hotels and
private establishments near the Capitol, all
placed by the Constitution under the exclusive
CONTROL and therefore entitled to the fostering
care of the national authorities: and as in fact
no State in the Union; not one Of its many
markets; nor any branch of its industry, whe-
"ther it speed the plough, or spread the sail, or
"py at home the shuttle or the hammer, whe-
&C Their its activity be exerted on land or sea, to
"the North or South, the East or West is with
out an interest in the accomplishment Of this
"National work:"-and as the funds heretofore
subscribed for its accomplishment have been
quite all expended, and the completion of said
work must depend upon aid being obtained
from Congress or the Governments Of those
States whose inhabitants are more immediate
y interested in its being soon finished 1t seems
to us proper and to be only necessary that
r. hoh od IN oni- |