Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-12-05
The Local Press and the Canal Extension.

Now that Wills Creek has recov-
cred from the protracted drought of
the late summer season sufficiently to
afford cattle browsing along its banks
an occasional drink, the Cumberland
Nc,cs develops the fact that Canal
Extension is not only "a feasible
project" bat that this route is de-
cidedly preferable to the Savage
River route" etc.
On the other hand the Piedmont
Independent, suddenly awaking to
the fact that Canal Extension has
been and is constantly growing into
an important vital local question,
bases an excellent editorial upon
facts patent to the judgment Of every
we'll informed citizen, favoring the
selection of the Savage river survey
as the "only legitimate and feasible
one for the Extension
The Cumberland Times views the
"Trans-Allegany Canal scheme as ex-
tremely chimerical,' and the "agita-
tion OF the subject as worse than use
less.
The Grihan thinks the Extension
by any route will be costly, and that
the question will turn upon the prac-
ticability of obtaining sufficient sup
plies of water.
The ANeganian agrees with the Bed
ford Inquirer in thinking "the present
generation needn't apprehend difficult
ty' about having their land gobbled
up by the ans-Alleghany Canal
Beyond the surveys we have never
wholly regarded the early extension
of the canal as probable. On the as
sumption, however, that the survey
reports would dispose Congress and
the interested public to favorable
consideration and action, and on ac-
count of the manifest desire of Cum
berland to cut off the coal regions
from all interest in the work, we have
several times alluded to the subject
as one requiring the watchfu] atten-
ton of the Georges Creek people,
We have gone further in asserting its
location along Wills Creek as de-
structive of every Maryland interest
in the extension excepting the compar-
atively small one involved in advan-
tage to Cumberland. Every concern
felt by the large, populous, and fruit
full sections of Allegany and Garrett
which feed and sustain it ten times
more than all else is thus handed
over to the state of Pennsylvania
this for the sole and little purpose of
perpetuating Cumberland's lease upon
the handling of Georges Creek
coal.
The issue in this matter is now
more certainly marked, assuming
Col. Sedgwick's report as favorable
to the feasibility of the Wills Creek
route, and considering he has already
made a similar report respecting the
Savage river line. This brings the
two in competition for selection,
which may be early or remote. In
either event it demands careful watch
ing by the people of South and West
Allegany and Garrett, lest Cumber-
land divert it and manifold accruing
advantages to less inviting fields in
another State. Rather than this it
would be far better to have no extern
sion, SO far as this coal region is con-
cerned.
We cannot, of course, question
Col. Sedgwicks competence for the
work he has evidently we'll, faithfully
and impartially performed, but if his
survey demonstrates the superiority of
the Wills Creek route, the science of
engineering is occult to many whose
long acquaintance and otherwise good
Judgment induce the opinion that
large, never failing rivers are better
feeders of canals than small ones
which flourish best during wet sea
sons. We hope his report, whatever
it may recommend, is wholly unbias-
ed by Cumberland sentiment, other
wise We conscientiously pronounce
the whole proceeding thus far an
unmitigated farce, unworthy of the
slightest serious consideration of any
body in or out Of Congress. Any ap-
preparation of millions to send the
Canal uo Wills Creek is equivalent
to throwing away millions upon an
imprscticable and worthless project,
and will defraud our Georges Creek and
Garrett people of the best transporta-