Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-08-22
The Canal Extension.

In an interview WIFI NOl. /. Nte"
art Sedgwick, of the United States
Engineer Corps, who is engaged in
surveying routes for the proposed ex-
tension Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal, the Ncws of Wednesday learns
the following:
Last summer he surveyed the Say
age river route, and subsequently
submitted to the public, through an
address to the Pittsburgh Convention
and the War Department, an exhaust
i've report of his !abors This sum
mer the Colonel VIII survey the Wills
creek route. He will proceed from
Cumberland to Meyersdale with his
corps. From Meyersdale he will dis
patch three parties, one to Cumber-
land, one to Confluence and one from
Confluence to the head of slackwater
navigation on the Monongahela.
Colonel Sedgwick expects to com
plete his present surveys in about
three months. Congress has appro-
priated for the purpose the sum OF
$4,000, which will allow of proper
prosecution of the matter. When
the Colonel shall have completed the
work we propose that a convention be
held in this city to hear his report.
The appended paragraph is one of
business interest as we'll to the coal
region, particularly to the Western
port section, as to Cumberland
The Wills creek route is the one
in which Cumberland is interested in
a business point of view. If the cam
al is extended it will, if our people
can have say, 90 by that route. 1t
is believed by a great many persons
who are capable Of forming an opinion
that the Wills creek route is the one
which affords greatly superior advan-
tages for construction. If this shall
prove to be true nature will add ia
vors to our cause.
If the immense interests of the
Georges Creek valley are to be bene-
fitted at all by the extension, it will
never be effected by any diversion
from the Savage river route if large
portions of Allegany and Garrett
counties are to derive advantage from
its construction and operation, 1t must
pass along the Potomac and Savage
rivers, a route already pronounced
feasible by Col sedgwick.
On the other hand if, of these
counties, Cumberland alone must con-
tinue to reap the advantages, then the
coal and lumber regions must compen-
safe by gratuitously yielding their
chances to the state of Pennsylva-
MIA if Cumberland must still monop
olize the profits Of lading. to the utter
exclusion of all Maryland interests ~
ing on this side, then We must trans.
fer our opportunity to Pennsylvania
whose lesser resources will be devel-
oped and enriched by the consequent
inertness and poverty Of our own. If,
also, for this purpose, small stream,
sometimes dry, is selected for a feeder,
it may turn out that the canal may
never really reach beyond Cumberland
Under these important contingencies
it urgently behooves the people Of Al
legany and Garrett, interested in the
success of the Savage river route, to
be on the alert. That this is the true
line, both for their own and the best
interests of both counties and the
State, does not admit doubt, vet the
issue Of selection needs watchful at
tention lest it be lost to those who are
entitled to it by every Maryland in
terest except the indirect and insatiate
one of Cumberland selfshness. TAX
ing this event as probable, why should
we desire the extension at all and
in the name of all that is "cheekv,"
what more has Cumberland to gain
by it than she already holds ?