The republic., 1851-08-08
From the Frederick (Afd.) Examiner.
IN asauxuEs and Ohio Canal gjoruuany.


We have Just read the last report to the stock
holders Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Com
pany by the president, Gen. j. M Coale, and, IN
our judgment, 1t s the ablest report to any pubic
company we have ever read. Indeed, all the re-
ports made by General Coale to the Canal Com
pany have been marked by much ability. The
very first, we have occasion to know, was consld-
cred by some of the first in the State as CIV
ing the best expose of the affairs OF the company
which had ever been presented 10 the puoAc. But
this report 10 OF an unusual character. ii Is not
mere business document. Ii - history OF the
canal from it's origin. under the old Potomac Com
pany, TO its completion under the chesapeake and
Ohio Canal Company. After announcing the fact
that the canal had been completed on the tenth day
Of October, 1850, and detailing the financial ac-
count Of the last portion OF the work. and present
ing The economical arrangements Of the company,
the report takes retrospect OF the history Of the
whole work. And an instructive history It is. IL
should be read by every legislator in the land. IL
presents to the mind a striking picture OF those
long delays, and wasteful expenditures Of public
money, which result from distrubt in the opinions
Of scientific men, and faith in those OF what are
called practical men, from dilatory legislation
from ignorance on the part OF Legislators oil imam
cial rangements, from the unpatriotic jealousy
of political parties and other blunders of both the
head and the heart, which so strongly mark the
history oflegislaton.
AS early as the year 1855 General Washington,
with. the forecast of statesman anticipating the
rapid settlement of the western country, saw the
importance of water communication between the
then great western wilderness and the Atlantic
ocean. In l774 he procured a law from the Vir-
ginia Legislature empowering individuals to
make the Potomac river navigable as far as Wits
creek. This the beginning OF the work which,
nearly century after the first conception OF II, re-
suited in the construction OF great canal from
tide water the Potomac TO the mineral mines
of the Allegany mountains. When Washington
conceived the project we were only thirteen sparse
ly inhabited colones when that project is fulfilled
we have become Coufederacy of thirty independ-
eptG Gfat he mi iornt o.
cuped by associated man. Through this wonder
ful revolution this prodgious growth OF the Anglo
American empire, the history OF the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal Company runs one of the chap
ters in the national history of industrial develop
ment and progress II a similar history were writ
ten Of all the great industrial enterprises in the
nation, of how greatimportance would the iniorma-
ton be to the practical statesman and fnancier
Gen. Coale has therefore set good example in go
ing beyond the duties of faithful public servant
and becoming the historian OF the important work
which, in spite of every difficulty, was completed
under his administration.
This report is certainly one Of the most import
ant chapters in the civil history of Maryland The
financial destiny of the State was involved in the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal. II is therefore in
structive to the Marylander to read over the his
tory of that work and see upon whose shoulders
the responsibility of the great delays and losses
should be placed. In this particular General Coale
has, in our Judgment, been as Impartial as though
he had been a mere spectator and not one OF the
chief laborers in the work But now, that the
work has been completed, let profit by the ex-
kperence of the past, and determine that the COM
spany shall now be managed as to accomplish the
great ends for which it nearly a century ago
projected by Washington II party shall become
mixed up in its management, 1t may, after all the
labor and expense Of its construction, become the
sneans of ruin to the finances Of the State That the
raual be made to fulfil all the anticipations OF its
projectors in developing the industrial resources of
c6aryland, the report before makes manifest.
ft, then, those who to manage il in the future
lware how they trihe with the great trust COM
hQtted to their charge. The people should be
mof fohful Of this great work. They have expended
diallions in its construction enough to
Z aild a nayy-and they should look upon those who
shall attempt to make it means of party reward
with the same eye that they should upon such as
would pull down the national flag and run up that
of party in its place.
We commend General Coale's report to our
readers. They win find il full of interest and in
struction This report was made by General
Coale upon resignng the presidency of the COM
pany as soon as the canal was completed.