National Republican., 1874-05-14
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.
COET ESTToY OF FRIENDS OF TIE
CHESAPEkREA AND OHIO c.2E;zI.

MAYOR MONROE, OF ANNAPOLIS.
The convention Of those persons interested II
the extension Of the Chesapeake and Ohio cana
20 the Ohio river assemSled yesterday al wII
aards hall. There was in attendance delegate
from Maryland, PennsslyanIa and this District
Considerable interest vas manifested in tho pro
Nceedings, and It was apparent that gil yere On
zhusiastis in the success Of the project
Among those present were Hon. Mootzonsr,
Blair, A p. German, president o: the Chesapeak,
and Chic Canal Company; James O. Berret
Hon.P. Hanill, John Richie E S, BiseE. A. ]
Pennington, R S. Davis, Michael Bannon, W.
M. T enney, A. H. Herr, N. Frank Cowan Pitts
burg, Pa, secretary; g. N. Watkins, Vim. r
Hutton, Maryland; Chas Stewart, Daniel S
Monroe, Of Annapolis, Nd; Benz. kawcett, VIM
Brewer, Maryland; Henry POlknhOTn, Arthur
Shr1yer, Cumberland keU:j John BroydrieS
Morgan, W. E. Meloy, Francis Miller, 3. F. NJ
Hurley, Of Cumberland MIDI John 7. Ford, @
Council; B. DilIey. Judge Pearre, +. Rinkee, W
H. Lowdermilk, Hon; L LoTndes, w. w. Nc
Eaig / BEePgls I;-lS. GE HstIeI G A A b MeSKsig
Thompson, E. II. Campbell, A. NJ L. Bush, r
D. johnson, J; A; kerney, S Sennibom, F. Ha-
ley, y. Humbrid, ]. Conlehan, W Il. Beall, J. G.
OfricE, @. Henderson, jr., s. ]. Edwards, H
Hebb, d. L. Bruce, I. Luman, s. Z. Little, K. II
Butler J. II. Gordon, w. Walsh, II. W. Hoff
man, W. A. withers, all OF Cumberland, Nd,
Geo d. Latchford.
Hon. Montgomery Blair, president, called the
convention TO order about noon and stated thai
# was an adjourned meeting of the boiy from its
session In Pittsburg, Pa, aud the object was tC
take further cognIzauce Of the subject Of the
canal extension, and secure If possible, the ne.
cessary appropriations TO complete the SURVEYS
another object was the appointing Of O commit.
zee TO impress upon Congress the Importance ol
thle WORK. Since the last meeting the Commitfea
on transportation in the Senate of the United
states has made an able and lengthy report on the
subject. They state that Con gress Should not in
Ms
sist in completing the four great waterways,
especially the James River and kanawha line and
hoped there would be no contest between the two
routes, but that both would be COMPLETED and
commerce have an uninterrupted water travel
from East to West. He thought as their route
was the first conceived and had made the great
est progress, they should be the first to receive
recognition and substantial support. In this
work Virginia was as largely Interested as Mary
land, and he hoped they would commence work
earnestly and go before Congress and strive to
obtain the necessary appropriation TO complete
the surveys.
In whatever form they wished to go before that
BODY, whether by resolution or memorial he
hoped no time would be lost in getting readvf
Nh. J. @. Berret moved, and it was agreed to,
that the chair appoint committee Of ive to con-
Slder the report and present the same to the con-
Tention at the earliest moment
The president appointed as the committee
Messrs: J. G. Berret, John Richie, ]. 7. Ford,
Frank COWan and S. T. Suit.
On motion Of Mr.. r. s. Davis, resolution was
adopted appointing a committee oftwo, composed
sylvania, to inquire what further legislation is
necessary in those States to complete this great
object.
pointed 10 consider the subject Of the canal exten
zion. submitted the following memorial:
To he Senate nnd House Of Representatives. in Con-
feur memOrialists, convention of citizens Of
the States Of Ohio. Pennsylvania, Maryland and
the district Of Columbia, desiring the aid of the
United States 10 complete the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal, respectfully represent: That in view
Of the elaborate and conclusive report lately
mace by the Senate Committee on Transpnrta-
tion, Showing the necessity Of q water-route from
the Ohio to the seaboard, and recommending
&C ton by Congress for the purpose. it is Hnneces
sary to repeat here the facts and reasoning upon
which that conc Iusion rests, That able and we'll
considered parer, after wide review Of the pres
ent condition OF the country and Of the effect Of
modeFn improvements upol lines Of cOmmunica-
tloH re2sseTts the principle that was asserted as
an &I!Cm BY LorG Bacon, that in the nature Of |
things that subject cannot be left to the control Of
private individuals To be turned TO private profit
without a sacrifice Of the public interest and |
hence that 1t was one Of the duties for which gov
eTEnents were instituted to provide tho highways |
OF commerce and TO prevent these prime neces- |
skies az civilization from becoming mOnopolies |
having been TINS established that it is the duty
Of Congress to act on this subject, and it having
been demonstrated that one Of the lines which |
needs the most immediate action is that be-
tween the Chic and seabcard, it only remains |
and fh;s is redacei d . eh0i5o Sstfstti SestsstStsa !,
the Chesapeake and Ohio route and that by
nneneu ths Chesapeake and Ohio
Should be selected seems 10 your memOr.a....
