Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-09-13
TO SAVE THE CANAL.

Pursuant TO the call issued by the
committee of citizens of Wiliamsport
appointed for the purpose some time
ago. a convention to take action with
reference to the preservation of the
Chesapeake and Ohio eanalasa water
way was held in the court hall in Ha-
gerstown on Tuesday. Dr. Edward
Wootton and ID. J. Willard, of Mont
co,nery county; Fred Mertens, of
Allegany county; l.. w. Poifenberger,
w. J. Knott, George Knott and John
Flanagan, of West Virginia, and dele
gates from Sharpsburg, Downsville'
Williamsport. Wilson's and Indian
Spring districts, in Washington
county, composed the convention.
Victor Cushwa was made temporary
chairman and DR.. c. F. Russell secre-
tarv. The permanent officers were
r ID. Johnson. of Cumberland, presi-
dent. DIR. f. Wootton and Upton
Darby, vice presidents, and George
w. McCardell and VIM. II. Boyer,
secretaries. In the absence OF Mr..
Johnson DIR. Wootton presided. The
following committee on resolutions
was appointed: Victor Cushwa, John
Flanagan, William Coulehan, Jacob
Marker and F. 7. Goddard.
The resolutions adopted set forth
the great loss to business, property
and labor along the canal caused by
the present condition of the canal,
and urge the necessity of having 1t
restored. They ask that the State
authorities be urged TO allow the peo-
pie. or such of them as are willing, TO
repair, manage and operate the canal,
and TO reimburse themselves out of
the revenues of the canal, and that
such action be taken before other
legal or legislative disposition be
made of the canal. They also ask for
the privilege of leasing the canalfor
a period of ten years or more, and
thus save the State some of the money
it has invested in ii. The resolutions
further favor good, economic bust
ness management of the canal and
set forth the theory that under proper
management the canal could be made
to pay expenses. They provide for
the appointment of u committee of
five from each county along the canal,
and from Jefferson county, w. Va,
10 meet the Governor and the board
of public works to present the resolu
tions and TO urge them TO adopt
measures for the restoration of the
canal, and also TO appeal TO them 10
allow the people to repair the canal
and TO take it out of the hands of the
present management.
DR.. Wootton proposed u substitute
to the resolutions asking that the
board of public works be urged to
assist in having the canal put into the
hands of receiver This was, after
discussion, Withdrawn. The conven-
ton was not largely attended, but II
number of persons not delegates We're
present and addressed the conven-
ton. DIR. Wootton argued that the
board of public works was not in u
condition to carry out the provisions
of the resolutions, and that the canal
could not be repaired without money,
and if the people asked the board of
public works to appoint president
and board of directors they would
have to stand behind their backs and
assist them. He condemned the pres
ent and past management Of the canal
and thought the bull ought to be
taken by the horns and a receiver
asked for.
State Senator Stake said that the
directors at a meeting in June before
the flood virtually admitted their ina
bility TO manage the canal success
fully, and he thought it child's play
To expect the present Management,
under those circumstances, TO do any
thing for the canal. He thought the
convention ought to produce data
showing that the canal could be made
to pay, that its tonnage was sufficient
to make it pay, and then to put these
facts before the board of public works
before they could ask for action.
Hon. l.. f. McComas thought the
days for canals were not past, as some
people argued, and claimed that rail
roads had not supplanted canals for
the transportation of heavy freight.
He showed how they were used in
England, France and Belgium, and
thought there should be here u revival
in favor of waterways. He argued
that the canal had not received proper
attention in the past and was not
properly managed, and said if rail
roads and telegraphs had not re-
ceived more attention than canals
they, too, would be wrecks. He
thought bankruptcy was no reason
why the canal should be abandoned
because many railroads now in opera
ton are in the same condition.
IL. ii. heedy condemned the polit-
zeal management of the canal, and
said if it was properly managed it
could be made topay. Victor Cushwa
and Col. Buchanan Schley also con
demned the past management of the
canal. Col. Schley thought that lit
tie help could be COTTON from the
board of public works, and advised
that some plan be. mapped out and
submitted to them, and if they re-
fused TO act, then the people should