Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-11-05
The Canal Question.A

IAe Doctors 4gree-Op Et0HS If Mr.. Dys0a-
hGms-OpiR;oEs Mr.. GreeR-Optaions Of Mr.
A. beireR-OfiHiors # Mr.. L. " Taren-
CpiHions @ Mr. BOsweA-Opisions Of Mr..
hnight-Ar. kBigh Sound on the cana tr0Ose-
lie Canal Goose Hangs HIGH tcih M kRirbt =.
OpiHioEs Of Acssrs. Bo,ss ind Baksr-The Ct
nal Goose not Sufficiently Elep,te,f by Hssrrs
BATES and Bdker-Persoadl Controversy end Ia
nous Allegations, Gpiai0as, Su yGssi sGRs. INIT.
and NG1VsstO>s toe NHaterous 10 gsf,i.on
Last evening meeting of citizens OF the
Seventh Ward was held at Hyseu's Hall south
l. street, near Az, to take some action in refer
ence 10 the improvement of the Washington
canal The hall was filled to OVERLOOKING
with colored people, and among the audiences
were Messrs. Bos swell, Watson, Fo sler ,.ovd
Dr. Charles Allen. DIR. Allen was received
win applause by The colored people on inter
ing.
Mr.. Joseph Williams was called to the chair.
and Mr.. Dyson, colOred, was elected secret try
The CHAR stated the object of the meeting. ano
the secretary read the resolutions offered at tue
last meeting.
Mr.. Watson explained that Mr.. Seyrrsop's
plan " as 10 dredga the canal aud 10 straguten
II from 9TH street ID Maryland avenue. aud IN
tins latter so much lanu will be reclaimed as
will pay for The Improvement, aud besides, the
committee OF Congress had given the ass urancp
that Congress would aid III it, so that in reality
no tax needed.
Dr. BOYD moved the adoption of the resolu-
tons, an Mr.. Anthony Bowen (colOred) said
h was IN favor of any plan whereby his
brethren would get work. As 4 people, they
v ere proud but poor-tOo proud 10 beg and I ,
steal rather starve than steal. When last "a r.
they placed their friends in power, il was *
pected that they would provide work, but they
had not fulfilled their trust. II had been SAID
that the colored men would lay about rather
than work, but theiT anxiety To get work had
disproyed it; and If AN at le- bodied man re-
fused to work he would not give him ten cents
10 save him from the workhcusP. Tie had not
shown his face about the Councils, hut had
watched them carefully, and he knew the ac-
ton Of some men In the Council on the bridge
question last Monday night. They had given
IN Seventh Ward but little.
The colored race could now stand erect like
man, and the Irish revolution In England
and the movement In Span showed that the
Almighty is at work, and only yesterday had
he spoken through the American people They
did Not want to call on RepG blicans only, but
Oh all good citizens, 10 aid them in getting
Work. He did not want his brethren 10 beg for
soup when winter comes or, or 10 90 after
scraps, but he wanted bis friends TO work and
get money. and then buy their scraps. They
wanted work; pass the bills, and We the coiored
people Will dig 1t out. Can't you. Yes we
can, and will vote for the men who help us
We want work, and have DO axes TO grind but
10 get pay for turning the stone
DR.. Alien offered an ad t4ional resolution,
that the interest of the Seventh Ward, as well
Is proper drainage of other sections, requires
that the canal should be extended from Its inter-
section with Virginia avenue 10 the Govern
ment canal at the Arsenal, che walls of the
same to be laid In solid masonry, ar that their
representatives IN the Councils be, and are
hereby, requested TO use all proper efforts
% Rave the said work done at the earliest
moment. ,
Dr. Allen said tbs QUESTION was not new
one and h. had urged, tor ten or twelve years,
tbe massage OF a hill to carry the canal doTa
its natural course-dowh james creek. When
the canal was constructed ius'aad u carrying
Il cut Its natural outlet they committed The ftl-
lea tyrN
10 please ricA man at the Navy Yard my
should not cease 10 urge this matter, aud Il
should be cut through 10 the Government ctnai
AZ the arsenal. He would Cooperate with any
man in fTrtheriug this object. TnIs work
should be common ced, and hundreds could 60
10 work. They say they have no money. when
money Is squandrred in patching up Old wOrd
such sta-e Of things would not DE- tolerated
IL any respectable cry OF the West, an ne de-
scrlbed what had been done in Chi csgo. where
TWO canals for ships run right through tha city.
