Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-07-15
tsHI~GroN AMP THE COAL TRADE.

, =
Now Is the time. if ever, for the Guy of
Washington 10 obtain portion Of the coal
trade ., the Chesapeake and Ohio Canai
Circumstances have never been so favorable
for Us, AND for very small outlay we may
secure cobsids rable portion OF the traffic, and
reduce the price of bituminous coal to consul
Inera here 81 least 3 to 20 cents per ton. Here.
to.ore our dealers have had 70 recei We their coal
st7 way Of Alexandria. The coal boats after
reaching George,ow could not come to this
City, nor lock out into th g Potomac, except by
way of the Alexandria Canal. This required
their passage through the entire length of
that canal-about seven mIles-then the
locking through into the Potomac, then
their towage by steam tugs back to Wash
ington, consuming about two days time at the
following minimum expense: Tolls on Alex
andria canal, SO; towage 70 Washington, Sis:
two days time of boat, &c. Sla. Total $40.
This estimate Is very low. As the boats carry
on en- average about leo tons each, here is an
expense OF forty cents per ton, lea wing out OF
consideration The danger to boats in this
roundabout passage, and the extraordinary
delays which have occurred from the defective
condition of the Alexandra canal and auus.
duct, and which are always likely to occur
from that or other causes. As that canal IA
now closed. coal has to be brought here from
a,
Georgetown at an expense even greater than
that specified above. So much tor the past
Now few words as to the present and future
Tie Alexandria aqueduct is closed as we
have stated, and GEORGETOWN is about to make
extraordinary efforts to keep 1t closed to nayi
CATION. Whether that city Will succeed in
doing SO or not. is nor material to our present
aTgumtnt. Georgetown has recently raised
the canal bridges, and coal boats can now
reach ROCK Greek without obstruction. The
Creek has been deepened by recent freshests
so as 10 be nayigable and the chesapeake and
Ohio CANAL Company is now engaged in re con-
structipg the outlet lock At its mouth. so III q
boats can come into the Potomac at that point.
This work Will be finished about the first
ofSeptember- and will be advanta geous as far
il goes But if we desire to secure a
portion OF the canal trade, something more
must be done. The can al from Rock Creek to
18th street Is now nuisance. and likely to he
a cause of miasna'ic disease this fall The
danger may be averted. and this short stretch
of canal MADE navIgabie for coal boats at a
very small expense. and If our city would
undertake the work, without waiting for the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company il
would pay Us ten fold. The tolls for one mile
amount TO but little, (onIy three and four.
fifth mills per ton,) and they wou Id probably
De oy tHe company II tne WORK
mace available by the city. Boats would then
be able to come through to our wharyes from
Georgeto VIE without delay, and with but little
or no expense. We may thus not only obtain
portion OF the coal trade, but materially
lessen the price to our citizens of wood. build-
ing stone. gram and other produce, and many
other articles which reach here by the Chesa
peake and Ohio canal, and which we now
have TO cart from Georgetown at very heavy
expense. The matter is one worthy the espe.
cial consideration of our business men and the
corporate authorities