Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-07-05
REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF THE cHEsA-
PEAKE AND OHIO CANAL COMPANY

PEAKE AND OHIO CANAL COMPANY.
TO the Stockholders Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal Company.
GEsTLENEs The Committee To whom was referred the
nth annual report Of the President aud Directors Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company together with the ac
companyng documents have the honor report that thew
proceeded the performances of the duty assigned to
hem and have made careful examination Of that portion Of
the documents referred to them which relates particular
y to the general business Of the Company.
They have also made minute investigation Of that
portion Of said documents which contains account Of the
financial operations of the Company the shorness Of the
time allotted to them would permit
Your committee happy to have in their power to bear
evidence the wholesome condition Of the affairs of the Com
pany ascvinced by said documents far relates to the
finished portion Of said work
They approve of the plan which has been adopted for the
prevention Of breaches the canal and recommend that
be used wherever may be necessary throughout the entire
line Of the work.
The excellent condition of the canal in reference repairs
affords the best proofof the gratifying fact that progress Of
me and in consequence Of the necessary REPAIRS the work
has become perfect and substantial and less liable
cdent injury and proves concsivey that in future there
will be dmnution Of expenses for repairs instead of in
in the of works of different character This
fact is particularly gratifying when taken in connexon with
the increased Of business on canalan increase
which has taken place the time of return cash sys
tenn Of tolls and be attributed any fictitious causes
whatsoever.
But however prosperous may be the condition Of that por-
ton Of the business Of the Company which is confined to
those sections of the canal already completed and now in
tive operation your committee feel that they dwell any
longer on this branch of the subject without rendering them
selves liable to the charge Of besowng undue degree Of
importance matters which, their estimation of ti-
Hing import when compared with others which at this time
engoss the attention not only of this Company of the
people of Maryland and large portion of the whole country
The completion of the canal To Cumberland Justly re-
garded by all the object Of paramount Importance and
I'll this shall have been Effected it may truly be said that little
comparatively has been done.
The favorable action of the Congress Of the United States
and of the Legislatures of Virginia and Maryland in the pas
of the several acts contained the documents US
calculated to excite the brightest hopes in the friends of
our great enterprise and the gratifying assurance contained
IN the report Of the President the 29h Of April in refer
ence to the speedy execution Of the required by
law Of Maryland, especially by the mining companies Con
the transportation OF whose produce depend great
degree the poabeness of the canal when completed had
induced your committee indulge the expectation that some
information of definite character would be laid before them
at the present meeting this deeply interesting subject
They cannot withhold the expression of their regret at the
disappointment which they have experienced this respect
In the Absence however, of definite inornaon they
happy the entire confidence which manifested by
the President and Directors of the Company in the speedy
accomplishment of the objects contemplated in the law above
referred 10.
The implicit reliance which your committee repose in the
sincerity Of those whom the immediate management Of the
affairs of the Company entrusted convinces them that they
at least have doubt Of their ability carry the
provisions of the swmore especially they have named
early day, viz the middle Of this month"; the time by
which the guarantees will be executed and as the committee
fully Of the difficulty Of imparting definite nforma
ton during the progress of negotiation they dismiss the sub
ct with the expression Of hope nothing may
occur to dsappont the gratifying expectations which are now
confidently entertained by those who have charge Of the
affairs of the Company.
The most unpleasant portion of the duty which you have
imposed committee yet be performed and
they cannot withhold the expression their deep regret at
what appears to be violation of good faith part Of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, their recent action
reference TO the egh coal and between Cumber
land and Dam No. g. They cannot however, believe that
the Railroad Company would have to such
for the sole purpose Of nung the canal unless they he'd
also been influenced by actual inability comply with the
arrangements which they had entered into without to
themselves
he opinion tnat the busl-
OF this road the transportation of passengers and mer
chandse between the two great sections Of the country and
between the mining district and the markets on tide
and they feel bound express their dissent from the views
entertained by this Company and others in reference the
ability of such roads compete with canals the transpora
ton of heavy articles They have strong doubts Of the ab
y Of railroads to transport coal and iron rate Of reeh
commensurate with the profits those articles, and re-
muneatng profit to themselves and they entertained
the opinion from the first that the arrangements between the
Canal and Railroad Companies Joint transportation of
coal and iron the two works could be carried out by
the railroad in such be productive Of important
benefit to the canal be acceptable any great extent to
those who engaged in the transportation Of those articles
The evidence which this opinion founded derived from
the experience Of other and similar works in this and other
countries is abundant The Of time however, docs not
admit Of its introduction into this report
Your committee regard the increase freghs ON por
ion Of the railroad above Dam No. evidence that
similar increase will be found necessary along the whole line
OF the road and they look with confidence the
of this circumstance for the undensbc proof Of the fact
that the interests Of these great corporations
ficting but identical.
They would expressly repudiatc the idea that there either
be any permanent of controversy rivalry be-
tween these two great companies and they would have pre-
ered TO have avoided altogether any reference such
idea they hope however, that sufficient excuse for its in
PRODUCTION will be found in apprehension of the existence
of Impressions in reference collision Of interests
between great works leading from the same point in the
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