Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-01-23
For tic Ciril'an and Telegraph.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.

The time is fast approaching when it will
become necessary for the Board Of Public
Works, of this State, to elect u President and
Board Of Directors TO manage the affairs of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company.
No public work in Maryland at this time,
is Of more importance, not only TO Alcsany
County and TO Western Maryland, but also
to the National Government, than the Chcsa-
pcakc and Ohio Canal. How important is
it then, to all Of these great interests, that
the Board of Public Works should lay aside
all local attachments, all personal pre1ilcc-
tons, all private dislikcs and animositcs. and
select, on this occasion, men Of tried expert
cncc, men Of skill, Of energy, Of industry, Of
practical knowledge. The President of the
Canal in particular, should be a man coming
fully up to this standard He should be
gentleman who would DO willing to devote
his whole time and attention to the imme-
6iate care and supervision Of the Canal. lie
should pass over the entire line Of the work
as often as it would be possible for him to
do so, so rs to sec and judge for himself
whether all of The operatives and his subor-
dinatcs were faithfully and honestly attend
ing to their respective duties, and that no.
thing is wanting upon the work to insure
the speedy and safe transportation of all
commodities that may be placed upon it, So
that no one shall have any reasonable cause
for murmur or complaint. In short, let the
President hre on the Canal, and give to its
important interests his whole and undivided
time and attention. The present salary,
hope, is amply sufficient to secure the ser
vices Of a competent person, who will be
willing thus to devote hs undivided attcn-
ton to this great work. Until very recently,
the Can al has been under the control of mere
trcksters and time-serving county politi-
clans. Far DO it from me to intend this re-
mark to apply to any one in particular
there may have been some honorable oxccp-
tons, which am free to admit. But let
any man take up the long list of officers on
the Canal, from the day of its commence
mont, and he will find that my remark will
apply to most Of them with great truth and
aptness.
am free to confess that the present Pre-
sident of the Canal, Col. ALFRED STATES,
has devoted his entire time and attention to
the Canal, and every interest connected with
that great work. From the first day that he
was appointed the President he has applied
himself exclusively for its benefit, with an
energy, a zeal, and untirins industry, wor-
thy of all praise and all commentator.
Where all before has been systemess and
chaos, by his prompt attention and excellent
business tact and ability he converted into
order and system. He at once discharged
the gormorant leeches who had been fastened
on the revenues of the Canal, eating out of it
its very vitals. He took upon himself the
discharge Of duties that had before been d.
vided between some half dozen officers, at an
enormous expense to the Company. This,
of course, brought down upon his head the
fierce denunciations of the elected Office
holders.
For some time after the Southern Rebel
lion broke out, and Virginia had lent her aid
and councils to further the cause of treason
against the Government, all transportation
on the Canal was suspended, which carrisd
CONSERVATION, distress, want and misery to
the hearts of thousands of persons. whose
daily bread depended on the successful work