Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-16

nature Of these very fruitful sources ofrevenue.
It is well known that they alone contribute most
of the tolls received on the New York, Pennsyl-
vania, and Ohio Canals, deriving, as they DO,
very little from coal and other minerals abound
ing on this.
Such are the bright prospects to which the
patriotic and enlightened contributors to the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal may confidently
look forward, if the means of its completion are
afforded-and the Committee appeal to every
candid man to say, whether the facts stated
have not fully sustained the declaration with
hch they set out that this Canal will afford a
more profitable investment of funds than any
similar work in our country-Coal Canals have
been invariably profitable in all countries, often
exceeding in tolls the most sanguine antlclpa-
tons Of the friends of the Chesapeake and ONO
Canal. In Great Britain, the profits on Coal
Canals have varied from 10 to ITO per cent. per
annum, as appears by list, taken from Lon
don price current of Canal stocks, OF OCTOBER,
1922.
And even in this country they have been al
ready attended with similar results The Schuyl-
kill Canal, in 1925, when it reached the coal re-
gions, after encountering the greatest difncul-
ties and Encouragement Its tonnage amounted
tonly 5000 tons-yet, after the mines were open
ed, and railroads constructed to transport inc
coal to the Canal the tonnage increased In
few years to AS SAG tons, and the tolls to 32S,-
=,
er, making 345, l54 dollars; equal to IL per cent
on its original cost; and the stock rose from the
lowest depression to 160 per cent above par,
viz $50 dollars for shares OF 80 dollars.
We regret We cannot give the whole oil this
interesting document to our readers;-we have
been compelled to omit the statement OF the
splendid results Of the Canals of New York,
which, as the report observes, has increased her
u1afin nd harp added CONT
less millions to the wealth of her people and her
metropolis; but she has superadded to all this
an annual revenue derived from her Canal, free
from all charges sufficient to discharge all the
ordinary expenses Of her State Government,
without levying one cent Of tax upon her people.
And why shall Maryland and Virginia hesitate
to realize similar advantages by the completion
of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, proved by
the clearest testimony to be decidedly superior,
being much shorter, more direct, and central
communication from the Atlantic to the West,
and possessing, in the Coal trade, an inexhaus-
tible source of profit, in addition to all those en-
joyed on the New York Canal.
The report concludes with the following
strong appeal to Congress, in which the condi-
tlOn Ol tHe SOi vi TIC bioIiS 10
rectly, but strongly, alluded to:
Were this work to be now commenced for the
first time, there ought to be no hesitation: And
surely after it has been constructed in the most
splendid and durable manner, surprising any
similar work in the world for more than 100 miles
on its way to the West. shall it be suffered to stop
or languish on its journey? viii its early pat
rons The United States, whose seat of Govern
ment it connects with the valley ofthe Mississippi
and the Lakes, constituting an enduring bond of
national union, promoting alike the national de-
fence in war and prosperity in peace-will she
with her ample means, suffer this noble enterprise
to be arrested in its progress for want of that aid
which she can so easily afford without creating
one cent OF taxation, or one dollar Of debt, and
the more especially, we ask, can this aid be just
ly withheld when it is recollected that the SUBJ
scrption of million Of dollars by the United
States at the commencement OF the work, was
made with an express understanding, as appears
by the report of the Committee, that the United
States were to contribute ga moiety of its entire
costn Three millions have been subscribed with
this understanding; and after individuals and
corporations have been thus induced to contrib
ute their private means to aid in the accomplish
ment of great national enterprise, will it not be
violation of every principle of good faith and
common honesty to withhold further aid and
thus defeat the work, and ruin the individuals
and corporations induced, in this way, to embark
their means with the Government in great ma
tional undertaking. These considerations be-
long to the subject and cannot be overlooked
or disregarded by an enlightened and just Go
vernment.