Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-02-19
t,bcsaueake and Ohio Canal.


Canal Company met in the Executive Cham
Der at Annapolis yesterday. The Preslden;
presented the report of the Committee Oh he
vision Of Tolls recommending an Increased toll
IN coal of five cents per ton which was approv-
cd bv the Board of Public works and the stock
holders. This places the toll on coal ior 1873
at 6ty-onc cents instead Of f1rty-six, as at pre-
sent.
The report Of the committee states that
whilst = wise policy dictates the establishment
md m,intcnance of !. low and uniform rate OF
tolls the charges should produce uniform
rnvenue. The whole tonnage of the Canal Tor
The mast three year was $3.50, 026 tons, being
nm average tonnage per year OF S46,342
tons The average aunual receipts during
thc same period we're S42S, 1896, whilst the
average annual cNpcus:s were S224 $50. Us,
showing the net revenue 10 have been sos
$50 %, During the past year the addition ot
wafer and other rents to the revenue increased
+ to So54 OBS. being les: than two per cent. on
the cost OF the work.
The committee believe that no better result
can be produced with present rat $, and they
are convinced that true economy demands Il
modcratcv increased expenditure, as during
the present year at least two Of the alucducts
mist be repaired or rebuilt, TO which must be
added the cost of Il steam pump already order
cd. To make these improvements at the pre-
sent rate of toll would occasion dlmnutlou IN
the amount paid in the past year on account OF
over due coupons on the preferred construction
bonds, to which they caunot consent. There Is
nny due ON these coupons 81 ,63l $40, and 1t
will take over ten years, at an annual payment
of s2254 925, to liquiIute the whole Interest.
The committee consider it us not only due to
the holders ofthesc bonds that the Interest should
be paid, but the taxpayers Of the State have
right to expect that the company Will wlthln tnat
SPACE Of time, not only return to tic State the
amount required by the act Of 18Th, to be ap.
piled to the sinking fund for the redemption o1
the principal of these bonds, but the payment
OSLO, 900 per annum on account OF interest %
the State, which can ouly be donc by lncre;l,-
luz the tolls.
The committee believe that the tolls can be
increased without embarrassment To the trad.
III. toll on grain. four and produce from Cum.
bcrlani t. Georgetown, is $3.50 per ton. or
one cent per ton per mile, while the toll on
coal is a quarter OF cent per mile or toiiy->tX
cents for The whole distance, which Is a lower
rate than charg, Il upon any other canai IN the
country except the Erlc.
The r.port then proceeds 10 review NE
changes in toll from time to time to time. show
ing that in 1863 it was 81! cents from Cunbcr-
land to Georgetown, in 1868 1t WAS % cents.
and in lS6b it Was IS clio, and in 1867 81 81
100 pcr ton, and when the President and Board
of Directors in 1865 recommended Il reduction II
it; cents the Board of Public Works failed to
ratify said action Whilst, therefore, the !c-
cal rate is 50 %. 100 cents, there has only been
collected 46 cents. This reduction was made
on account of the depression in the coal trade,
the market value of coal in Georgetown and
Alexandria being 80 cents less than IN Bald
more The cost of freight, Wharfage. Toll. Nc,
ON coal at Georgetown prior TO the reduction
was claimed to be So. 06 62-lOO whilst that de-
livcrcd by rail at Baltimore was $2.7S being
difference in favor of Baltimore OF IS 92-lVo.
The Committee say that the Company
should operate aud control all necessary works
at both ends of the line Tor loading and dis
charging cargoes, that the trade should be sub
ject to 20 charges other than such is are IN.
posed by the Company after the coal Is dc.
iivcrcd on the wharvcs at Georgetown, said
wharvrs being Owned and controlled By the
Company. The owners of private wharvcs
have heretofore charged at Georgetown 30
cents per ton, but they have now agreed to re-
U--D
the cost of handling. and will make the pre-
sent cost Of coal by canal from Cumberland to
Georgetown 80. Isl, whilst the cost Of coal at
Baltimore by railroad is g. Is, making a dit
ference OF G2! cents per ton i'll favor Of George
town, which will be reduced hy the difference
in market value OF coal at Georgetown To II!
cents per ton :,
In reply to the suggestion that there should
be greater difference than this to prevent the
trade seeking the railroad, the committee say
that although the tonnage by railroad has been
double that by canal, that yet during portion
of the time the difference i'll favor Of the canal
has exceeded 1926 per ton, without increasing
its trade or diminishing that Of tho railroad.
In 1861 the difference was only II cents per
ton without any apparent effect on the part OF
either, and there Is good reason to believe that
with difference in favor of the canal OF ~
cents per ton, it will continue to carry at least
onc-thirl of all the coal mined 10 the Cumbcr-
land region.
The present extraordinary and 1--WE think
permanent demand for this Goa, and the high
prices at which it is Sold will enable coal COM
panies to pay the increase without affecting
their business in the slightest, while to improve
the Canal and make uorc certain the time OF
arrival of boats, is a consideration which they
will appreciate.
Believing results so much to be desired as
those herein enumerated can be attained with
out affecting any of the great interests OF the
State, but on the other hand enable the Com
pany to assist to greater extent than hereto
fore in developing the vast mineral resources OF
Western Maryland, and within IA short period
make fair return to the stockholders and
State Treasury, your committee respectfully re-
commend the adoption CT the revised toll
sheet.
After the adoption of the report the meeting
adjourned, to meet again at Annapolis Oh
April Sth.-Bultinsore Am rtcdn.
A letter from Washington, say: The Sen
ate committee on pensions has decided adverse
L. on the uetition of Catharinc Harris, widow