Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-06-29

.JUpGING from the arguments used
and views expressed at the meeting of
those interested in the Chesapeake d
Ohio canal held at Georgetown, d. c..
Il few days ago, there seems to be n
general feeling in favor of repairing
and again placing in running order
this once very important waterway.
Whether this can he accomplished re
mains to be seen. According to close
calculations it will require at least
$500. 600 to repair the damages caused
by the late destructive floods. Now
the question arises, where is the
money necessary to do the work to
come from ! The State of Maryland
cannot. by the terms of our laws, in
vest the peoples money in any more
corporations, and as there are now
$500, 900 i'll repair bonds outstanding
in the hands of the B. Il q. railroad,
with about two years interest due there
on besides an Indebtedness of several
millions Of dollars to the State of Ma
ryland, on which the canal company
cannot keep up the interest, where will
be found sufficient confidence among
those having money to invest to take
hold of these bonds Who would be
willing to invest money in further
bonds of a corporation thus financially
situated What guarantee would they
have that the proposed repairs. even
if made, are likely to be permanent
None. For in these days of storms and
floods the stream is liable to overflow
and wash away the improvements at
any time.
The importance of this canal as an
inland waterway is acknowledged by
all and appreciated more especially by
those engaged in business along its
course.
Those more direc ly and deeply in
terested in its maintenance are the
mill-owners and business men of
Georgetown, and arrangements have
been made FIR repairing the lower or
Georgetown level. The millers of
that town and president Gambrill,
Of the canal company, have entered
into contract in which the former
agree to repair the level and put
it i'll shape for navigation they are
to do the work to the satisfaction of
president Gambrill and superintendent
Biser. who will look after the interests
of the canal company. The fund sub
scribed by the Georgetown merchants
will be on deposit in the Farmers and
Mechanics bank, subject to the joint
check of Mr.. Gambrll and Mr.. CiSscll,
for the payment of the expenses for the
necessary repairs.
The repairing Of this level is of vital
importance to these mill-owners for
the conducting of their business and
for the use Of the watcr-power thus
obtained they have been paying the
u VI Po,'''
per annum, which, under the condi-
tions Of the agreement, together with
the tolls and other revenues is to re-
vert to the mill-owners until they shall
have been fully reimbursed for their
outlay in the repairs.
1t is contcnded that the legal opin-
ion of Attorney General Whyte, pub
lished ii few days ago, should have Il
tendency to restore confidence in the
canal, as it is claimed that the proposed
new repair bonds would take prece-
dence over all others. Such may be
the case, yet, as we cannot so under
stand it, we would be pleased to
see some feasible plan suggested by
which this time -honored old waterway
could again be put in good working
order, for while it has but poorly paid
the stockholders in the past it has been
fruitful source of revenue to the ter
ritory through which it passes.