Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-14
THE PROPOSED CANAL LEASE.
A Substitute for the Bill offered in
the Maryland Senate.

In the Maryland senate Yesterday the bill 70
authorize the lease Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal company to the Washington and Cumber-
land railroad company was taken up on its
third reading. DR.. Wootton offered new bill
- an amendment 1t proposes in the event Of
the failure of the Washington county circuit
court to order sale 10 authorize the attorney
general to institute legal proceedings to obtain
q decree or DEGREES for the sale Of the canal
under the mortgages held by the state, and to
impose certain obligations and confer certain
powers upon the purchasers. The provisions
set forth that in case the circuit court for
Washington county in equity may conclude
that there is no power to sell under the pro-
ceedings now pending the attorney general
shall foreclose under the mortgage Of 1885.
He shall sell the canal and it shall be decreed
that the sale shall be confirmed BY the next
succeeding legislature. The bill authorizes
the purchaser TO operate the canal as water
way or by constructing a railroad which shall
not be owned or operated by any competing
line.
DR.. Wootton in his speech said he had no
question that q railroad would be more advan-
the pending bill would lead to endless litlga-
ton: Mr.. Writ and Mr.. Urner also spoke on
the bill Mr.. Urner, speaking Of the bill to au-
thorize q lease, said: Il see in this bill an op-
portunity to get this canal out Of politics. I
am IN favor of the displacement Of the canal
and the building Of railroad in it's place.
am Influenced somewhat by local considerations,
as believe the Washington and Cumberland
railroad will make connections with the Wes-
tern Maryland and Frederick and Pennsylvania
line railroad, which will give to Frederick
City and county better railroad facilities than
they have ever had. don't understand that Q
lease means . sale. This bill only proposes to
give the rights of lessee to this railroad COM
pany. But suppose it does mean q sale, We are
only going to do thing which will have to be
sanctioned by the people Of the state when
they elect another Legislature two years hence,
j think 1t would be wise act to sell The day
for inland canals has passed.
"The West Virginia Central, !" he said, "wants
an outlet-wants a road to carry its coal to
market 1t has been intimated that this is
scheme to get possession of the canal for spec
ulative purposes. don't believe the West
Virginia Central will give US competition.
There are other outlets for the West Virginia
Central and If 1t does not get this outlet 1t will
get another, and then this canal if resuscitated,
will have two live railroads to compete with.
II We quarrel over this shadow Of the states in
terests we may have q worthless ditch ON our
hands. 1t has been dead investment, entail
ing nothing but expense on the state.
This railroad" he declared, twill be built
unless the Baltimore and Ohio, . creature Of
the state, can stand in the way Of the prosper
ity Of the people Of the state"
Mr.. Stake and Mr.. Pearre argued against the
bill as one proposing to dispose of valuable
property for less than its value.