Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-01-06

As the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal is
now in such condition that its pres
ervation is a vital and important
question, we have thought that his
tory of this great work would be Of
benefit 10 our readers, and we now lay
it before them.
The project Of the great work was
started early in the year 1923, and was
advocated with the greatest energy
and zeal by the leading men Of Vir-
ginia and Maryland, and a charter
was obtained of the State of Virginia,
January 27th, 1924, and OF the State
of Maryland the following December.
Congress passed an act March 3rd,
1926, confirming the acts OF Virginia
.and Maryland. and the State Of Penn
sylvania also passed by its Legislature
coniirmatory act February 9th,
1929 \ survey was begun February
18th, 1925, and a full report made
thereof 10 James Monroe, President,
and by him 10 Congress in October,
lS26-the cost of the survey being
$50. 900. which was paid out of an ap-
preparation made 10y Congress for the
purpose The canal was intended to
be constructed from Georgetown, ID.
c., TO the Ohio river AT Pittsburg,
Penn, and work began at George
town, ID. c., by John Quincy Adams,
President Of the United States, on
July 4th, 1928, and the work strongly
urged by the great men and minds OF
that age The work was prosecuted.
and in October, 1850. twenty-five
wears after its commencement, was
finished, or open 10 Cumberland,
though completed and operated from
Dam No 6, fifty miles this side OF
Cumberland, several years previous
the Baltimore 4 Ohio Railroad carry
ing the coal from Cumberland 10 Dam
No. and emptying into boats, at two
cents per ton of 1900 pounds per mile
of 80 miles-this agreement being
made and entered into between the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the
Baltimore Il Ohio Railroad Company
September. ls43, and lasted till Janu-
airy, 1851
The cost Of the construction OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. n per
its books, was $ll.07l, l1G.2l-rle
millions, seventy-one thousand, one
hundred and seventy-six dollars and
twenty-one cents, for its dams, cul-
verts, locks, &c, monuments Of beauty
and strength, most OF the locks and
culverts being Of beautiful cut stone
laid in cement. The Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad cost for single track
from Baltimore 10 Cumberland nearly
S4l 900 per mile, or total for single
track Of about 81, ,2Sj, 00-seven mil.
lions. two hundred and eighty-five
thousand six hundred dollars for l7S
miles. The length Of the canal IL 1si
$40 miles from Georgetown TO Cum
berland, being divided up: There are
. miles Of il in the District OF Colum-
bia; 1853 miles in Montgomery; l6miles
in Frederick; n miles In Washington,
and 80 miles in Allegany county. IL
has dams, "a locks, the elevation
being 600 feet between Georgetown
and Cumberland, AN average Of about
8 feet 10 the lock. The tunnel, q
II A al II l.
In length, 2ifeet wide, lined and arched
with hard brick laid IN cement. The
capacity Of the canal was estimated
at one million and and a-half tons per
season, but has never carried that
amount. the largest tonnage In any
one season being about nine hundred
thousand tons, the charter specifying
2240 pounds per ton and the tolls not
TO exceed two cents per ton per mile.
and to all shippers alike and uniform.
The amount of revenue In the year
1850 was SGi, 442 %; the expenses Of
management, &c, for same year
$50, ,sG1 -, leaving "a balance over ex-
penses of S13,57l57 for that year.
Tolls have varied a. competition and
necessity required, and the manage
ment and expenses have varied also
under political management from
s5l, 900 to about s2o0,0O0 per year, but
II II generally admitted that with
good business management the aver
age cost per annum would not exceed
$4,000 to manage and keep the canal
In good repair, and finally make IL n
permanent work. This, Of course. H.
exclusive Of extraordinary or extra
work and improvements. though IL in-
cludes regular and ordinary work.