The national whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1847, 1847-07-27
Correspondence Of the National Whigl
THE CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL

:" Ir MUST AND SHALL BE COMPLETED WITHOUT
4 FURTHER DELAY"
The speedy completion of this National
work already finished about lao miles from
dam No. at Hancock TO Cumberland, dis
lance Of SO miles, much of which is nearly
ready for use, is desderatum that cannot be
held otherwise than deeply at heart, especially
by The cilizens Of Washington, Alexandra, and
Georgetown, together with the enterprising
people who live in the vicinity Of either side
of the canal, and throughout the fertile valley
If the Notwithstanding in all accord
ing TO the census of 1910, about 100000
Having examined the subject alieniively and
thoroughly in all its bearings, have resolved
to nail the above motto 10 the mast head, pledg-
ing myselfio maintain and enforce my position
against all opposition, whether it come from
a few individuals interested in coal or iron
mines in England and elsewhere, or from the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. This
Canal when completed is capable Of transport
ing The inexhaustble supplies Of the CumJer-
land Iron and Bituninous Coal mines, from the
Allegheny mountains to the shores Of the At.
laniic. The coal Of that region is admitted by
the best judges, to be vastly superior particula'-
ly for steam purposes, to any other on our
continent. II contains little or no sulphur, or
other inquiry, and hence, If our steamers are
supplied with it Tor fuel, they will be free from
danger Of spontaneous combustion, such as re-
Gently occurred on board the United States
steam frigate Mississippi, in quantity Of Ems
glish coal purchased by our Government, in
consequence Of the impossbili,y 10 obtain
Cumberland coal al anylhins like fair or rea-
sonable price.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
have for years been promising the public tina.
they would bring sufficient coal from Cumber
land 10 the seaboard, TO supply the demand
whatever il might be, but thus far, they have
not done SO, nor could they make good that
promise, even if they had double or treble
track. Their constant and invelerate oppos-
ton to the completi,n Of the canal has up to
this time unfortunately succeeded in deterring
capitalists from advancing the comparatively
|
quisile 10 finish that truly grea, internal i'm
provement
| fearlessly make this charge, and am pre-
pared at any time TO join issue on this point
with that corporation, feeling confident shall
be ably and efficiently sustained by every sin
cere friend to the interest and prosperity Of The
| District
Most of The citizens Of Baltimore, and
goodly portion flhe press Of the Monumental
City, Especially the Sun Newspaper. il would
seem have entered into u systematic agreement
with the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Com
pany, for the sole purpose and objec,,of pre-
venting The completion Of the Cumberland
Canal, but their plans deep laid and extensive
as they are, must and shall be exposed.
The people oftne United States have S $780,
| 600 interest in this great work, and the States
Of Maryland and Virginia, have likewise in.
vested in il about $40 900 900, all Of which is
10 be sacrificed. provided its opponents are per
| mitted to succeed in their designs. There
have been paid in and expended on the Canal
about Sl2,0OO,O0O, and there are as before
stated, only little more than 81 900 900, now
required 10 effect its speedy completion.
Already Congress has passed laws making
the necessary appropriations amounting 10
many millions Of dollars, authorizing the Post
master General and the Secretary of the Navy
TO contract for carrying our Mails in Ocean
Steamers Of the first class, between New York
and several ports in Europe; also between
New York, Havana and New Orleans, thence
oia the Islhmus OF Panama TO Astoria in Ore
gon, touching at sundry ports in California.
Most of these heavy contracts have already
been entered into, and some Of the vessels
contracted for, with their ponderous Engines,
| Boilers, &C., are now npon the Ocean, while
others are being constructed as expeditiousy as
| possible.
As matter Of necessity, the immense guam
titles Of Coal free from Sulphur which will be
! wanted by those Steam Leviathans, must be
| imported from England, unless the Chesa
| peake and Ohio Canal is completed forthwith.
shall from time TO time, Mr.. Editor, as the
State Of your columns will admit, lay before
the public faithfully such compiled Statistics Of
the Cumberland Canal as think will be ample
to satisfy the people Of the District. that their
first duty is to leave no stone unturned TO carry
into effect the purpose which have in view
in commencing this Correspondence, namely,
the complexion of this great work. ID.
Improvement Of the Shenandoah This sub
ject has fully awakened the zeal Of the people
oflhe River counties, and they seem delermin-
cd 10 persevere in efforts TO accomplish an OBJ.
ject deemed SO important to them. A conven
lion is TO be held al From, Royal, on Monday,
the I'd OF August, and delegates have already
been appointed from most Of the counties in
.a-aa.aa A Iaxa.Ir;a aan.ns rnlIu nliun 10 n.