Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-22
THE CANAL AND POLITICS.
Problems Which are Attracting Atten-
ton I'm Montgomery County, Md.
THE EVENING STAR.

Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR. IN .-,,
ROCKVILLE, July 81, 1885,
Considerable indignation is openly expressed
by the people of our county living along the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal at the refusal of
the canal directors to accept the proposition of
Messrs. Cushwa and Darby of Williamsport to
repair the line of this important waterway from
Williamsport to the connecting link between
that place and Darkey's LOCK. the line between
that point and Cumberland having been placed
in the hands of Merton Il Co. of Cumberland
They look upon the matter in this light: II the
canal company have the right to guarantee the
payment of money for the Georgetown level and
the payment of the same for the distance be-
tween Cumberland and Darkey's lock, why
cannot they guarantee the same security to
parties who will invest their money in
repairs at any point along the line
While 1t is true that Cushwa nnparby ask for
the power Of appointing bothSheir lock ten
ders and regular force of hands in making re-
pairs, they are willing to give bonds for the
strict performance of their contract. and they
guarantee full showing OF receipts to the COM
pany. The people OF this county living in
proximity to the canal want that waterway re-
opened, and they are not particularly sensitive
as to a strict construction of the law that is
supposed to govern the canal company, know
ing that for years the franchises of the same
of those in the ring" without regard to the
interests of the state or the people. The action
OF the canal company at the Carrollton
hotel conference seems to seal the fate of that
waterway, and many people in this Sec
ton openly avow that the Inconvenience
in the plan to repair the canal from Cumber-
land to Williamsport is based upon the idea
that the present management does not wish
the people to know that the cost will be far
below the estimated figures, and also that in
hal,~
deprive the managers of an important number
of votes that could be controlled this fall
Under the present management the affairs of
the canal look decidedly ''blue," and as men,
toned in this correspondence the week after
the flood, nothing OF Importance will be done
until after the meeting OF the legislature in
January next. Upon the opinion of the attor-
ney general new repair bonds have been issued
to-day. They will not command 10 cents on
the dollar. The canal is a wreck, and German,
Davis Il Co. will eventually pick the foatage
for the benefit Of the West Virginia railroad
company.
But two weeks more remain of the campaign
for nomination on the democratic ticket of this
county and the political pot is fiercely boiling
Regular business for the time being is sus-
pended, and at every public place in the little
towns and at every crossroads and farmhouse
may be seen groups of active aspIrants and
their friends anxious to secure votes The
most important contest in this connection SO
tween DIR. Edward Wootton and Howard Griffith
for the state senate, and the position is eagerly
fought for on account OF the winner having
vote for United States Senator. 1t is generally
understood that Mr.. Griffith is the favorite of
the present managers of the party in the state,
and that his name was first suggested
by prominent manager of this county
at conference held at the Airing
ton, in Washington, some months ago, at
which meeting were present the leaders Of the
ara m ak iuu
an active canvass OF the county and the result is
very uncertain. For the three seats in the house
OF delegates there are seven applicants and
the vote will be considerably mixed For the
five places in the board of county commission
ers there are fourteen candidates and this
scrub race" promises to be lively For county
surveyor Mr.. G. NJ Anderson has the track to
himself, and will be nominated. For the Office
of sheriff a bitter and determined fight is being
waged by the respective friends of W. b. Miller
a former occupant of the Office, and those Of
VIM. H. Carr, who has twice been defeated for
the nomination. s. A. NJ.