Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-01-09
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL N E W s .
The Canal Question.
MEETING AT TIE CITY HALL.

MEETING AT TIE CITY HALL.
Last evening q meeting was held in the
Council Chamber. City Hall, to consider the
canal question, At v hich there were present
snt small number of persons, among them
Dr William Boyd. Register Boswell, Messrs.
Williams, J. L. Pau, Alderman Knight
Coencilman Bates, A X. B own, Revs. w. J.
Walher and Grsen, coiored, and perhaps q
dozen others.
The meeting was called to order by Mr.. Wat
son, ON whose motion DIR. Boyd was elected to
preside, and the latter, on taking the caair,
briefly stated the object Of the meeting, and
that il was not designed to limit the debate 10
any particular plan.
Mr.. Watson submitted series of resolutions
setting forth that the Canal Committee Of the
deepening the canal. and the Board had adopt
ed the report of the committee; req uestinR the
common Council TO pass the resolutions adopt
ed by the Aldermen, and requesting the Mayor
and Boards to unite in urging upon Congress
the importance and propriety Of enacting into
law the bill now before Congress for straight.
canal; asking that Congress be requested to
take early measures for causing the section of
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal lying bet weep
1nn street and Rock creek be opened; to have
that canal cross Rock creek by means OF an
aQueduct: thus forming a perfect connection
between that great thoroughfare aud the Wash
IDgton canal; also, to have the channel OF the
Potomac Turned TO its natural course along the
Washington side, and properly deepened; and
requesting the corporate authorities to cause a
survey and estimate to be made of the cost of
opening branch canal along the line Of James
cIeek.
Mr.. Watson referred to the want of interest
feit IN this matter, and spoke of the several
plans 10 improve the canal. The first plan,
which had but few friends, was to MI 10 the
canal and cut sewers to the Potomac, which
would require 30 feet cutting, and the So wers
then would be on dead level. The second
plan was 10 arch il, but thst was impracticaole
or account of its cost The arching OF Tioer
creek in the Botanic Garden-6sO feet IN length
and % feet span-cOst S60,OCO The canal was
l5,CO5 feet in length, and 10 would require one
and q half millions to arch IL. Piles would be
necessary on which to build il, for the bottom
was soft, and this would require half q million
more. An arch of 90 feet would not carry off
the water, and II would cost four millions
The third plan was to clean the canal out and
make 10 navigable from Georgetown to the
Eastern Branch. and it was estimated that it
would cost $50 coo, and it would pay. A pro-
position had been made TO give the canal 10 a
company, and unless the Corporation does
something II NAV pass into company's hands.
The removal of the capital had been talked OF;
and the best way TO defeat such propositions
was TO do something to rid the city of its name
OF having the worst streets, canal. and market
houses.
Mr.. Boswell said be wished the canal 10 be
improved, but did not believe IL could be made
navigaole. There was but q, OGO left OF the ap-
preparation OF $4,000. If the canal was made
nayiRable 1t would only be to long boats and
canal boats, and If cleaned the tides coming in
at both ends would cause il to I'LL MP again. He
had heard 1t proposed TO arch the canal from
I'D to 10th street, and if Congress would give
the ground thus saved 1t would more than paw
Tor the aTchiDg. In preparing work for the
laooring men the interests Of the tsx-payers
must not be discarded. To arch the canal
would give men employment, for il would be
required to be cleaned too, and he had II from
M Hepburn, a practical mason, that it could
be arched. He suggested that no definite ac-
ton be taken until a larger meeting was had.
II the canal was arched, then would South
Washington become indeed the garden spot of
Washington.
Mr.. Dennis remarked that if no economical
plan could be devised for cleaning, after arch
ing 1t, they had better not talk of the arch.
Mr.. j. j. Calvert called attention to q commu-
picatIon In the Chronicle, IN which the writer
proposes TO arch the canal, and put in dredging
machines to cleanse IL. He did not see how il
vas to be arched, il they could not raise few
thousand dollars to clean il out
Mr.. Boswell said he pres umed that traps
would be made by which it could be cleaned
and as for the money the reclaimed land would
pay for the Improvements.
MT. Dennis said IL would cost double to clean
81 out after IL was arched.
The Chair said that the idea Of retaining
whether il could be done, and the easements
BY il.
interest IN the question. The city could not
ahord 10 arch the canal vet. Ii could not con-
meet with the Chesapeake and Ohio canal no.
fss tbey obtained the power TO condemn the
property from west l1tn street 10 the west end
OF Georgetown, for the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal was the owner Of that line of land II
they bad the power to condemn, they could get
the e4,oo0,O0O annually for transporting coal
nat J. w. Garrett now gets for carrying it to
Point Lockout Then they would have steady
WORK for hundreds of laborers.
Mr.. Chas. King thought il ridiculous to think
Of afching the canal.
HI. Severson expressed his views on the
question, claiming that 1t was preposterous to
ak Of arching the canal, but that IL should bs
oeepened and made nayigable. The city should
never allow il to pass into the hands Of nri.
vate company, for il could be made q source of
pront 70 the city.
Al his point, Ills, the meeting adjourned.