Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-04-30
Cow AsUN,CArED
THE WkSHINGTON CANAL


passed in the Senate) which most materially
affects your interest, and demands your gravest
attention. Seven citizens OF Washington, one
OF New Orleans, one OF Minnesota, three OF
New York, and one OF Illinois, their succes-
sors aud assigns, are Incorporated the Dis
trIct OF Columbia Canal and Sewerage Com
pany,' with Berpettdi succession, and power
10 borrow money and give mortgages o Nd deed.
OF trust on lis real ano personal propeT;y ana
oR fs Jrdhckises.
Sec. = grants TO said company the right TO
construct canal and sewer from the Eastern
Branch To a point in the present canal near
", nngina aSenne, thence IN, by and through
10 be seventy feet wide al low tide. with the
usual slope 70 the hanks, about seyenty-siN
al sh tde II no walls be laid, ana TO be ten
fert deep IL high tide, the sediment, &c, 10 be
removed, 50 that the tide NAV constantly flow
through the same. The said company TO have
the exclusive right 10 assess and collect tolls
upon said canal, ITS wharyes and docks
Sec. 3. The capital stock to be n million dol
lars, 20 be indefinitely increased whenever a
majority OF The directors think the interest of
III" company require such increase
Sec. authorizes the president wee presi-
Gent and treasurer, or any two of them, TO
contract with any person persons 10 con-
struct said canal and sewer, reservoirs. basins,
DC. Also, 10 appoint en- ineers and other agents
and 10 prescribe their salaries.
sec lO authorizes the company TO take, pur-
chaSe and hold so much real estate and other
sndll De necessarily required for
the proper construction of the canal and sewer,
and for the construction OF ali proper and con-
yenIent basins, locks, reservoirs, docks and
wharves 10 be connected with saId canal and
sewer II sucL properly, desired TO BE-
taken, cannot be purchased at private sale.
three persons, on application of the president
OF the company, are 10 be appointed by the
court 10 assess the damages arising from the
use and occupation of such real estate-gater
rights or other prOperty-and the report of said
assessment shall be confirmed at the next term,
unless for good cause shown. In that event,
another and another commission 20 be rene wed
till the assessment shall be confirmed.
Sec II The Company TO levy and collect
such tolls, rents, and freight for trans portation
through or into the canal a majority of the
seven directors shall assess therefor: Provided,
that Congress may increase or reduce such
tolls or rents.
Sec. IA. That within thirty DAYS after the
passage of this act, the Company shall cause
constant stream Of fresh water TO be turned in
TO, and TO flow through the same. from George
town 10 the Eastern Branch, and TO continue 80
10 fow till the nth October next in the pen-
atty OF $1,000. The canal TO be completed by
the LIST June, 1867: 10 be kept in repair free Of
sediment and depostes, as required by I'd sec
ton. II neglected for three consecutive months
the franchise 10 be forfeited
Sec 10. said Company 10 have and to hold,
Tor Its use ana benefit, that part of the Wash
ington canal and bridges between 4 junction OF
Virginia avenue and 4 point near 10 Eth
street, and for the width OF - feet, to be taken
anywhere between the banks OF said canal.
Sec. IL. THAT nothing IN this act contained
shall be held or deemed in any manner or way
TO iniure or impair any public or private rights
or interests, or in any manner TO effect the
same, beyond the mere transfer OF the rights of
the United States" 10 said COMPANY
Sec. II repeals all act and parts of acts in
consistent with the provisions of this act.
Sec. 10 exempts public property from tolls OF
charges, and whensoever req uired by Con-
gress, said company is to present a lust and
profits thereof.
40 IT..
IN force from It's passage, and subject 10 afrera-
tion or repeal by Congress
Passed the Senate 10th April. 1866.
NOTES ON THE FOREGOING
hls oiil has been so changed from the first
one, Sc distributed among our citizens, that
few, perhaps, have any idea OF its provisions
Instead OF being limited TO fiCeRfy- FIRE years.
lt Is now perpetual charter. nnless Congress
shall alter or repeal IL.
Although seven OF the thirteen, who are
The corpordtors. are citizens OF Washington.
yet as some of the seven had not even been
cons ultPd, II Is clearly foreign corporation.
and will manage its affairs with a view 10 it,
interests alone. They may be capitalists. but
that rs IN material under this act, as they are
authorized TO give deeds OF trust and mort
cages on the real estate and other property,
gwen Them by Congress, also on the franchise.
in other words, the charter. and with this
power, they can borrow two or three times the
money necessary to comply with their obliga-
uons. They can charge what tolls, wharfage,
DC, they choose, but il they should charge only
two cents per ton per mile, which the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal Company charge, they
would receive sl20,OOO per year on coal alone.
and after few years, SlSnO0U on that one
item.
Gov Francis Thomas says he has very little
doubt that the great coal depot will be at the
Eastern Branch OF Potomac, whence large
ships can transport II beyond the capes of Eir-
glnIa. He seems 10 think very lightly of the
proposed canal TO Annapolis. so far as the coal
trade is concerned-that the space in George
town is entirely inadequate 10 accommodate
the trade-that the probability is that the out
let through Alexandra will never be restored,
and that the Eastern Branch of Potomac will
be really the only outlet for two millions of
tons per year, and probably three millions.
All who have heard him express his opinions
must be impressed by his familiarity with
the subject and comprehensive views.
Here then is is sufficient basis OF credit,
Sl20,OO is the interest on S2,G00,W0, and IsIOOO
the interest on sc},OOUOOO.
One OF our most witty citizens told the
committee that the Nlcinage OF the canal was
quite as healthy as almost any part OF the CITY,
and certainly more so than south Of it. That
It Often happened when enterprising outsiders.
who were hard up" visited us, they 'spitched
IN npon the canal as promising scource of
replenishment.
The gilt to this company. in tolls, on one
item, is equivalent 10 ttcO or three BiiHfoas OF
capital.
Inc second section of the bill takes from the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company their
own canal from Georgetown 10 18th street, in
Washington. Maryland contributed Serenieen
millions 10 that work, and has thus far received
10 dividend, and now a mile of the work, al
its terminus, is taken way, without even con-
sulting the company or Maryland-Jo say
nothing OF other stockholders.
This city could easily make terms with that
company that would be satisfactory, and yet
secure all the advantages il desired a COM
mercial and manufacturing city, giving in
creased return freights and tolls TO the upper
canal. By uniting its interest with that com
pany career of prosperity now dawns, and
may speedily reach its meridian. The city
should not look to Congress for all its improve
mrnts. The presence of that body is always
associated with agreeable social intercourse
and extended benefits-own6g the streets and
avenues, the reservations, and public baild-
ings-and being the employers of thousands OF
ministerial agents. the public expenditures
here are necessarily very large. But the mem
bers represent a distant people, and teel no
responsibility whatever to this District as con-
'stItuents. The ties of personal friendships may
be cherished most warmly, but these ties
always yield with passive obedience 10 high
party excitements. Even the advocacy of
District interests by the minority party leaders
is almost sure 10 produce defeat. Unless you
come TO the deliberate conclusion to renounce
all political opinions, or 10 change the express
sion of them every two years, il need be 10 co.
incide with the majority in Congress, you must
rely on your own enterprise and energy for
your future success. II you oppose a highly