Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-13
The Chesapeake aud Ohio Canal.

et WlllArus hall. Among those present were
Hon. Montgomery Blair, President German, of
the canal company; j. q. Berret, Hon. p.
Hamil, Hon. John Richie, Hon. A. j. Pen
nington, Hon. ID. S. Biser, Hon. Michael Ban
non, w. M. Tenney, A. II. Herr, of Georgetown;
Frank Cowan, of Pittsburg; q. NJ. Watkins, OF
Montgomery county; w. Hutton. of Md ;
Ghas Stewart, Washington county; Daniel
Fields, w. r. Hayward, j. X. Hines, Mayor
Nj 1nroe, of Annapolis; Benz. Fawcett, Jssob
Brengle, of Cumberland; VIM. Brewer, of Md !,
Henry Polkinhorn, OF Washington; ArthdT
Sbriver, of the Cumberland NelCs, and
John Broydrick, of the Cumberland Tins.
Hon. 8. L. Suit, of the W. z. and p. L. X. r..
T.P. Morgan, Of Washington; w. Z. Meloy, f.
Miller, b. +. nj. Hbrey, of Cumberland; John
L. Ford, q. g. Holster, and e. G. Kerr, of Bat-
timore; Judge Pesre, W. II. Lowdenmilk, W.
w. Mckaig, Hon. l.. LOwndes, +. MInkin, b.
Bride, W. NJ. Price, Nj. G. W ThoSpson, f. e.
Campbell, A. Mel. Bust, X. p. johnson, L A
Kenny, 5 Somehow, T. Haley, j. Hembird, j.
son, j. s. Edwards, III. Hebb, ID. @. Bruce, L.
Luman, j. +. Little, II. HI. Butler, j. II. Cor
don, w. Walsh, II. w. wlthers. OF Cumber-
land; g. ID. Latebford, of Howard county; s. X.
Waters, OF Carroll county; Hon. n. Brewer and
G. Albert, OF Montgomery.
At noon Hon. Montgomery Blair called the
meeting to order, stating that this was an al
the object of which was to ask an appropri.-
ton from Congress to further the survey for the
extension OF the canal. He referred to the sub
ject having been discussed some time, and the
very exhaustive report of the transportation
committee. Ii had been settled that Congress
would not interfere with the construction OF
railroads, but they had the power and should
consider at least four great water routes. He
hoped that both rOutes-the extension OF this
canal and that OF the James river aud Kanawha
canal would be established. We think tina. as
our work is the most prominent, most rapidly
progressed, and would take less money, that
Congress should take hold of our route. Ii
wa practical. Every one can see that, but
small interval OF 80 miles intervene between
slack water and the canal.
Mr.. BerTet moved the appointment OF com
mittee OF i've to report a memorial or resOid-
tons; adopted, and Messrs. j. q. Berret, Hon.
John Richie, j. I. Ford, f. Cowan, and s. L.
Suit were appointed.
MIR. X. S. Davis offered a resolution that a
committee be appointed 10 inquire and report
what further legislation Is needed for the
tension Of the canal from the states or Penn
sylvania and Maryland. Adopted.
The committee submitted report: That ia
view of the elaborate and conclusive report
lately made by the Senate Committee on Trans
Portation, showing the necessity of a water
route from the Ohio to the St a board, and recon-
mendiDg action by Congress for the purpose, it
is unnecessary TO report here the facts AMI
reasoning upon which that conclusion rests.
That able and well considered paper, after
wide review of the present condition OF the
country and of the effect OF modern improve
ments upon lines of communication, reasserts
the principle that was asserted as an axiom oy
Lord Bacon, that in the nature of things unat
subject canDot be left to the co 1trol OF private
individuals to be turned TO private prOfiS, with
T., hencS
that it was one Of the duties for governments
now Instituted 10 provide the highways to COM
merce, and to prevent these primo necessities
OF civilization from becoming moDopolies.
