Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-05

Representatives Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal, accompanied by a committee of George
town business men, went along the George
town level of the wrecked waterway
this morning and thoroughly inspected the
breaks and weak spots made in it by the food.
With President Gambrill were Superinteudents
Biser and Frank Fisher. The business men
were Messrs. Arthur Cropley. ]. G. Waters. q.
W. Cissel, Robert Tenney and Alexander W.
Ward Itwas found that the greater portion Of
the damage was done below the Chain bridge.
THE BREAKS.
The first break was near Woodys-lOO feet
long and of an average depth of Is feet. The
next was about quarter of a mile above. just
opposite the little church. II was 200 feet
long and IL feet deep. At the bridge
there is a 60-foot break. Is feet deep. and Just
above there is small and comparatively in
consequential fracture. The feeder" will have
to be cleaned out, and the bank up TO the feeder
needs good deal OF repair.
WHAT IT WILL COST TO REPAIR THE BREAKs
There were several conferences between the
parties, and it was at last concluded that for
LOGO feet east of the chain bridge a new canal
will be needed. The estimated cost of
putting the entire Georgetown level in
repair and fitting it simply ditch to supply
al
needed for the purposes of navigation an ad-
ditional 40, 600 would be needed.
VIEWS OF PROMINENT GEORGETOWN BUSINESS
MAN.
The results of the inspection were eagerly
waited for in Georgetown. for the people are
waking up to the fact that the closing of the
canal and the consequent shutting down of the
mills will not inure to Georgetown's benefit
Il hope the canal company will come to some
ahnnr
of time" said one of Georgetown's big
merchants to a STAR reporter this MORN
ing. or course the officials cannot do
anything, but the bondholders can. 1t will be
at least week before they will be called to-
| gether and they may not do anything then.
Ii they will turn over to their rights to
this one level We will guarantee the formation
OF stock company in ten days, and we will
HAVE WATER RUNNING IN SIXTY DAYS.
The canal company cannot repair the breaks;
they haven't dollar to do anything with. To
repair the Georgetown level would not cost
| more than $4,000 at the outside. The water
rents as at present levied amount to IS. 600 and
| they could easily be made $4,000. Do you
want any bigger interest than thatl 1t is only
question of time when this level will be fixed.
Ii may be by the canal company or il may be
by private capital, but it will be DONE
| TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE CANAL
COMPANY.
President Gambrill. of the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal, was in the dining-room of the
Morgan house slipping a mint julep when "a
STAR reporter asked him how long it would be
before some definite conclusion would be ar
| rived at with regard to the canal
1T will be at least a week" said he ''before
/ can see the principal bond-holders, and until
that Is done i can express no opinion. The
| only hope of the mllers lies in the coInpany's
| deciding to allow them to repair so
/ mnph ~ tha
and then permit them to use the water without
| cost until they have been reimbursed for the
money expended. think it is probable that
that will be done, but cannot say so with any
degree of certainty. Some of the holders of
| bonds Of 1873 may object, for they invested
only when assured of the rental from this
water right.
If the company allows the millers to repair
the Georgetown level L suppose it will cost
about $4,000. The present rents amount TO
| $4,000 per annum, so that il would be near
| ly four years before the bondholders
would get cent of revenue. That seems to be
| the only thing to do. Some people. L hear
| have suggested that the company waive ali its
rights to the Georgetown level. That is ridi-
eulous; 1t can be done only by the consent of
| every bondholder and by the passage of an act
of authorization by the Maryland legislature
| We will have some definite information in about
week" And President Gambrill pushed
aside tall sprig of mint that was tickling his
nose anu closed MS lips upon two straws OF
| extra large caliber.
SERIOUS SITUATION FOR EMPLOYEES.
As soon as the stocks are cleared out the
mills in Georgetown will close their doors
unless the level is repaired, and the situation
| Is rapidly becoming serious one for a large
| number of employees. More than 100 men are
| employed in the mills and dependent upon the
| running of those enterprises are not less than
seventy-five coopers. Loss of work TO these
:.
Georgetown.
The permanent shutting down of the -four
mills is only probability. The closing up of
the business of the lime-men is certain.
LINE KILNs TO BE CLOSED.
Mr.. Edward Cooley has made up his mind
He will shut up his lime kilns as soon as his
stock of limestone is out. If there is no canal
he cannot secure the necessary supplies of
limestone, nor could it be as easy to dispose
| of it.
Il cannot stay in the business now" said he
to STAR reporter this morning. Ny closing
will throw about forty men out of employment
! shall go into the business again, though,
but L will get away from floods:
Virginia, up above Harper's Ferry, right
on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio
road. 1t is probable that railway may
axe the place of the canal, but
/ cannot afford to wait for its coming The
"a
canal bonds, and it will quite naturally fight to
prevent the purchase which smaller holders
will insist upon. By the time they get through
with the courts man would have starved"
WILL ALSO GO OUT OF THE LIME BUSINESS
Cammack q Decker and johnson & Libbey
will also have to go out of the lime-burning
business in Georgetown, and the consequences
will be serious to Georgetown storekeepers. for
more than $4,000 is the annual total of the
wages paid by these three firms.
RISE IN PRICES OF FUEL AND LIME.
Already the closing of the canal has made it
self felt. Coal has gone up from IS cents to 81
per ton in Georgetown, and the price Of wood
has raised so cents cord. Lime will be ex-
allied from 10 to Is cents barrel on the LIST of
July.
1--WE got to get my coal from the railroad
now" said one Of the lime burners this morn
ing.
1T used to cost me So 40 a ton, dumped right
onto my wharf. Now it will cost nearly third
of that SUMO cents a tonic have il hauled
from Washington to my yard"
COAL SHIPPERS RETIRE FROM BUSINESS.
The Borden Mining company discharged its
men on Monday and has retired permanently
from business in Georgetown without even
making an ATTEMPT to save its wrecked proper-