Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-07


THE COMING MEETING OF THE CANAL prREc-
AFFECTED.
The merchants of Georgetown-the whole
salers and retailers, the coal-shippers, lime
burners, millers, and dealers in stone-are all
waiting for the meeting Of the directors of the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal on the 18th inst.
The great majority of those whose interests in
the existence Of the canal are extensive are no
longer hopeful. They realize that the
canal company has neither capital nor credit,
and they also know that the property is SO
thoroughly tangled up that all the available
courts will doubtless be called into
requisition before the exact status of
the wrecked waterway is adjusted SO
that ordinary mortals can understand who i,
belongs to. The laboring classes dependent on
the canal are also waiting for the outcome oil
the meeting; it means very much to them, and
they realize it
ICE FOR ILLUSTRATION.
For time some Of the short-sighted mortals
was not matter to be regarded as at all Sc
rious. There is now but one opinion upon
that point. The outcome is already toe
plain. Sailing vessels bring to this city
every year Quantities of ice, anthracite coal
plaster, cement and paving material. the az
gregate tonnage of which exceeds 5000. 600 tons.
An example can be made on the ice traffic. To
bring one ton OF frigidity from the hennebec
costs 60 cents. The vessel-owners are satisfied
to charge such rates that the single
trip will pay the expenses ont and home again.
The profit from this city has heretofore been
made on the cargo taken on the back trip, for
which the tonnage charge is Sl.l5, exclusive OF
port charges. If there is nothing here to
make cargo of, and there cannot be, now
that the canal is wrecked. vessel-owners will
charge S1.75 for the single trip. This means
an Increased cost to Washington OF 500 0Ot
only on such freightas comes by sailing vessels
CONSUMPTION OF CUMBERLAND COAL HERE.
In the District of Columbia there is annually
consumed about 10000 tons of Cumberland
coal. The death Of the canal throws all the
freight traffic into the hands of the two rail
road companies that run in here and
large consumers say that they expect every
day to be notified of rise in freight rates. The
result is already plain. 1t means an increase
OF 81 ton to everybody here who uses btu
minous coal. That will be felt.
WHAT THE COAL TRADE Is WORTH TO GEORGE.
TOWN.
The first coal that ever came to Georgetown
on the canal was brought in 1850, and since
then, up to and including the year 1888, there
have been delivered here 1881, $50 tons Of
Cumberland coal, to say nothing of the i'm
mense quantities of stone, grain, cattle, poul.
try, and other produce. The average load wa.
ITO tons, and each boats crew spen,
in Georgetown at least $50. Every boat
that came in was worth S35 or $40 more-tht
money disbursed by the captain and paid out
to grocers. clothiers, &c.
The sailing vessels spent a good deal Of
N in tours - IL -,
least $50, so merchants say, while the stores
bought by the captains for the return trir
varied in value from Sl00 to $50 for each
vessel.
Keep the canal shut and every clerk and la
borer and coalheaver loses his occupation and
leaves his place. Each of the boats cargoes
paid Is cents to labor when discharged and
that, too, is gone. All these disbursements
were III hard cash. and there is even now a
slight scarcity of that valuable commodity.
ANOTHER SOURCE OF EMPLOYMENT CUT OFF.
Another source of work and consequen,
revenue has been cut off. The building and
Of canal-boats is no longer
necessary nor do the shippers have
to build or repair their wharves. The
coal wharves of the District cost more than
$3.50 900 in building and equipment. They are
idle now.
VALUE OF THE CANAL TO MARYLAND.
few Of the big dealers in produce were
figuring up this morning the extent of valuable
country which was now closed because there il
no canal. 1t is immense. There are along the
canal line about one hundred little settlements
each of them having some little industry
most OF them feeble but all dependent
upon the canal for their existence. Not a
few of the better-informed rIdicule the
idea that the state of Maryland has any
equitable claim against the canal property
and say that the canal has given more to the
state than the state has ever given to it.
The waterway was a life-giving artery to a re-
gion which will be closed for years if the canal
is forsaken.
Canal or Railroad.
The commercial interests Of Georgetown have
been so closely identified with the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal that the abandonment of thai
waterway is regarded in many quarters as
disaster almost irretrievable.
This is based on the supposition sustained by
the statements in President Gambrill's
annual report to the stockholders that
practically irreparable in view of the financial
status of the canal company. A more hopeful
view, however. is advanced, which pictures 9
bright future for Georgetown as a busy rail
road terminus, whose commerce will be more
extensive and varied and constant than it has
ever Uceu uepcuutut Ou Tue Cdtldl. WIFI
its slow carriage and months of idleness
The Baltimore and Ohio road al
the owner Of majority of the
$500. 900 repair bonds issued by the canal COM
pany have in their hands at present. it il
claimed the shaping of the destiny of the ca
nal property.
1t is not known here whether the authorities
Of that company have vet decided on any policy
to pursue in the matter. gentlemen inter.
ested in railroads assured STAR reporter to.
day Of his conviction that whatever interest
obtained control of the canal property
in case of its sale under foreclosure. the result
would be Of benefit to Georgetown and the
District, as the canal would undoubtedly be
replaced by a railroad.
The canal for years has been eking out q
miserable existence and was, according to the
recent financial reports, approaching a ruin
quite as complete as that worked by the food
He thought the food simply expedited an in
evitable event, and that while it may cause
temporary troubles, ultimately it would be
looked upon as blessing to the commercial
interests of Georgetown.
Auction Sales Of Real Estate.
Thomas Bowling, auctioneer, has sold al
public sale. frame dwelling on the south side