The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-28

From he NJ Y Courier and Enquirer.


The completion OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Ca
nal TO Cumberland, which was celebrated in that
;lty last week with much exultation, Id among the
noteworthy events OF the day. The work Is one OF
he most stupendous enterprises ever undertaken
n our country, and had to surmount in its pro-
sress unparalleled difficulties lt was originally
designed as It's name imports, TO connect the wa
ters OF the Chesapeake with the Ohio and active OPP
Tations were first commenced upon il twenty four
years ago The undertaking was under the i'm
Mediate patronage of the STATE of Maryland and
vas for time vigorously sustained by private
erprlse and by liberal appropriations from the
General Government. II soon however, became
apparent that the cost OF the work had been great
miscalculated. continued train of financial
'mbarrassments ensued, and yet the company
truggled against every difficulty until 1891,
when the total subscription 10 the capital stock had
become exhausted, and the General Government
md all the other parties TO the original contract
tbandoned the work as promising nothing but
-uinous loss But the State of Maryland deter
mined that the millions that had already been cx-
jended should not be irredeemaby sacrificed, If
Ter own civil resources could prevent and she UNI
,pariugly contributed her means to the prosecution
the work SO long as she had means to contribute.
5ut her credit came 10 an end, and all hope for the
Enterprise seemed TO vanish.
As a last cxpedient, an act passed by the
Legislature IN 1919, pedging, TO "A certain extent
and with certain conditions, the revenues of the
anal; and this measure, although dstrustcd by
many at the time as totally ineltcacous procured
unds that carried the enterprise through To its pre-
cent dehnitive stage. The work may at least for
he present. now be considered az fully completed.
is true that Virginia has lately cvinced great in
crest IN tue original project, and has strengthened
he company by guarantying its bonds to a certain
xent and 1t Is also true that hopes entertained
hat Congress may sooner or later redeem its carly
hedges in behalf of the enterprise; but in all pro-
ability, both the State Of Maryland and the
)any will for some time 10 come content them
elves with their present achievements. The
lal now Is one hundred and eighty five miles in
length. 1t extends from tide water to Cumberland
which town Is the great cntrcpotoi the magnificent
oal region OF the Allcghauies. The inexhaustiblc
supplies Of this mineral and the agricultural
)ius OF western Maryland and large section Of
the two adj accnt States, will soon furnish bust
that will make the benefits of this great
work realized as they have never been before and
wall do some thing, we trust, towards relmbursng
he immense outlay 1t has involved. Maryland
mas exhibited, In prosecuting this and other works
II internal improvement, an energy and perseve
rance that command adiniratiun-and infinitely
he more, because, through all her grievous iinan
;ia embarrassments, she has kept ner public faith
nvioate. Her present debt, according to recent
statement, is about ten millions of dollars and this,
It her present financial and revenue system is
inued, will be fully liqudatcd in twelve or fifteen
years. The burdens brought upon her by her en-
cerprise will soon disappear; the benefits will re-
main for untold generations.