American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-03-28

iect which should have the attention OF the Cl-
tizens OF Baltimore.
CHESAPEAKE AND Ono CANAL. Our paper
to-day contains long and weI-written COM
inuncation on the subject of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal, and the benefits which will be
derived to the city of Baltimore by its compile
ton. We have never entertained the opinion
which seems to prevail with many citizens of
Baltimore, that ruin is to result to our city
from having the Canal finished to Cumberland.
On the contrary, we arc impressed with the
conviction, that tho Canal is destined to relieve
Maryland from embarrassment. BY the stpu-
lations of the law one hundred and ninety-five
thousand tons of tonnage per annum must be
guaranteed for the whole length of the work for
the first five years and six months after it shall
have been completed This will not only pay the
interest upon the new bonds; provide sinking
fund Of $4,000 year; and discharge the an
uual interest upon the old Potomac debt-but
It will leave a surplus to be placed in the trea-
Sury In less than five years after the compile
tion of the Canal the tonnage cannot be less
than 100000 tons, and probably much more.
If so, the people will soon be relieved of the
heavy taxes which they now have TO pay for
interest on the Canal debt. But the completion
of the Canal has been opposed in this city on
various grounds: LIST, it has been said that it
will raise up rival cities. Cd, it Is contendcd
that the Railroad should have been made the
feeder Of Dam No. 6. Now ono or the other
of these positions must be waived, as they are
inconsistent lfit be the interest Of Baltimore
that coal, Sc, shall not be sent by the Canal
TO the District, then that interest would be
sacrificed by employing the Railroad as feed
or for Dam No. 6. The Railroad conveyance
for coal and other articles to Baltimore cannot
be interrupted or interfered with by opening
the Canal, as there will no doubt be abundant
occupation for both works-and, by setting
both lines in operation, the State will be sup
piled with double source of revenue; whilst
the city of Baltimore will be benefited by in
creased dividends on her Railroad stock and
by the removal of heavy tax on account of
the Canal debt. The sum annually paid by
The city on the latter score would go very far
towards discharging the interest on a sum sutli-
cient to make the Maryland, or cross-cut Ca
nal to Baltimore-a work which will assuredly
oe made in time. The interest which we now
annually pay (about $4,000 } on the Canal
debt, s absolutely thrown away.-If, by COM
peting the Canal, this sum could be applied to
the construction of a cross-cut, Baltimore
would soon become the mart for the sale of the
various and extensive mineral treasures of the
Ailogany regions. This is the view which was
taken of the work in its inception and in its
progress, until within the last two or three
years. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, with cross
cut, were looked upon as the great works
which were to relieve the State from embar-
rassmcnt and enrich and agsrandize our city;
nor have we abandoned this hope, whatever
opinion may be nO,o entertained by others A
few years ago and the citizens of Baltimore loudly
and unanimously demanded the completion of
she Canal. The heavy debt incurred for that
Vork was contracted at the nstgal lion of our
city. What, then, has occurred to induce us
to change our minds, and to desire that the
Canal shall be arrested in its progress? The
liens of the State, with the work incomplete,
we're not worth a cent; and if by their waiver
she Canal can be put INTO operation and made
productive, the Legislature has acted wisely in
making the surrender. We look to the gene
raj interests of the State, and of the city of
Baltimore as a part of the State; and we are
satisfied that these will be best promoted by
setting the Canal as we'll as the Railroad in
motion We hope that this ject will be ex
amined coolly and with good temper. We
have had experience of the results of clamor
in former days, and deprecate all inhammatory
appeals against the Canal or other law of the
State.