Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-09-28

of the bill, and opposing the sewer plan,
millions, and subsequently at least Is 900 per
year to clean il ont He argued that IL the
canal could be made so valuable TO com.
pany, it could be made as valuable to the Cor.
poration. and gave figures. In glyins work
to the many persons out OF employment, they
will save at least $4,000, for, instead of soup
houses, the laDorers can buy the food: He
22k cents per load, and the estim ated amount
of sbris would yield $4,000. He argued that
the canals had not been superceded BY rail-
roads; iha: the Erie canal alone p aid the State
OF New York q revenue OF four millions.
Mr.. Boyd said that as long ago as 1926 Con-
grpss gave the Canal COMPANY power to widen
ing, and at this day il was prepostrous to talk
about narrowing it. THIS canal had remained
here an eye.sore for years, and visitors here
from every section OF the country on going to
the Capitol could not help seeing the canal be.
fore them, and in It's condition Is was a re.
proach to the citizens and disgrace to the
could be made not only useful but Ornamental,
and it beloved the city 70 say that the citizens
are not without enterprise enough to clean 1t
have the reverse He caused to be read a letter
from A. Watson, stating thar III the work is
common ed on the LIST Of November. with large
f1sse men n and md 81, Of eaa be
price, ~ per day for eight hours work, be
would urge that this work would not be filthy
and liable TO produce sickness, and no member
object to paying that amount
He also sent to the clerks desk a letter from
Mrs. Josephine S. Drifting. which was read, in
which she urges that, for humanity's sake this
work should be done, that the suffering poor
msy be relieved. An article from the STAR Of
Wednesday last was also read. Dr.. Il. en-.
dorsed Mr. McKnI2hts views. and in conclu-
sion urged the passage of the bill II for no other
reason than to relieve the poor
Mr. Gaines thought that some of the papers
| read were insulting to the members, as they
| were appealed TO as Republicans. He was a
Republican, but he cams to the Board as rep
resentative of his constituents. and not of q
| party, and would do his duty without political
| bias. He was opposed to the bill, and he had
| heard no one in ms ward favor It, There was
| NO fall in the canal SUFFICIENT for good flow of
| water, and they could not 60 farther ;han 18th
| street. Good bargains were offered to the cor
| poration some OF which should be taken, as he
| could not see where the corporation could get
are now so high that many have had to sell
half their property to pay for Improvements
made by the corporation.
Mr.. Holmes offered a substitute for the bill OF
| the committee, providing for the appropriation
OF S125, 900 for cleaning out the canal its entire
| length to a depth of five feet below the lowest
tides. the work to be contracted Tor and given
New York, two Philadelphia, two Baltimore.
and two Washington daily papers for two
weeks, the contract to be awarded and the work
to be under the supervision Of q canal board. to
consist Of the Mayor, two Aldermen, and three
Councilmen, who shall he appointed by the
Presidents of the two Boards, and the work to
be finished on or before June 1, 1870; and that
any company connecting this canal with the
Chesapeake Bay have free transit through its
entire length; and also, any company connect
ing with IL on its western terminus have the
same right. Mr.. Holmes spoke OF canals yet
being necessary to the trade of the country, and
he instanced various lines Of canals doing
large business.
Mr.. Simms said that he could not see how
the city was to pay for this Impro vement, for
even now people are starving on Corporation
work, bat If they could pay the men was will
ing TO improve the canal. lie did not believe,
however, that 1t would pay as much as some
supposed, for the highest he had known the
receipts was $4,000.
Mr.. Simms.-Nothing. He would be in
favor OF Keeping it If the Corporation could
Mr.. Boyd asked il It was not understood that
the tax bill would yield surplus OF slOO,OOUl
Mr.. Smms replied that he had so understood,
but 1t remains to be seen whether there will
be a surplus.
Mr.. Taylor srbmitted resolution authorlz.
ing the Mayor to invite proposals for cleansing
the canal, that the Councils shall have some
idea Of the probable cost Of the work, as q sub.
stiiuie, which, on motion of Mr.. Boyd, was re.
ferred.
Mr.. Burgess read from the several acts re-
lating to the canal, and argued that the
Corporation had lost their right to the canal,
not having complied with the terms Of the act
yesting the canal in the Corporation.
Mr.. Williams Mr.. Venable in the chair) ad-
10 the fact that parties We're anxious to get
possession Of the canal as an evidence Of its
worth, and also 10 the business done on the
Erie canal compared with the Erie railroad
He argued at some length that the day of
though committee Of Congress had declared
81 that Congress might well declare the char.
ter forfeited" such has not been done. He
argued that If improved Its present revenues
would soon rise to S3O,000, or perhaps 0,OOO,
in the cost Of carriage. He quoted from reports
OF committees OF Congress 70 show It's value.
He denied that the committee propose to i'm
prove the middle Of the canal, and ask to open
the ends subsequently,, but they propose to ask
authority 70 strengthen 1t. He contended that
the survey Of the canal Is unnecessary, as the
question was thoroughly discussed by the
board Of military engineers in 1866, and the
committee propose TO finish what was begun
in 1866, under the recommendations Of the en-.
gineers.
Mr.. Hall said 1t was popular error that il
the canal was connected with the Chesapea
and Ohio Canal the Cumberland coal would
come TO Washington. This city would not get
as much as a three.legged mule in three weeks
could haul from GEORGETOWN.
MI. Holmes contended that coal would
pass through the canal il It was connected
with other canals, and he understood that the
proposed Potomac and Chesapeake Canal
would be constructed, and, when that was
done, coal from Cumberland could be taken to
New York without breaking bulk.
At - O'Clock the Board adjourned to Wed.
nesday.