Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-10
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.


Public works, railroads and canals, particular
~ the latter, bore the brunt of unusual elcmeu-
tai assault during the stormy month OF August
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal annually
becoming more and more an object of general
attention aud Interest as Il great national trade
artery, stuff red its share of damage What
with extraordinary wa>hes--in filling the ca
nal brimIuI Of earth, and repeated washes out
emptylug the bottom of the canal in the adj olu
ing river; the summer trade upon it has been
heavily diminished. All engaged poor or rich,
have suffered, whilst the several coal compa-
MES have been subjected to unprecedented
losses. How much we cannot say; but the to-
tai must be counted by scores of thousands OF
dollars.
Whilst all reasonable allowance is made for
really unforeseen and therefore inevitable cas-
ualty, it is not to be wondered at if the canal
authorities are held responsible for a great
deal Of the disaster that has happened. 1t Is
said, and, for anything we have SEEM without
contradiction, that repair where all the tenac
ity of clay was requisite, sand was used instead;
the consequence being that as soon as water was
let in, there was new and even worse breach
than before. Lack Of due preparation and
proper energy was said to be conspicuous at the
mcndlng Of the Berlin culvcrt, Of the unsafe
condition Of which the president is also declar
cd to have been warned as along ago as last WIN
ter when az ins guificant expenditure would
have prevented heavy outlay. And then
there was plentiful want of tact in not Selling
the opportunity furnished by empty levels to
clean out the numerous sand bars which are
making the canal in many places too shallow to
he passed by loaded boats without great diff
Guilty, and may yet compel boats to reduce the
amount of their usual loadings at Cumberland
Within few days we hear of lock gates knock
ed in or out and yet other breaks have been
told OIL which may or may not prove to be real
And, on the WHOLE impartial observers pro-
nouncc the canal (whose condition was so high
y Iauded in the presidents annual report to
have got into anything but desirable cond
ton, and that much care will be requisite to keep
it navigabe during the short remainder Of the
season.
We do not suppose that the gentlemen in
chief control Of this work-which is not destiu-
ed to be crushed out so readily as its enemies
may have hoped--is more Objectionable than
would be any other keen aud active politician,
when placed where he is unsulted both by feel
ing and want of proper education and expert
cucc. Probably no one fixed where MIR. Cor
man is, for the purpose, mainly, Of improving
the oppOrtuultlt; OF the place to help his gu
bcrnatora patron to u seat once more 10 the
United States Senate, would do great deal
better than he. At any rate, the great wrong
done by putting politicians into places that
should be filled by men OF practical habits, can
not be denied But whether it be the fault Of
this irrational aud ruinous practice or Of the
incumbent individually, the canal, and those who
1,,o 4 j hn
Ali through the official career Of the gentleman
in question he has done that which coupels
distrust Of his cordial interest in the work com
rnittcd to his charge. II the drift of the posi-
ton compelled him to row in one direction,
there has always been something to suggest
that his eyes and his heart were looking in
another. He began, as early as was polite, by
barring his official teeth at the nil!ers on the
Georgetown level adopting what are called
stringent thar is, unfrIendy measures, as re-
syected rights of long standing and hereby
naturally arou>ing troublesome and expensive
litigation. The next blow was the raising of
the tolls, measure lnstlnctvely felt to be
Injurious to the business of the canal, but of
corresponding advantage to the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad What the effects of this blow
have really been might be traced, week after
week, in the Increased trcghtage of the road,
and the concurrcuty diminished trade OF the
canal. And DOW, alter series of bitter dlsas
tiers, and the loss of whole month business
at most important season of the year, Presl-
dent Gormau falls back upon do-no1hing
policy, with canal under his control that cost
the state and people Of Maryland twenty mil
lions Of dollars, and which loudly demands the
best service Of an able mans whole heart aud
head to manage for Washington STIR.