The cGIal was A nuisance. and such IS breed
pesulence. l. was wonder that the cholera
has 10, visited Us. Why is IL Pure negligence
IN selling the mud nac hile, as was the Dase
few years sILCe, when Il could have. been r.
paired for z few hundred dollars. He youli
clean II on: and give worA 20 botn white au d
black. and would no; support any man E1O J.
not pledged 10 tins improvement.
H-T. L " Ter said lie agreed t1at the canal vas
81 uuCItiEated nuisance, bat IL would take
too long to get the measure through the C1gu-
c.lS. He thought the principal Object was 10
q
a.. 81 al The present time there was plenty o!
work 10 o. ii the necessary orders were Issued
and lie submitted that The street work for
which the bills have Deen passed should oe
trst done. He was in favor Of employing the
black TeL altogether. for the poor white men
lid been employed Tor fifteen years. ZAP
Piausel
Dr. Allen replied that in this mater he did
not wish To see any distinction on account of
color. lApplause.l It was ali very Well u
speak OF opening the streets. bus he was ii
. go r4a.u -Fa 81
So Lights on every street and other IMPROVE
IneuIs made. bat the canal should be KEEP, in
view. ArcbinG il over was impossible and
they night as we'll I'LL II up and sewer 10 the
canal.
7dr. ]. J.. n Bowen (color - said he agreed
with DR.. Allen on this question, for the poor
whites and poor colored were on an equal loot
ing in the eyes of the arIstOCracy.
DR.. Boyd remarked that on this SUBJECT the
doctors aGreed-himself and DIR. Allen. He was
glad 10 hear OF the James Creek PROJECT. 1t
was cut OF the question to arch the canal, and
II wCu,t cost millions OF money, and still the
nuisance would not be abaird, for me nOXioUs
gases would be emitted from the loCpholes
The present canal was nuisance, ana tn
workmanship Of It's walls would disgrace any
respectable mechanic II this canal i dug ont
II would cheaper the necessaries Of lite which
ROW cone over the railroad, which is intol-
cradle nuisance.
The Chair called him to order, because the
railroad y foreign subject.
DR.. Boyd continued, saving that he would
employ the poorer classes frs. and urged that
The a. chway having fallen Ia al The Botanical
Garden several times, was u good argument
AGAINST the archway.
Mr.. iCS. l. y. Bowen said he had a gimblet
TO grind, anu wanted other people u have a
chance - grind theirs. Ihe canal should De
cleaned out tins winter, and no. in the summer
time, when IL VIII breed pestIlencr. He dii
not want 20 men 20 with their kettles FOR
soup this winter again, and thought the Nell
who worked for the party should have the
preference He would look II supporters of
the party first. and peniter IA afterwards. Thev
hXC elected men 10 urge TINS IA ter, hut ne
had never heard OF aay on urging il but Mr.
knight
Nr. Boswell said ne regretted that il,
should b. necessary 10 can q meeting 10
urge men TO DO what they had pledged
10 dc. Now, the plan Of Mr.. SeverSon was
such as would not MAKE II necessary 10
tax the people. lie proposes - deepen IL and
stTaIghten IL from .tl sheet 10 Maryla ave-
nue., aud the ground rec laimed viii pay for il.
Al present il pay 5000 wharfage, but no tolls.
q = teet of water being required In the canal
before tolls can be collected.) He was glad TO
see some of his political Opponents here, bat he
would say 10 them, TO the yictors belony the
spoIis. The canal has been a bug bear, but by
Mr.. Seyerson's plan IL would pay. In f. W
days the fioaung debt would be funded, and the
Corporation could raise Sl0G,0CU TO clean the
canal, which w i'll pay four fold.
Mr.. ii. o johnson, colored, said that in
October y wood ana = sand boats had landed
III the canal west of 18th street, and they would
pay ten dollars each II the canal was cleaned
He N dOuhf II a wa IlaJ