Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-08
WILL THE CANAL BE REPAIRED?
Treasurer Watkins Says the Cost VIII
Not Exceed 100000.

Treasurer Watkins Says the Cost VIII
Not Exceed 100000.
Mr.. A. B. cRoPLEY SAYS THE CANAL WILL NOT
BE ABANDONED, BUT WILL BE REPAIRED By
PRIVATE CAPITAL BEFORE RAILROAD
REACHES GEORGETOWN
The Chesapeake and Ohio canal authorities
have no information to vouchsafe as to the pos-
sibilities OF reconstruction of the wrecked
portions of the waterway. President Stephen
Gambrill has examined the route from George
town to Harper's Ferry and is now
in Baltimore getting ready the report
which he will have to make to the
state board OF public works, at Annapolis, on
the 18th instant. Treasurer Spencer Watkins
was the only canal officer in town to-day, and
he was busily engaged in going over and as
sorting lot Of papers relating to the receipts
and expenditures of the company.
WHAT TREASURER WATKINS SAYS.
When asked by STAR reporter what the
company would probably do at its meeting he
said: II don't see what the company can do
1t will probably discuss the matter with the
board of public works, but it can't do any
more. 1t certainly can't fix the canal There
is possibility that private capital may
u
terests are large and whose prosperity is tied
up in the canal may say: 4 will repair the
Cumberland level Another, or others, may
be willing to put the Georgetown level IN
working order, and another will propose to
care for the Hancock division. 1t
would not surprise me if there were a number
OF such propositions. The principal stumbling
block in the way Of such division of expense
lies in the fact that the canal company cannot
give any kind of q guarantee. The cost Of re-
pairing the canal would not be anything like as
heavy as some have stated; it can be done for
$500, 0OO."
MR.. cRoPLEY's HOPEFUL NEWS.
"The Washington and Western Maryland
railroad will be built" said MIR. A. B. Cropley,
OF Georgetown, to STAR reporter this after
noon. But before we see anything of the rail-
road we will have the canal repaired"
MIR. Cropley gave ntterance to that remark
with a confidence in his tones that would indl-
cate new canal, in full operation, before
many months.
The canal" continued Mr.. Cropley, sis
going to be repaired There is a stronger SEN
than there has been for years past.
always was a canal man, but l am
now more enthusiastic than ever. No
railroad could do as much for the District of
Columbia as that canal, properly managed, can
do. No railroad can Garry coal as cheaply as
can canal"
ADVANTAGES OF THE CANAL.
mo railroad" said MIR. Cropley, would dis
burse as much money in our midst big
mogul engine can haul q thousand tons of
coal coal, in and nn,. then go away, the crew
Seven canal boats would carry one
thousand tons Of coal, and the boatmen would
spend $3.50 right here in the District. I don't
want anybody to imagine that we milers are
selfish in this matter. OF course we want the
Georgetown level fixed so that our mills may
run, but we don't want to stop there; we are
not going to stop there. That canal must be
repaired"
who will repair it?" asked the reporter.
The canal company is helpless"
1--WE know that, replied Mr.. Cropley, ''but we
are not as helpless as is the company. The
business interests along the 1874 miles of canal
are too great to be killed by the company's
forsakIng its unfortunate property. There are
scores OF plants which will never be permitted
to rot and rust, as they would if the canal is
not rebuilt.
PRIVATE CAPITAL WILL REBUILD THE CANAL.
'But private capital could not secure a
guarantee of any description from the canal
company" suggested the reporter.
II am aware of that" said Mr.. Crowley. "and
think am correct in saying that private
capital will not plead with any of the folders
OF bonds. Private capital will go ahead and
build that canal and then secure its share
of equity in the courts. If the
canal company abandons the property we shall
not wait for either the Maryland legislature or
the contendng factions who own stock. Any
unnecessary delay will put hopeless end to
hundreds OF industrial establishments along
the line Of the canal. There must not be any
delay"
HAS there been any agreement reached be-
tween business men as to this
SOMEWHAT REVOLUTIONARY REPAIR scHEME?"
There has not yet" was the reply, 'but
there will undoubtedly be in little while. If
the canal company, at its meeting on the 18th,
makes official announcement of its abandon
ment OF the canal or says 1t is unable to do
anything which Is, in substance, the same.
think immediate steps will be taken to build
the canal, and the canal company will not be
asked to contribute. The state of Maryland ought
to be interested in keeping the waterway in good
condition. What built up Western Maryland?
1t wasn't the Baltimore and Ohio road 1t
wasn't the march OF steam and civilization. 1t
was the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and if the
people Of Western Maryland don't want to wit
ness and to feel a serious depreciation in prop
erty values. they will do all in their
power to make the canal whole
once more. I want to see q railroad into
Georgetown as much as anybody does, but 1
want canal too; l want the canal first.
The Washington and Western road will
begin to materialize before long. That
will run between the river and the
canal up as far as the Chain bridge, thence
through Maryland to Williamsport We need
both the canal and the railroad, especially the
canal"