Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-07
THE WRECKED CANAL.
Effects Of the Suspension Of Traffic on
the Business Interests Of the City.

the Business Interests Of the City.
STAR REpoHrERs' TALKS WITH BUSINESS MN
How ALL KINDS or BUSINESS ARE INDIRECTLY
| AFTEcTED-RAILRoAD FREIGHT RATES VERSUS
| CANAL ToLIs-sHIPPINa BIZ WATER.
| The great damage to the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal, which has ehectually checked all
canal traffic and may result in the total aban-
Comment OF the canal, has caused serious ap-
prehension among business men as to the re-
suits on the many interests directly or indi-
rectly affected. STAR reporters have talked
with number Of business men on the subject
| OF the canal, and their views vary.
"The destruction Of the Cumberland canal Is
q great blow to Georgetown" said Mr.. Geo. L.
Sheriff. ut practically shuts of the supply Of
Cumberland coal and leaves the railroads to
charge whatever price they have mind to for
1t. Coal has not yet advanced"
"Do you think the canal will ever be re-
paired2'
"Well, yes; that is my private opinion.
think syndicate will take hold of it and
operate 1t with good results"
Mr.. John w. Shaw, the q our and feed dealer,
when asked what chances he thought there
we're for the repair Of the Cumberland canal
said: II hardly think the canal will ever be re-
stored although it is possible that it will be re-
paired to the extent necessary to make milling
in Georgetown practicable. No, it has not hurt
our business, but on the contrary increased it,
don't think -four will advance by reason of
the abandonment of the canal, but If these cool
nights keep up there will be frost and then
look out Tor jump in -four"
Mr.. I. H. Walker, dealer In general pro-
visions on Louisiana avenue, said Re thought
the breaking of the canal will have the effect OF
raising the price Of -four, although only part
Of the supply is dependent upon the canal.
Mr.. Compton, on the same block, does not
deal in -four, but thinks that the loss Of the
canal traffic will be disastrous to Georgetown.
1t would, he said, dspreciate everything there.
MIR. N. II. Shea, Of the firm Of N. H. Shea &
Co., said he did not believe that the calamity
will affect the price Of -four here, but that it
will affect the entire manufacturing interest of
Georgetown by throwing . large number of
people ont Of work. He favors the idea of
using the old canal bed for o railroad track,
and thinks that such scheme would be bene-
6clal to the trade here.
OF the canal may raise the price Of -four tenn
porarily and slightly, but that it will have no
general or lasting effect on the markets of
Washington. "Of course the stoppage of the
traffic will throw out the Georgetown millers
entirely" added one Of the members of the
firm, but there never was a need when there
was not something to supply it, and with all
the improved railroad facilities nowadays the
break OF the canal will probably have little or
no effect on the market of provisions here"
MIR. Middleton OF the firm Of Browning
Middleton, said: II don't think the break of
the canal will affect the price OF flour in the
least or the supply in this city, but it will break
up the Georgetown manufacturers. l see that
the millers are proposing to build up the first
level again and run it. This would save them,
possibly"
1t cannot help having some effect on bust
ness, said Mr.. James p. Willett. '.1he loss of
the canal trade falls some Of our citizens
The mills are stopped for the want Of water,
and even with water the extra cost Of the
transportation Of grain to the mills is
serious consideration. The coal trade il
broken up. This will drive away the va
rious craft that would otherwise come up
the river and exchange cargoes. 1t will
make ice higher, because the schooners loaded
loaded with coal. This gave cheaper trans
portation. But these vessels cannot afford
to come up here and 60 back light. II there is
no coal for them and no -four to give them a
cargo most of them will not come. This will
cut off another means of cheap transportation,
not only for ice, but for other shipments by
the river. Now the loss to the men doing bus
mess on the wharves, to the miilers, to the
Georgetown merchants who did business with
the canal people and, by means of the canal,
with the upper country, to the men-there are
probably thousand or two OF them-who sup
ported their families by work in the mills, the
lime-kilns, the coal wharves and on the canal
all this takes money out Of the District, of
course. 1t would be cruel for a merchant
who may not personally feel any loss to
say that the destruction Of the canal does
not affect business. Anything that involves
loss on any number OF our citizens and throws
poor men out OF employment affects business
somewhere. Look at our brick-makers. 1t is a
matter OF Importance to them that they must
pay more for their GOAL, more for hauling it to
their yards, and yet again more for hauling
their bricks away.
THE destruction Of the canal cuts of one
means OF transportation that in turn checks
river transportation and puts US right in the
He said, further, that he did not think any
one would want to construct a railroad in the
canal bed, in view OF the washout it has Just
had. This matter Of building railroad is TO
be considered more thoughtfully. There is
time involved in it. The road would have to
be on higher ground than the canal bed, conse-
quently rougher ground. There would have to
be building Of warehouses and an active effort
to divert the trade from Baltimore. Something
in this way might be done in time"
Mr.. Charles W. Brown, of Brown Bros, pro-
ducs dealers, said: I'VE do not get much pro-
duce by the canal, but We are affected by the
damage to the canal in more ways than one
Heretofore we have had considerable trade
with Georgetown people, especially come who
supplied the boatmen. There il another way
in which we are affected by the coal trade
When the golfers are at eastern ports rather
than return empty they will take on apples,
potatoes, &C., at nominal rates, and BY our
correspondents looking out for such chances to
ship our goods we are enabled to save quite a
percentage over what would be the cost by
regular line. II the canal is restored the coal
trade would continue and we would have some
advantage OF getting our produce from eastern
ports as ballast, but with the coal trade gone
we would never have such chances. Though
not directly affected as are some others, we yet
feel the need Of the canal The only way to
save Georgetown is to have the canal put in re-
pair SO that trade may be resumed"
John w. Clementy, OF the canal-boat Vic
toria, speaking to STAR reporter Of the de-
struction Of the canal, said: 1.-The destruction
OF the canal will throw many people out of
work. Freight will be higher from points
along the canal, and building material will, I
think, 60 up. Grain and feed will also go up.
great many people will suffer, especially
those who made their living by their boats. No
don't think railroad will be built"
One Of the members Of the firm of Bryan
Bros. said that he did not really believe the
calamity would have any influence on the price
OF flour in the District, for the quantity Of
Georgetown -four used here 10 comparatively
very small. He pronounced it Is q fact that
although the freights are heavier the western
hour Is delivered here Just a. cheaply as that
made in Georgetown, and this fact will prevent
any general change In price.
The younger Mr.. Barbour, Of the firm Of
Barbour 4 Son, preferred to defer to the opin-
ion Of ha father Vim not prasacx IL