Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-04-22
Prom the Nd. Independently
THE Observation-Disclosures

The State of Maryland, many years
ago, incurred an enormous debt in order
to build the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
Every part of the State has borne its
share of the taxation incident to this
debt. The Canal was built to develop
the coal fields of Allegheny, and it has
aided to develop them to a marvellous
extent. While this part of the State has
received no direct benefit, as yet, from
the development of the coal, it has al
ways cheerfully paid its just share of the
taxes incurred for that purpose. While
Alieghanv, through the instrumentality
of the Canal and Railroad, has become
one of the richest counties in the State.
Lower Maryland has nothing vet to
show for her long years of taxation on
this account
But, very recently, it has been con.
clusively shown that the State of Marv-
land owns q very valuable piece of pro-
perty in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
By a decision of the Court of Appeals,
all the different priorities were definite
ly fixed and determined on. 1t was set
tied by that decision that about three
millions of dollars, principal and inter-
est, We're to be paid off before the State
received anything. At first blush it
would seem that the day when the State
would receive anything was far distant.
But it is nearer than is generally sup
posed. During the last year about two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars of
this debt of three millions was paid off
out Of the earnings of the Canal. If
this state of things continues, in less
than fifteen years every cent Of this
preferred debt will bcextinguished, and
a larter of million of dollars. annu-
ally, will be pouredinto our State Treas
ury from this source.
This valuable property belongs to the
people of the whole State We, in South
ern Mary land, should understand and
appreciate our part-ownership of it
We should endeayor to get a correct
understanding of its management, and
claim the voice, which rightfully belongs
to us, in its control. We paid our share
Of the purchase money. and we are en-
titled to our share Of the profits. This
great work does not belong to, and GER
tainly should not be worked and used
for the exclusive interest Of Allechanv.
Washington, or Montgomery counties.
but for the people of the whole State.
From an exhaustive report of Presi.
dent German, Of the Canal, made last
week. we are glad 70 see that the pres
ext Directory fully realize the fact that
they are Trustees for the people of the
whole State, and not Of any particular
/ county or interest II seems that the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad has re-
duced the freight on coal from Allecha.
ny to tiIewatcr. This necessitated a
reduction of the cost of transportation
on the Canal. How this reduction was
10 he made was the problem for the
Directors to solve.
Unlike railroad, there are three sep
arate interests engaged in the transpor-
tation of coal on the Canal: First, the
boatmen, who charge so much per ton
for carrying the coal, second, the wharf
owners, where the boats are loaded and
unloaded. who charge wharfage; third
the Canal proper, which charges SO much
toll. President German insists that
each of these different interests shall
bear their proper share of the proposed
reduction, and that the burden shall
not fall exclusively on any one of them
In this he is clearly right. Public pro-
'Ptrty Is entitled to the same, but M