Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-06-14
The Future of the Canal.
The following opinions of the future of
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal are taken
from the Washington Star:

DIRECTOR J. G. BERRETTs VIEWS.
"What do you suppose will become o
the canal?"
81 think that most of the possibilities ant
all the probabilities are that the canal will be
come railroad from Cumberland to George
town. This will be great thing and will
bring an immense amount of coal traffic to
Georgetown. The business will be immense
because the road would be down grade from
the mines to the wharves; the railroad could
bring more coal to tidewater, with less power
exerted, than any other road in the coun.
try. 1t may be little difficult for George
town people TO imagine just now that any.
thing is right All is not wrong, however
and We shall, | am satisfied, prosper through
the means of what certainly looks Il good
deal like calamity. Meanwhile steps will
undoubtedly be- taken TO secure u proper SUP.
ply Of water for the mills at Georgetown by
repairing the towpath rs far rs the feeder,
just above Chain bridge. This supply OF
water will, of course, be permanent, and
need not any way be affected by the rail
road connection"
"What will the minority bondholders
doY" quered the reporter.
"Minorities have rights" was the reply.
at the Baltimore and Ohio Company I'M
necessarily delays the foreclosure OF the
mortgage the minority will go into Court
and compel the foreclosure. There will be
delay anyhow. Nothing can be done until
the Maryland legislature meets in January
The canal company is absolutely without
means or credit and it can do nothing more
than possibly fix up the water supply for
the Georgetown mills"
"Have you any idea as to who will buy
the canal property"
HNn. ha alaa Whan ha
mortgage has been foreclosed the whole
concern will be put up at auction and
knocked down 10 the highest bidder"
"Do you know who the highest bidder
will beg"
"Of course not. The canal franchise is a
valuable one. 1t may be absorbed by the
Baltimore and Ohio; the Pennsylvania peo-
pie may imagine it would fit on to their
system the West Virginia syndicate may
be DESTROYS of purchasing; or a private in
dividual or an almost unknown corporation
may secure il. Whichever Of the roads
thinks it would add To their business will
purchase it. No matter what any one says,
it is only mere speculation as to who will
get it,"
TREASURER WATKINS SAYS:
81 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 u possibility that private capital
may take hold and repair il. The cost Of
repairing the canal would not be anything
like us heavy AS some have stated it can be
done for 100000"
A. II. CRoPLEy's HOPEFUL VIEWS.
1.-The Washington and Western Maryland
railroad will be built; but before We see
anything OF the railroad we will have the
canal repaired
mo railroad" said Mr.. Cropey, would
disburse as much money in our midst. A
big mogul engine can haul II thousand tons
of coal in and then go away, the crew leaving,
perhaps. IS or $40 in town. Seven canal
boats would carry one thousand tons of
coal, and the boatmcn would spend $3.50
right here in the District
"Who will repair u" asked the reporter.
"rhe canal company is helpless.
"We know that" replied Mr., Cropcy
"but We are not as helpless AS is the co'n
pany. The business interests along the 1874
miles of canal are too great to be killed by
the company's iorsaking 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
"But private capital could not secure a
VI any utoCIipIioli iIVui tuC Chuhi
company" suggested the reporter.
81 am aware of that" said Mr.. Cropley,
land | think | am correct in saying that
private capital will not plead with any OF
the holders OF bonds. Private capital will
go ahead anu Duiid that Cassis.i aud then
cure its share of equity in the courts. Ii the
canal company abandons the property we
shall not wait for either the Maryland egis-
lature or the c0ntending factions who own
stock Any unnecessary delay will put IL
hopeless end 10 hundreds of industrial es.
Establishments along the line of the canai.-
There must not be any delay
HAS there been any agreement reached
between business men as to this somewhat
revolutionary repair scheme ?"
"There has not yet" was the reply, "but
there will undoubtedly be in little while.
Ii the canal company, at its meeting on the
18th, makes official announcement of its
abandonment of the canal or says it is I'M
able TO do anything which is, in substance
the same,l think immediate steps will be
taken 10 build the cana, and the canal com
pany 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? II was
not the Baltimore and Ohio road. IL wasn't
the march of steam and civilization. IL Was
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and if the
people of Western Maryland don't want to
witness and to feel serious depreciation in
property values, they will do all in their
power 10 make the canal whole once more.
| want to see IL railroad into Georgetown as
much as anybody does, but want IL canal
too; | want the canal first The Washing
ton and Western road will begin TO materi
aliZe before long That will run between
the river and the canal up rs far as the
Chain bridge, thence through Maryland ~
Wiiiansp,rt. We need both the canal an
the railroad, especially the canal"
HON. GEO PETER
"As to the future of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal il would he presumption foi
me u suggest OF one thing there can bt
no doubt that is, that water way like the
canal Was will not pay expenses in compe-
tition with railroads. Unless II different
kind Of water way can he constructed u
supply the place Of the old canal it would
he folly 10 rebuild it, for practical expert
ence has clearly demonstrated the present
prices for tonnage on coal will not pay for
the necessary and ordinary working ex
penses, regardless of unusual and extraordi.
nary expenses to which the canal has al.
ways been subjected The trade outside OF
| the coal shipments is comparatively moth
| freshet, in IA conversation with the Hon
JAS G. Clark, he expressed a decided opinion
that at present rates the canal could not posi-
bly, be sustained, and iis existence was only
matter of time. Again, in the State OF
| New York its canals are now virtually free
high ways supported by the State. The de
struction OF the canal is u terrible blow u
| Western Maryland and Georgetown, ID. G.
! 1.-THE most fertile lands along the river
are almost valueless, except for grazing pur-
poses, without the canal. With my present
views can see no way out of the dilemma
except To supply its place with IL railroad
! AT the same time the dams already con
structed across the river might be utilized
| in supplying, wherever practical, water pow
ers for industries of various kinds.
81 am confident railroad could be con.
structed TO withstand the freshets. | am led
to this belief by the condition of the cana
viaducts across Monocacy and Seneca, both
of which have stood for years and are stand
ing to day as monuments u the skill and
fidelity Of the engineers who constructed