Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-09-30

Improvement of the harbor at Balti.
more $50, 800 for other harl,ors and
rivers in the State, and $4,000 for 9
survey for p-canal from the Ches'
apeake to the Delaware bay. Thu
last improvement would have the ef'
feet of lessening the distance from the
port of Baltim ore 10 the Atlantic
ocean, and to all other parts of the
world, 200 miles, thereby economizing
time and space and facilitating moi
only the commerce of our chief city,
but of this and other States, especially
of the great West, of which it is the
leading entrepot. The vote in favor
of that bill was in harmony with the
theory upon which the canal and Ma
tional Turnpike were built-improve-
ments which were the making oil
Cumberland, and the latter of which
in ante-railroad days dispensed pros
perity along its entire length and peo'
pied the mighty West. 1t has been
charged that this bill was filled with
extravagant appropriations for Insult
Gent streams, in nowise contributing
to the interests of commerce and not
navigable waters under the laws Of
the United States. This, if true, is a
serious charge, but the challenge was
made on the floor of the House to
name such stream, and that chal.
lenge to this day remains unanswered.
Then it is denounced rs "a steal" by
the great dsilies of New York and
Immediately the cry is echoed by
many of the rural papers who rely
upon the aforesaid dailies to furnish
them with ideas and opinions. They
go farther and, by implication at least,
make it appear as if every Congress-
man who voted for the bill is to per-
sonslly profit by the operation, and
maybe pocket portion Of the "swag.'
Now, when it is known that every cent
appropriated must be expended by
direction of the Secretary of War and
under supervision of the engineer
corps of the U. s. government, does
not such a charge appear most silly
and absurd? And besides, if an ex-
travagant sum is appropriated, unless
there is corruption and dishonesty in
the War Department and among the
officers of the army, no improper use
of the peoples money can be made
as they are not allowed to spend more
than is necessary for the purpose de.
sired. No appropriation has been
made in the bill except based upon
estimates made by the government
engineers, the necessity of the same
shown in their report, and the whole
endorsed by the Secretary of War
So as far as 1 can see the great out,
cry against the alleged iniquity of thu
River and Harbor bill is all "bosh,
and great injustice to members o
Congress of both parties who, in vot
ing for that measure, did 30 with ths
honest purpose of subscribing the best
interests of the country and the wei.
fare Of its people.
The Improvement of our water
ways as avenues of commerce is one
of the antidotes with which to cur,
the ills engendered by the railroad
despotism Of the country, and it seems
hard that vote in that direction
should be considered crime. Nc
doubt many denouncs the measure
believing it to have been an improper
one, but the cry is kept up mostly
through selfish motives, and by dema.
gogues who thereby seek to gain per-
sonal or political advantages. The
SALARY grab" was denounced in the
same unreasoning style, for in thai
case there was no improperly in vot'
ing for an increase of salary to take
place IN future, but the great wrong
and rascality consisted in voting for
and taking pay for services rendered
before the law was passed. ANON.
city TieWs of the Coal Trade.