not 10 Re a debateable question, whether the cost
Of construction or the convenience and advantage
70 Iccruc be considered. That the fact that
Washing ton and jefferson and Madison and the
most illus'rIUCs Of Eirginia's statesmen and the
State Of Virginia itself by its Legislature, led
the way in designating this'route, goes far to
chow that II is the natural line of communication
and best calculated to promote State and national
interests. That great cities, started many years
ago, have already grown up at its termini on the
Imperfect communications then and now existing
but penetrating farther than by any other lines,
confirms this view Of the subject and when to this
Is added that great part Of the work is already
done on this line and the practicabiiity of finish
Ing it has been established by surveys made under
the supervision OF General Bernard. the illustrious
chairman Of the board OF interal improvement
half century ago, and when Il is also established
that there will not be required one half the
complete it which will be required to finish the
James river and hRnawha line, it seems to your
that the heQuestion ought to be deemed
10 be settled. Your memorialfEts, are, however
aware. that in q work involving so great a cost /
IND so many other considerations, more detailed |
Information should De obtained before the fnal
decision is reached aud hence that further surveys
are necessary On both routes. That owing to the
circumstance that the preliminary report OF Colo
mel Seoswick was but lately finished, your memo
rialistS were unah!e TO make presentation OF the
route to the transportation Committee Of the
Senate. cur memUrlalsts therefore pray that
the chief engineer OF the United States be d.
rected to cause further surveys and estimates to
be made O. the cost Ut connecting the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal with the Ohio river and that the
appropriation which he has estimated as required
Tor that purpose may be made.
Hon. Sir hitchis said that the subject had not
due share Of Congressional atten-
Ion. simply because they had not submitted the
iata for lie Importance and feasibility OF the
.erprisc. IL was not n the spirit OF Jealousy TO
)tEcT routes t.Et attention directed to their
OWE; but because the advantages were superior to
1thers. The advantages OF trade when well cs-
are not easily diverted. and It was well
hat has
The extension OF this route was towards Pitts
burg. commercial centre, and they had already {
Sith.a their reach the commercial einporiums OF
82ltmgre and New York, while the terminus of {
he line is at the national capital. What the
uture Q: thesS kGcnt cities will be cannot be fore
0id n9Te specially E5sn pos:esSsd Of such f.
ss rich mineral surroundings the coal region
hrough which the canal will pass. and its open,
pg up an outlet for the agricultural lSSions OF
ne ereat west makes 1; q most eligible .,Ster-
s @ nj E,p5S;y SG2y ~ The prophetic pen Of W&s' ash
eli had marked out this great highway. =
sted init, the mineral regions OF the West and Q
he connection of commerce with the lakes seems \
o make Argument unnecessary on the subject c
Or the enterprise speaks with such potent tongue q
hat il receives the approval of the entire nation c
Gen. frooell, Of Georgia, spoke by invitation,
nd said that the question OF cheap transporta.
len hes been growing stronger and stronger until
has reached every EcCtiOn Of the country. He
hen hen sF9ke Of the l.ncs Of communication from
ringing n Contact OF the iron Fer
hants Of the East and producers Of
he West and thought man o0ul9 not b. ..sSflnd
to the ploieoL - alsO showed the
ecess.ty ior Tie connection Of the Chesapeake
,ay WY ..e Ohio river, and ,the important re-
u LLH -IIat would spring from u
Mr.. A. p. German spoke OF the advantages to
his city Gad Georgetown when the extension is
completed, particularly the reduction in the price
,f coal, the freight on which alone would be re-
iuceI Al 90 per ton The increase Of business that
Tuuld turn in this direction and the benefits TO be
leriveG theretrom would lie immense. |.
Mayor Monroe, of Annapolis, Nd, spoke briefly
,f the advantages to be derived for commercial
purposes by placing the termini OF this water
'Outs at Annapolis.
Col. Sedgwick was satisfied that this water line
lad superior advantages over any other except
hat Of the Erie canal. He then spoke of the
.S-ly surveys Of canals, and made notes OF the
-cports OF Colonels Bernard and Totten on the
'ubject. and thought them most thorough and
complete. The survey Of the line here was diff
,ult, especially beyond Cumberland, Nd, where
they made two routes, known as Wills creek and
Deep creek, the last of which the shortest and
most practicable. When the geographical posi-
Ions were discussed it was decided useless to take
he Southern route, and consequently there was
,nly one lett.
Finally il was decided to make a survey be-
ween these two routes, and see IL another more
practicable could not be found; and the eIamina-
ion resulted very favorably, and If the extension
lad been made this route would doubtless have
been followed.