Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-17
TO REPAIR THE CANAL.
Business Men Of Georgetown Taking
Active Measures.

Business Men OF Georgetown Taxing
Active Measures.
THEY ARE PREPARING TO PROVIDE FUNDS roR
THE WORK IN CASE THE CANAL COMPANY Is
UNABLE TO DO rT-ovER TEN THOUSAND Doll
LARS PROMISED.
1t is likely that the Georgetown level Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal will speedily be re-
paired, as the millers and business men Of
Georgetown have actually started Q movement
to assist the canal company in the work. II
was thought in Georgetown this morning that
in little more than a month water will be fow-
ing through the newly-constructedc channel and
the mills Of Georgetown will once more be en-
gagged in grinding out food for man and beast.
For some time after the canal was washed out
OF existence the milliers did not know what ac-
ton to take because they were ignorant as to
the canal company's intentions, but when they
read in The STAR the resolutions adopted at
Annapolis, they concluded that the time for
definite action had come.
THE SATURDAY NIGHT CONFERENCE.
On Saturday night there was an informal
conference among the business men of
Georgetown, and then it was decided to secure
subscriptions to be used in the work of repair
ing the Georgetown level. The names and
amounts were secured so that the business men
might have some basis from which they can
to make satisfactory proposition at the con-
ference to be held Wednesday. Discussion
turned to the question How much money will
be required?" and it was generally agreed that
President Gambrill was not far from right
when he said "You ought not to start in with
less than $4,000"
THE MONEY SUBSCRIBED.
The work 0f sacurino prar, iaoo fo noo%r;b1fo
in ease funds are needed was commenced at
once and was continued this morning. The
gentlemen who did the canvassing were more
than ordinarily silent to the degree OF success
which attended their efforts, but those who
subscribed saw no reason for secrecy. Up to
o'clock to-day subscriptions amounting to
$40, 500 had been received from eight business
men or firms interested in the restoration Of
water power. A member Of the canvassing
committee said that in no instance had the
committee been refused.
TO BE RETURNED FROM RENTS
The subscriptions, in case it is necessary to
collect them, will not be gratuities, but an in
vestment to be returned to the subscribers out
of the water rents collected. This was the
proposition made to the canal company BY the
millers and approved by President Gambrill.
The rents have heretofore amounted to about
$4,000 per annum, and the subscribers will
simply pay their tolls little in advance. II
this is done the canal, as a conveyer Of water
power, will be repaired without its having cost
the subscribers anything but the time and
trouble to which the advance collection may
put them.
Any agreement entered into between the
millers and President Gambril will have to be
ratified by the board of directors, which will
meet at the canal Office on Wednesday morning.
TALK WITH PRESIDENT aAMBRILL.
The citizens had 80 far succeeded to-day in
soliciting subscriptions that they had almost
decided to make contract with Joseph Blum
don to go ahead at once and repair the level,
but they were stopped by notification from
President Cambria that he wanted to talk to
some of those most active in the matter. &c.
just as the clocks and whistles were proclaim
ing the hour of noon to-day a committee, con-
sisting of G. w. Cissell, Robert Tenney, A. B.
Cropley and W. H. Burr marched into the Office
OF the canal company and stepped briskly
dent Gambrilrs room. They were busy
looking quartet; two of them had sworn off
wearing coats on such hot days as this was, and
the other two looked as though they we're
about ready to take the oath and drop the
garment.
President Gambrill called their attention to
the fact that the canal-little as there was Of it
was still the property Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio company. 1t would, therefore, be mani
testify improper for any person or any other
company to enter into contracts for
the repair of the canal The company, beyond
doubt, would be perfectly willing to have the
good people of Georgetown pay the contrac-
tors, but it could not give its consent to having
other hands than Its own sign any contract.
The committee did not stop to argue the
question. 1t had been getting along splendidly
with the subscriptions and was in particularly
good humor, 80 it acquiesced gracefully in all
that Mr.. Gambril proposed, and then went out
again to look for more men and more money.
THE COST OF THE REPAIRS.
'Will $4,000 make the Georgetown level
sound enough to carry water2" asked STAR
reporter Of President Gambrill this morning.
Il think So" was the reply. "In fact am pretty
sure it will. believe It can be made nayiga-
BILE for that sum. But SIS, 900 will not make the
.canal bed good and pay for everything else
that has been damaged on the level. Lock No.
is all to pieces, the bridge across the feeder
is gone, the dam at Rock creek is missing, and
there are several other things gone. To put
the level in thoroughly good condition will
take all said it would in my first estimate
$4,000"
THE GEORGETOWN INTERESTS
cannot repair any part Of the canal except
under satisfactory arrangement with the
canal company giving them the authority to do
So providing for the reimbursement in q re-
mission Of rent of any advances made to the
cdudl company IOr tnese repairs, ana reason
ably securing this reimbursement In the face
of existing liens on the body of the canal.
These subscriptions may, therefore, be properly
viewed as conditional in their nature and az
serving their main purpose in letting the
Georgetown men know what they can do, if the
canal company shows a Willingness to perform
its part at the conference on Wednesday. 1t
appears very clearly that if the canal Company
will do all it can IN the work of repair, the
Georgetown interests can and will promptly
contribute their proportion of assistance to the
work. The millers and subscribers to the fund,
as stated to a STAR reporter, are simply prepar-
ing themselves to insure the repair of the level.
They claim that it is incumbent on the canal
company to make the repairs.