Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-06
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

At the meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, on the 18th nit
Governor Bowie. OF Maryland, Mr. James G.
Berrett, of this city, and Mr.. John p. Poe were
appointed committee to report as to what
action a. to that work should be recommended
to the Maryland Legislature. The committee
submitted their report at the adjourned meeting
OF the board at Annapolis few DAYS since
They speak unfavOrably of the proposition I,
open the mile and quarter of the canal living in
this city and condemned by our Board of Health
a. nuisance. They say, however, from the
facts stated by the president. that immediate
action must be taken upon the subject and re
commend that II be referred to the president and
Ioard OF directors for them to make the most adj
vantageOus disposition, but to report to the
stockholders before final action for their adop
ton OF rejection. The state being the MORTGAGE
Of this part of the canal. the committee recon.
mend application to the legislature for appro-
pirate legislation to give conveyance, and sup-
geSt TO the Board of Public Works to Law this
matter early before the legislature. The report
while disapprOving OF the construction of the
outlet-ioeks at Georgetown BY the COMPANY As
unjust and ineSPedient, states the committee can
see no well-founded objection to their construc
ton by private responsible parties. III so built
the company, il SAYS, would derive most material
advantage. They, therefore, recommend the re-
oeiying OF proposals thus to construct these ont
let-lOcks. No contract, however, to be awarded
without the stockholders approval
The recommendation OF this passive policy is
not very encouraging to those business Interests
Of the District depending on canal trade The
committee in this very report express Their
qualification at the prosperity of the companv
and state that the net revenues for the lasf
eighteen months were S42O, S63.II, while for the
eighteen months Immediately preceding thew
were only S0,2s0.4o. They know that this in
creased trade demands increased facilities for
unloading boats AT this end OF the work; and We,
they propose to stand still and wait for priyare
enterprise Boats are frequently detained some
Gays in georgetown waiting their turn to dis
charge cargoes, and relief might be afforded
and a new impetus given to the canal by a
judiCious expenditure at this time. Something
will have to be done in the near future or the
interests Of the canal will suffer. There is vir-
tUslly outlet lock from the canal into the
river except at Alexandria, for a loaded coal
boat cannot pass through Rock creek. Ii the
creek was dredged, and the section OF the canal
in this city kept cleaned out, coal might be
brought into the heart OF this city without the
heavy expense OF hauling from Georgetown;
and il an outlet lock was constructed in George
town, coal might be transferred from the canal
boats directly into vessels, greatly eheapening
the cost of the coal at the north. ANYBODY can
see how these improvements will increase the
trade and thus benefit the canal company. and
vet they propose TO wait for somebody else TO 10
their work.