Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-12


Chesapeake and Ohio canal since the opening
of the present season, ii is to be regretted that
results are not entirely satisfactory. Although
the demand for Cumberland coal, which consti-
flutes the main reliance of the canal has not
slackened, but increased and is increasing
with the widening reputation of the COM
modify; ii is not pleasant to notice that
1he canal is not deriving the full CORES
IondIng benefit. From the periodical re-
ports Of the canal delivery at Cumberland it
appears that whilst the railroads are carrying
away more coal than ever, the canal has been
falling behind last years trade by so consider
able quantity as two thousand tons a week,
Thus we are shown that on the 18th of April
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad increase over
last years business to the same date was
liz 900 tons, whilst the decrease by canal for the
same period was IS 600 tons. Again on the 26th
of April the railroad had gone on augmenting its
increase up to 12j 900 tons, by which time the
canal decrease had gone down to $1,000 tons.
Furthermore, on the Sd of May inst, the railroad
increase appears to have been over Ia coo tons,
against a further falling on in canal shipments
Cfis go tons. What the effect of such exhibit
must be on the canal stock, if the same down.
ward course should long continue, requires
Solomon to divine, and no les injurious will it
be TO the income of the canal which will need to
be as large as possible to meet ordinary expenses
and the interest on the preferred bonds. Some
thing of this untoward state of things was pre-
dieted at the time the tolls were raised, but not,
perhaps, to 50 large an extent or one 50 early
reached. People wondered that when the Bal
timore and Ohio road inviting trade by
keeping down its freight charges, the canal
directors should seem TO repel it by raising
theirs.
We are sure that the people of Maryland, east
west, middle. or elsewhere. cannot desire the de-
cay of one OF their principal public works, not
outstanding others, not quite so public, may
DE prospecting. Because the railroad thrives,
no reason l. furnished why the canal should
droop. Why should Peter be robbed that Paul
might become richer? Powerful railroads ira
verse the territory of other states, but those
states do not propose 10 sacrifice their canals
Pennsylvania and Ohio keep up their state ca
mails, and the Empire state cherishes her great
historic work, the Erie canal, like the apple
of her eye. Within the last three years she has
offered the tempting premium of one hundred
thousand dollars for plan for successfully navi-
eating the canal by steam, and the prize is yet
open 10 winner. How eager is Virginia to
Place Chesapeake and Ohio canal alongside of
her Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. although
the latter has gone into energetic operation.
How then can Maryland afford to relax her
care and interest in her canal, that after the
fribulation and struggles of old, it is seen that
the canal, if committed to kindly and faithful
auspices, will yield plentiful reward?
We cOuntenance no unjust rivalry between
railroads and canals; rightly considered there
never will be any, if each keeps to its proper
functions and destiny. But proofs are plentiful
that whilst canals not monopOlies and in
rolve nothing aggressive in their character or
management, railroads require restriction and
close watching. They undeniably furnish the
principal source and opportunity for excessive
stockjobbing and corruption. Without them
the exploits Of the Jim Fisks and Jay Goulds OF
our era could never have been. Railroads"
says the Hon. Josiah Quincy in his late address
On the subject, shave the power to bride legis-
latures and TO control laws" and il is moreover
said of them that they sometimes "become prac-
fically monopolies and the tools of avaricious
and INSCRIPTIONS capitalists, and are used to
plumber the public, enrich themselves and i'm
poverish the country through which they rum
AT first modest and supplicatory, like the Cog
msgog Of the romance, railro ads, by and by,
develop a tendency TO grow and swell, as to
threaten the rest Of the world with sheer expul-
SION Against such influences, open OF secret,
1Tom any and every quarter, il behooves the
friends Of the particular cause of which we are
nov writing to be on the alert.
With no disposition to censare, we think that
If the present canal board had now for the first
zinc 10 CONSIDER the pohcy OF raising their tolls,
that policy would not be adopted. That a mis-
take has been made is clear from the remark
able fact that, 10 save their business from fur
ther disaster, the bOatmen have voluntarily re-
dueed their freight rate five cents per ton
And there is another matter we hear of, not
without regret. 1t is a great pity that the long
subsisting harmony between the canal company
and the numerous millers the lowest, or
Georgetown level could not be maintained.
These mills furnish a market tor large part
OF the canal grain trade; and to quarrel with
them and seek to restrict their water privileges,
50 long enjoyed, is simply to strike at another
source Of income for the canal. The present is
an important juncture in the history of this
work, and its friends will need all their industry
and good judgment In so managing its affairs,
against open secret foes, as ~ restore its full
prosperity, and commit il to a successful future.
% which the late administration of its affairs
wa tending.