The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-08-16
I corresponasroe of he Erchnnns.

PEocEEDINGs OF THE CANAL BOARD on THE Coal
ToLLs-THE ADVANCE RE1ECrEp-ExPECIED Ac-
THE COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC WORKS.
EXCITEMENT IN WESTERN MARYLAND.
BERKELEY SPRINGS, Aug. A. 1860.
Messrs. Editors being in the neighborhood of
Martinsburg, Va, on Monday, yesterday l con-
cluded to follow up here, the numerous persons
coming to the great fight in relation to the rails
ing the toll on coal on the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal.
There is quite a number of persons in attendance
here at the present time, and all seem to enjoy
themselves, some by walking, some card playing,
some talking, others bowling, and quite number
drinking. 1t appears to me there is whisky
drank than water. The bathing, however, is de
lightfu and all participate in that. At night the
ball room is we'll atten ded, and dancing is carried
on until midnight.
The Directors of the Chesapeake, and Ohio Canal
met yesterday at this place, and without doing
anything of Importance adjourned over until to-
day. This morning at ten o'clock they again met,
when the President, Dr. James Fitzpatrick, took
the Chair, and every Director answered to his
name, being all present Then commenced the tug
of war. Now that your readers may understand the
question, will say that the Commissioners of Pub
lie Works some time since wrote to the Directors
of the Canal, requesting Tor demandng) that the
freight on coal on the canal should be raised TWEEN
tyfve (25) cents per ton, and as it is believed by
that this proceeding would destroy the canal,
break up the boatmen, and to great extent iniure
the e9al eomRaniss it has caused no little stig end
the State of Virginia and in Alexandria Georgetown
and Washington City, and especially so because
they believe that the whole programme has been
arranged and concocted by John W. Garrett, the
President of the Baltimore Ohio Railroad, for
the purpose OF compelling all the coal to pass over
that road.
The Corporation of Alexandria was represented
by S. W. Taylor and W. T.. Booth, Esqrs. Mr..
nj I tlo -, Ill.
for about half an hour, contending, among other
things that all that the State of Virginia had done
for the canal done at the instance and through
the instrumentality of the Corporation of Alexan-
dria, and she ought to be heard and her counses
respected. He concluded by presenting to the
Board the memorial of the Corporation against the
proposed advance of freight.
The next appeal was from the citizens of Ale
gany county, represented by George A. Pearre
Chairman; c. NJ Thurston. T. Devecmon, j. H.
Gordon, }. W. Magruder, VIM. o. Sprigg, G. W.
Cabaugh, John Edmonds Alexander King John
Humbird, Henry II. Weld.
Mr.. Pearre addressed the Board and commenced
by saying that he had the honor to represent the
people of Allegany county, and had been appoint
ed at public meeting, held in Cumberland on the
10th inst. and copy of the proceedings of the
meeting and the memorial he begged leave to pre-
sent. Mr. p. then went into brief history of the
canal its operations, &C., and contended that great
injustice would be done to all the people concerned
il the toll was raised. He said that the canal
with the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, that the re-
ceipts on the canal only Sl9S 900, whilst that
of the railroad was near five millions. He made
las he usually does) an able argument, and
followed by remonstrance from the city of George
town. This city represented by }. A. Msgru-
der L. Pickrel and H. Carperton, Esqs.
Mr. Magruder, the Chairman, addressed the
Board, and asked that the Corporation of George.
town might be heard. He would not trouble them
with a speech, but would remind them that when
the canal almost destroyed by the freshet of
49, and the Canal Board was poor and unable to
borrow money upon the faith of that work, George
town loaned them $50, 900, and more recently
So 900 more, and not cent of either principle or
interest had been paid her. but she did not COM
plain all she asked was justice. lie concluded by
presenting the petition of her corporate authorities
against the proposed advance of freight.
1t was then stated that the city of Washington
would be represented tomorrow by her delegates,
as she too, had demonstrated against the advance.
The Board was next addressed by Mr.. Wills of
Allegheny county, on behalf of the b0atmen-re-
presenting that there were $50 boats the canal,
and that the boatmen had an interest of about
$500, 600 in them, they owning about 200 of the
boats; but that most Of them were mortgaged and
if the advance took place. it would materially affect
their interest, and would most probably break the
most of them-that all they had in the world was
invested in the boats. On their behalf he asked
that the advance might not be made. One of the
members inquired what number of mules each boat
would average. He answered, four; that some had
six, some five, and few only three.
On motion the Board adjourned until this after
noon at 4 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The President Or. Fitzpatrick took the chair
and called the Board to order. The meeting was
then addressed by G. E. Detmold and Col. VIM.
Borden on the part of the Coal Company of Ale
reinaThs anu ngures, VIII simply say tnaG they
opposed the advance on freight. After they had
concluded, the Board proceeded to take the vote
and it resulted as follows:
Afirmative-Messrs. Victor Holmes, of Baltimore
county; J. j.. Heckart, of Cecil county.
Negative.-Dr. James Fitzpatrick, PRESIDENT
of Allegany county; Alfred Spates, of Allegheny;
county; +. NJ. Mealey, of Washington county; L.
Is. Hutton, OF Montgomery county; j. NJ. Broom,
of St. Mary's county.
The Board, therefore, By vote of 5 to refused
to advance the freight coal.
Tomorrow the Commissioners of Public Works
meet here, when it is rumored and expected that
they will remove all the directors who voted in the
negative, and put others in their places who will
do the work. 1t is rumored that Mr.. Garrett has
given the word ''off with their heads" and what
ever he says, must be done.
regret to say that in Western Maryland the
worst possible feeling exists against the railroad.
Mr.. Garrett is blamed for the whole of it. Eve
heard many persons say that if this thing done
that the track would be torn up and the bridges
burnt down. They say it will turn out of employ
ment ten thousand persons, running many of them
now in comfortable circumstances, and there is no
telling what they will do. | herewith enclose the
memorial and proceedings of the meeting of the
citizens of Allegheny county, held at Cumberland.
1t appears to me to be bad policy to make this
advance in any aspect, as it will iDure the
Railroad, well as the Canal-the Railroad by ar
raging the citizens of Western Maryland against
1T and the Canal by stopping its operations in
treighting. 1t is hoped the next Legislature of
Maryland will be called upon to investigate the
whole affair-by whose influence it brought
about-and have heard enough to convince me
that 1t Will be done. BALTIMORE.