The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-10-25


have been commenced by the time specified
for in supplement to the act of incorpora
ton passed at the session of 1874 it is stated
that considerable progress had been made
This supplemental act exempted the pro.
perity of the company from taxation and
legaliZed q long list of tolls for all sorts and
kinds of merchandise, except dry goods,
that might pass through the canal, and
specified the value at which foreign coins
were to be estimated when taken in pay
ment Of tolls.
Probably for the want of means, the canal
was not finished in the time specified: and
an extension of one year was granted in
1890 by another supplementary act, which
authorized the Company to increase the
number of shares to thirty, and provided
that foreigners might become shareholders.
The work of constructing the canal seems
to have been of greater magnitude than was
at first apprehended, but there is reason to
believe that it was so near completion in
1875 as to indicate that it would never be
very successful. Twelve years had elapsed
since the work was commenced, and it is
probable that change had taken place in
public opinion in reference to its utility.
The people living in those counties of
Pennsylvania that bordered upon the river
began to agitate the subject of improving
its navigation, and at a meeting held at
Harrisburg, in August, 1895, took that mat
ter into consideration. Some of the conse-
quences of this meeting are manifest in the
action of the Legislature of Maryland at its
session in the December following, from
which it is very plain that the citizens of
Havre de Grace, which had been laid out
about twenty years before were Jealous of
the advantages that would naturally accrue
from the canal to those who resided upon
the Cecil side of the river.
A certain George Gale had purchased a
hundred and ten acres of land on the east
side of the river, near WatSons Island, in
July, and, on the LIST of December following,
purchased Lightweight acres adjoining it,
from John Creswell, and proceeded to lay
out town, which he called Chesapeake.
This town, which was a short distance
above Perryville, was incorporated by an
act of the Legislature, on the 9th of De-
cember, 1895. On the same day, an act was
passed, making an addition to the town of
Havre de Grace and authorizing a lottery
for the Improvement of the navigation of
the Susquehanna river.
This seems to have been the beginning of
a contest between the proprietors of the
Susquehanna Canal and certain persons in
pennsylvania, who We're Jealous of the priv
lleges that had been conferred upon the pro-
pnetorS OF the canal, that was settled MANY
wears afterwards by the organization of the
llde Water Canal Company, which pur-
chased and ROW own the rights and fran
chlSeS of the other company. Probably the
real object Of those who sought to effect the
enlargement Of Havrc de Grace was the
same rs that of the founder of the rival
town On the other side of the river (Which
was desire to speculate in town lots
And very likely they concealed their real
design under the plausible preteXt of i'm
proving the navigation of the river. But
stood then as it is now, and they may have
thought that 10000, which was
The sum authorized to be raised by lottery,
was sufficient for the purpose designated
1t was specified in the act for the improve
nsnt of the river that none of the money
'aised by the lottery was to be applied to
opening or improving the Susquehanna
janal, which seems to indicate that the |
Legislature may have lost faith in its utility. |
Nothing ever came of the effort to build |
he town called Chesapeake, and it must be
added to the long list of abortive efforts
made 10 hniid tnwns- where uney were not |
The next year, 1896, a German named
BREEDER, who owned flour mill on the Ju-
liata river, near Huntington, Pa, is said to
AVE built an ark and loaded it with flour
md ran it down the Susquehanna and |
hence to Baltimore. This is believed to
lave been the first venture of the kind, and |
t having demonstrated the practicability of |
navigating the periious river as well as the |
of the Baltimore market, |
lis example was followed the next year by |
several others By 4 supplementary act,
passed January 20, 1897, the time for the |
of the canal was extended to
he LIST of December, 1905, and the bed of |
he Susquehanna river was declared to be |
public highway, free for any person or
persons whatever to work thereon in clear
ng the distractions to its navigation"
which warrants the inference that some
hing was about to he done for its improve |
nent at this time by those in charge of the |
ottery.
Tho early history of this canal is involved |
n great obscurity, occasioned by the loss of |
he records of the proceedings of the Direc- !
ors for the years previous to 1917. Land |
vas condemned for the use of the proprie-
ors, in 1900, at which time Robert Gilmer |
vas Governor of the canal. The work is |
believed to have been completed previous to |
800. 1t was at first too narrow to be of |
much use, and the proprietors had it widen |
ID, probably about 1910. During the time |
he canal was being enlarged many of the |
yorkmen employed upon it are said to have |
1oen afflicted with 4 malignant fever from |
he effects Of which many of them died.
OI-Trp