Montgomery County sentinel., 1874-02-27

Friday Morning. 81, 1874.
The Washington Star says Judge WIN. NJ.
nerrick, OF Maryland, has written a letter TO
The chairman OF the finance committee OF the
State Senate proposing radical change in the
mode of working the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal. il is this To make the company not
only toll company but also a freight and
transportation company. In other words, that
the canal company shall own the boats which
convey coal to market, shall work them by its
own agents, and shall itself be the recipient OF
The freights and the profits of transporting
coal 10 Georgetown. lie says the whole prac-
tical capacity Of the canal being about one
million tons per annum, the company can de-
rive only $3.50, 900 year from tolls, while
81 $50, 900 goes to boat-owncrs for freight
The entire cost Of the caOal, not to speak Of
accumulated interest has been over 10000
900. That amount of capital, therefore, nm
der the system of mere tolls, can receive only
about $460, 900 per annum on its Investment.
Judge Merrick further says il is notorious that
all the great railroads Of the country derive
, their profits from freghtage, and that if they
were confined to tolls they would all of them,
without exception, be bankrupted; and asks
why should the system which makes railroads
profitable investments not be the proper sys-
TEN for canals also? He suggests that the ca
nal company might ont of It's current receipts
place al once one hundred boats with full
equipments in operaton and the very first
year ihe profits would reimburse one-half the
investment If the carrying capacity of the
canal is increased from year 10 year, he be-
lieves The Stale might calculate upon the bond
ed debt being paid OF in FIVE years, instead of
more than ten years, which will be necessary
AT the present rate Of increasing revenue
Judge Merrick closes by saying "Unless
some such system as propose be adopted !
have no hope that in your lifetime or mine the
State can expect dollar from its large invest
ments, no matter what amennt of diligence or
capacity may be applied by those intrusted
with the management Of that great work"
No osE could fail to have been impressed
with the necessity fora Town Hall on Friday
night, when in the Court House they saw peo-
pie standing for over two mortal hours with
out the possibility Of obtaining n seat. Even
the ladies--many ofthem-had TO be accom-
inodaied with side seats, on benches, lily suit
ed for the purpose, while u view of the speak
er was obstrucled by persons standing in the
'front.' or being interrupted by the passers-by.
This is not as it should be- A Court House is
not constructed 10 accommodate large audi
particularly Of ladies' There is but one
remedy for this, and that is the erection
Of new building suitable for such occasions.
We endearored 10 demonstrate, two or three
weeks ago that Town Hall could be made
paying inrestmeni, il properly and economi-
eRlly constructed. But so it is--even country
villages are permitted tooutstrip some county
towns in this matter-whie thingsare allow
ed TO go on in the old way, as long as they
answer the purpose--and even when they don't /
answer the purpose. Even now the old Capt.
tol at Annapolis is so badly ventilated and
heated that some OF ibe members are contnu-
ally sck from this cause-but il answers the
pnrpose-yes II answers the purpose to make
them sick. Now, fellow -cilzens, let US look
into this matter little, and wake up old pro
bono pabiico, who has been sleeping here ever
since he was chrstened, and who has done
nothing for the Improvement of the town, for
10 these many years 1t may be if proper
spirit is awakened that i: would result in good
and in the erection of Hall which would be n
credit to the town. Somebody said, long
time ago, nWhereyer there is will there is a
way" but in This instance The converse of the
maxim seems to be acted upon--a way but no
will. Such building would certainly be a
great addition TO the town and add much TO
the convenience of the people.
MARYLAND LEGISLATURES. The Legislature