The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-03-16


the State who live on the line of this
road, outside of the twenty-eight
mile limit prescribed. The effort
Of the railroad to obtain an ''exten-
sion" on its Indebtedness is accorded.
The effort of the canal to obtain
share of the coal from Piedmont and
the North Branch is accorded, and
the people living beyond the limit of
twenty eight miles west of the ca
nal basin at Cumberland" are forced
to pay the high rates as heretofore.
In fact the chief end of the commit
tee seems to have been to have made
"peaco" between the canal and rail-
road, which they ask the legislature
to ratify and legally sanction. If any
one. can see where the State has gain
ed anything that she would not have
secured at the end of the threatened
litigation, they are "wise beyond
their years." The State relinquishes
her claim and gives "time" on the
balance due her while she goes into
the market borrower, virtually for
the railroad accommodation.
We regret to say that in this re-
port there is no evidence that the
peoples representative have con-
suited the interest of the people.
There never was a more glazing in
stance of an attempt to compromise
differences between two opposing
corporations, at the expense of all
and every other interest. Within
the radius of "twenty-eight miles
west from the Cumberland canal ba-
sin" all interests are protected by a
fixed rate. and the advantages of the
canal opened to them. Beyond that
twenty-eight miles any interest is,
as before, at the mercy of the rail-
road company. Even branch road
that may follow the North Branch to
its source is secured connection and
use of railroad to canal, at specific
rates, and thus a discrimination di-
rect is made against Maryland and
in favor of West Virginia interest.
Three-fifths of the entire coal basin
lies in Garrett county, and all of this
coal deposit that cannot be reached
within the twenty-eight miles pre-
scribed is shut out from any advan-
tages this connection may secure.
Why "twenty-eight miles" was Sc
lected as the limit, the committee
can probably tell us, but till they do
we shall have to believe that within
this limit the canal could obtain such
entrance to the coal deposits, and on
such terms as would answer its pres
ent demand, and the railroad was
reconciled to that limit, as it still
held in its grip so much of the whole
coal territory and deposit. That
there were any other "rights" to be
considered by this committee does
not seem to have entered into their
minds.
The people of Garrett county do
not feel easy under this parcelling out
of their rights, and urge that some
body will "rise and explain" why
any portion of the State east of the
West Virginia line was shut out
from the use of the canal, on pro rata
rates offered other sections of the
State.
Our representatives must not per-
nit this outrage upon our rights. 1t
must persisted. Better let the whole
scheme fail than by legislation, such
as this, make deed in fee simple of
all our possessions to this corporation.
If the territory within the charmed
circle of twenty eight miles is emit
tied to this outlet, for its coal, lum-
Der, and other products, why not the
other twenty eight-miles, which will
carry us nearly or quite to the State
line Shall Allegany county and
West Virginia coal fields and forests
have this privilege and deny it to
citizens ofour State residing in Gar
rett county? If so, why? Let the
legislature deal justly with this prob.
lem and our people. Let them give
to the local traffic to the State line
the same pre- rata rate for its coal and
lumber and other products, as it shall
give to those who happen to have
invested "within twenty-eight miles
of the canal basin at Cumberland"
Ifthe present legislature of Maryland
will not protect its citizens of this
portion of the State from scheme so
partial, unfair, narrow and unjust,
let it stand to the credit of the domi-
nant party as one more of their out
RACES against the peoples plainest
rights, and to the people thus out
ragged and plundered let them in the
near future answer.
In our last issue we printed the re-
port of the committee appointed to