Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-02-11
State affairs.
To the Commissioners of Public Works
of the State of Maryland.

To the Commissioners of Public Works
of the State of Maryland.
GENTLEMEN: My attention has been
called to a pamphlet addressed to you,
over the signature of "Citizen of Ma
ryland." The author of that commune
cation resorts to an anonymous signature
to vent his spleen, regardless Of truth
and reckless Of assertions.
The irresponsible character of an anon
ymous communication makes it improper
for me to bestow upon il a special notice /;
but decming it due to you, audthe other
parties who have lent their aid to the
canal company in the most critical period
of their financial difficulties, | propose
simply to state the facts connected with
the subjects commented upon in that
communication, and to show the sinister
purposes Of the writer.
In regard to the loans negotiated with
parties representing the coal interests
for rebuilding dams Nos. 4 and 5. con-
trast is made with former loans, contract
ed by preceding board, of $50, goo, at
six per cent interest
1t is not stated, however. that these
loans, for the greater part, were absorb
ed in temporary repairs Of tho old dams,
and were measurably lost to the compa-
ny; that the credit and means of the
company were entirely exhausted after
these loans were effected, and that all eff
forts used by the preceding board to OBJ
tain further loans to continue the works
were abortivc When it is considered
that all sources Of supply were complete
/ " exhausted, and to the coal interests
alone could we look for further means
that their interests in the successful nay
/ igation Of the canal, rather than in any
comparatively small pecuniary adyau.
! tage obtainahlc for the advantages re-
quirod, would prompt them to make eff.
forts, in some instances at a sacrifice, &c
effect the important object of reliable
navigation; that in view Of the risk they
incurred Of the dams being carried away
by foods during their progress of com
/ pletion, and the inability of the comra
ny ii such event to repay their advances
and that investments at 70 and 70 pei
cent. could readily have been made II
bonds and stocks Of undoubted sccuri
tics paying six pc. cent interest, it will
not. ! think, be considered an cxorb,an
premium
When it is remembered that it was th,
only alternative presented, whether thu
dams should be rebuilt and successful
navigation secured, or whether both the
old dams and also the new dams. o.
which SjS, 600 had been expended
should be exposed to be carried away b,
the first food of the river; the naviga
ton of the canal entirely suspended
and the company deprived of all SQUIRE,
Of revenue, or by the sacrifice of som,
| S25, goo, prospective revenue of 200,
00O or $500, 600 per annum should b,
secured, no discriminating mind, I think
could hesitate.
This Citizen of Maryland" further
states that the contract to rebuild thes,
dams, made under the preceding board
were advanced in prices by the presen
board to 1898 per perch for the masonr,
at dam No. 4, and to SG.7j per percl
for the masonry % dam No. 5. Tbes
rates were fixed by the former board, an,
have not been changed by the preson
direction but it is true that an advanc,
in price Of $4,000 to the contractors 0
dam No. 4, and Of $l2, 900 to the con
tractors Of dam No }, were admitted b,
the present board, in consideration of
: change of plan and Of extraordinary diff
ficultles and expenses incurred by tb,
contractors, with view TO the compile
ton of the dams within the season ms
closed, but which was in part prcventc,
by long continued high water in tb
river. Thcsea are the only advances mad
in the rates established by the precedn.
board, and botirin the terms of the LOAF
and these advanced rates to the contrac
tors, no dissenting voice was heard in TIN
board
The "toll permits" issued to this tim,
do not amount to $50, coo, and it is be
lievod that an additional expenditure 0
| $4,000 will complete dam No. 4 an,
a further expenditure Of $4,000 vii
be sufficient to complete dam No. 5 t.
the point Of the existing dam on the Ma
ryland shore, which was contemplated
and which will render it effective and Sc
cure. The estimates on these dams Il
the 3lst Of December last, exclusive o
the aforementioned allowances, amour
to Sl40,G0l G2, and with the sums re
quircd to complete them, to about $40.
/ 604 OF, instead Of $205 000, as STATED
by "A Citizen Of Maryland.
The dams we're built under the direc
tons Of the engineer and general super
intcndcnt Of the company, who alone ha,
the supervision and measurement Of then
all the estimates were made BY him
and the permits and money were paio
by the company directly to the contract
ors
No engineer from New York" wa,
in the pay or employ Of the canal com
pany; but an agent was very properl,
employed by the coal parties to repre-
sent their interests, and to apporiior
among the several parties contributin,
to the loan their equal portion Of tn,
permits !" in other respects he had n,
control Of the works or dams.
- Citizen Of Maryland further com
plains that the salaries Of various officer
were raiGed by The casting vote Of To,
president" The president Of the com
pany has an equal vote in the board will
the directors. and when the yeas an,