1t having been thus established that it is the
duty of Congress to act on this subject aud it
having been demonstrated that one OF the lines
which needs the most immediate action is that
between the Ohio and the seaboard, il only rs-
mains 10 consider the pait cular line to be
lected, and this is reduced to a selection be-
tween the Chesapeake and Ohio route and
hat lu he Iar srFy n,..R
II but one rs 10 be opened, the Chesapeake and
Ohio should be selected, seems 10 your mem
rialists not 10 be debatable question, VIII ether
the cost Of construction or the co 1yeniencs ami
advantage to commerce be considered. Thai
the fact that Washington and jefferson an :
Madison and the most illustriOus OF Nirginia's
statesmen, and the state OF Virginia itself, by
its legislature, led the way in designating TIL
route, goes far to show that il is the natur a.
line or communication and best calculated to
promote state ard national interests That
great cities started many years ago have already
grown up at Its termini on the Imperfect com.
municatlon then and now existing, but pene-
trstsng further than by any other lines,
to this is added that a great part OF the
work is already done on this line, and the prac-
ticability OF finishing has been established b.
surveys made under the supervision OF Genera
Barnard, the illustrlous charm An OF the board
or internal improvement, half a century ago;
and when it is also established that il will not
require one half the amount in money and not
half the time TO complete IL which will be re :
quired to finish the James River and Ksnawha
line, it seems to your memorialists that the
question ought to bedeemed to be settled. Your
memoIislists are, however, aware that in q work
involving so great 3 cost and 50 many ether i'm
portant considerations, more detailed informs
ton should De obtained before the final decision
is reached, and hence that further surveys are
necessary on both routes That owing TO the
Circumstance that the preliminary report of
Col. Sedgwick was but lately finished, your me-
morialists we're unable 70 make presentation Of
the route to the Transportation Committee or
the Senate. Your memOrialists therefore pray
that the chief Of engineers Of the United States
be directed to cause further surveys and est
mates TO be made of the cost OF connecting the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal with the Oaio river,
and that the appropriation which he has esti
mated as required for that purpose may be
made.
Hon. John Richie addressed the convention
on the report, stating that the subject had not
had the share of Congressional attention IL
deserved, and he hastily glanced at the advan-
tages which would accrue by the extension of
this work to Pittsburg and other cities, referring
the prospects of this city, Considering the fact
that the government had q, 500 900 invested in
this work, the mineral regions about Pitsburg,
and the connection with the West, markes any
argument unnecessary. Referring TO western
enterprise, he said they would, Samson-lIke, but
with greater strength, burst al outlet to the
seaboard, to which they were entitled. [Ap-
Gen. strobell, of Ca, was called out by Col.
Berret, and addressed the convention on the
importance Of the work.
Messrs. Bsnnon, of Md, and Cowan, OF Pa
were appointed on the resolution of Mr.. Davis
and the first named gentleman stated that the
state OF Maryland had taken all the action
necessary.
Mr.. Cowan stated that a company owned the
right to the slackwater near the Ohio, but
had NO doubt that they would surrender to the
Trans-AllegbeDy Company.
Mr.. German stated that this subject had been
before the convention at Cumberland. There
was some difficulty in the way without legisls.
ton from Pennsylvania, and he had infOrma
ton that the legislature Of that state would
confirm the act OF Maryland. Mr.. German ex.
planned why the subject had not been presented
TO the Senate c)mmittee. With the extension
Of % mules to Baltimore or Annapolis, an in
land water route from New Orleans to New
York would be secured This would not dam
age Georgetown or Washington, but would BEN
efit them. Already over one-third Of the coal
brought down from the mines passes through
the inland route to New York, and when this
line IL extended. instead OF one million TONS
from four to i've million tons would come down
He referred to the fact that quite trade in gas
coal had recently been established-the miners
OF Pennsylvsn finding 1t advantageous to ship
by rail to Cumberland.
Major Monroe, Of Annapolis, spoke OF the ad-
vantages Of that city as the terminus Of the
proposed canal to the Chesapeake.
Mr.. +. Miller, Of MONTGOMERY. exprezsed his