Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-02-07
This diversion of the coal trade is

some steps are taken to recover and
retain it, the loss in the future will lie
severely felt by the State. The solu-
ton of the problem is one that vitality
affects the whole State, including the
agricultural, manufacturing. mining
and comm arcial interests. The solu-
ton lies in cheapening the cost of coal
both at Georgetown and Baltimore,
and it can be accomplished by first
frightening the locks of the canal SO
as to admit and pass two boats through
at the same time, carrying $50 tons,
(instead of as now carrying only ITO
tons,) requiring for the locomotion of
these enlarged boats only one-ffth
more motive power than is now re-
CURED to move the boats in use (viz:
Of ITO tons) as has been dsmonstrat-
ed the increase of tonnage diminishes
the cost of movement by steamer 40
to As per cent. to Georgetown.
I'd. The extension of the canal to
Herring Bay, on the Chesapeake,
This can be done by leaving the East
ern Branch at Beaver Dams Creek,
following that stream and crossing by
short summit over to the Western
Branch oil the Patuxent, down it to
and with the main Patuxent to Lyons
Creek and with it and across a short
summit to the Creek making into
Herring Bay, the distance OF this ex-
tension would not exceed twenty-six
(26) miles, and could be made a tide
water canal, the cost depending upon
the depth of water and width of the
canal prism.
The cost of towing coal from George
town through this Canal up the Bay
to Baltimore would not exceed two
mills per ton per mile, including the
carriers profit.
If the locks of the Canal are length
ened so as to increase the tonnage of
each Steamer from ITO to $50 tons
per trip and the extension of the Ca
nal to Herring Bay as tide water
canal, coal can be delivered in Balti-
more at not exceeding So per ton as
is shown by the following:
Cost of mining 40 cts, expenses, 90 cts, 60
Freight on Georges Cr'k road To canal 30
Toll on canal, 1856 miles. ............. 81
Freight Ivy steamer. ......,... 49,. 40
Toll on tidewater. Observation-Disclosures. %
Freight to Baltimore. ........... -. 1S
Transfer charges at Baltimore. -. :. 10
Total cost at Baltimore. ........$2 0C
Freight to New York. ............. %
Total cost at New York. ........$3 %
The cost on the Canal at present by
Steamer to Georgetown is g 8-l0)
two and eight-tenths mills per ton
per mile; with the improved locks
for boats of $50 tons, (requiring a,
above stated an additional expense Of
only one-ffth more motive power
the cost per ton per mile would be re-
duced to (l.38) one and thirty eight
hundredths mills. That the above
assertion is founded on actual fact and
has been proven by experience, will
be seen from the following;
The cost, as given by the State
Engineer of New York, on the Erie
Canal, in 1872, to a select Committee
of the U. S. Senate on transportation
to the seaboard, on the old Erie Ca.
nal, with boats of 76 tons, with foul
feet of water is (4.l4) four and four.
teen hundredths mills per mile with
the present improved Canal, seven
feet of water and boats of 21O and
230 tons, the cost is Gig two and
sixteen hundredths mills per ton pei
mile, with the re-eulargel Canal with
eight feet of water and boats of 69C
tons the cost is still further reduced
to the low figure of (l.o4) one and
four hundredths mills pr ton pei
mile-these rates included towing by
horsepower since then steam has
been introduced by the Belgian or
Cable system, greatly reducing the
cost of moving coal. (This Canal has
paid the original cost of its construc.
ton, the cost of its Improvement and
the cost of its branches, besides re-
turning large revenue to the State,
as reported by the State auditor Of
New York; The same authority
the cost on the Hudson River, with
barges of 500 to 900 tons, drawing
seven and one-half feet of water, to
be from three-f ourths to one mill per
ton per mile. The eminent Civil En-
gineer. w. ]. McAlpine, reports to
the Committee the cost of movement
of freight from Chicago, via. Oswego,
to New York, to be one and sixteen
hundrsdths mills per ton per mile !;
this includes intere,t ON the capital
invested, and pays all repairs on the
boats The cost OF towing coal on
the Ohio River, from Pitsburg to
New Orleans is two thirds of o mill
Ier ton per mile the cost of towing
coal to the operators at Pittsburg and
Kanawha to Cincinnati and st. Lou
i, is two mills per ton per mile, in
Guiding (the carriers profit and) the
return of the barges to the mines
against the current Of the Ohio River
The practical effects of Canals is to
reduce railway charges, and to confer
on the public the benefit of cheap
transpol tation on heavy goods that
require the lowest freight charges.
The Pennsylvania Rail Road owns
over 400 miles of Canal along side Of
~. ..L IL Ali - L y - !