Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-06

controlled by the Baltimore and Ohio, and
which has heretofore been the principal line in
delivering coal to the canal; third, the Cumber-
land and George Creek railroad. which Is the
outlet for the Maryland and American. or one
or two other coal crops; fourth the West Vir-
ginia Central, which passes through the coal
fields on the upper Potomac. Each Of the last
three roads, or the persons owning and operat-
ing them, own the great part of the coal on the
respective lines. When the canal was in proper
order we made every effort to induce them to
ship via canal. They decline to do so to any
great extent, for the simple reason that each
more and Ohio and the Pennsylvania railroad
systems at Cumberland, and could and
did obtain rates from the Baltimore and
Ohio and the Pennsylvania railroad to deliver
the coal at Baltimore and at Philadelphia
for q less rate than it could be delivered by the
canal at Georgetown, notwithstanding that we
reduced our charges to 80 cents q ton. More
over, from the beginning the relative disad-
vantages Of the port of Georgetown as COM
pared with Baltimore and the relative disad-
vantages OF the mode of the transfer of the
coal to the vessels at Georgetown as compared
with Baltimore, and on the whole the greatly
superior advantages of Baltimore over George
town, have made it always necessary for ship
pers OF coal by canal to pay for the costly
transfer OF the coal from the canal boats to the
vessels at Georgetown, and for freight on the
vessels 20 cents ton more than was paid for
similar services by shippers of coal from Balti-
more. There can therefore be no doubt in the
minds OF all well-informed people that even If
the canal In its present dimensions is placed in
order for navigation it is impossible for it to
earn enough to pay its running expenses"
THE NEW COMPANY.
The Washington and Cumberland railroad
company, making the proposal sent to the
Maryland legislature yesterday, was incorpo-
rated last week. as stated in the STAR, the in
corporators being Enoch Pratt, David l.. Bart
lett and John A. Hambleton Of Baltimore A.
Wilson of Cumberland. Hattersby w. Talbot
of Montgomery, and E. Kurtz johnson of Wash
lngton. The capital stock is q, 0OO, 900 and the
line of the road is to extend from Cumberland
to Washington, distance OF about 240 miles,
paralleling the Baltimore and Ohio road from
the coal fields to tidewater.
The bid made for the company was signed
by Hattersby W.Talbott as counsel for the COM
pany. 1t proposes Ito lease the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal and all of its lands water rights,
mole properties and franchises for the term OF
ninety nine years, renewable forever, upon the
following terms viz: The legislature of Mary
land shall authorize the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal company to execute a lease to the Wash
ington and Cumberland railroad company of all
of Its properties. privileges and franchises, and
shall authorize said railroad to construct on
the tow path or bed other lands of said
Chesapeake and Ohio canal company railroad
from Cumberland. Nd, to the terminus of the
said canal in the District of Columbia" The
considerations named are as set forth in the
governors message.
WHAT THE COMPANY AGREES TO DO.
The proposal goes on to say: "The lease shall
contain a provision for making connections
and contracts with the Western Maryland rail-
road company and with any other railroad
companies chartered by the state of Maryland
and providing that the said Washington and
Cumberland railroad company shall pro rate
charges with such connecting lines and shall
contain the further provision that the said
Washington and Cumberland railroad company
shall not consolidate with or be leased to the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad company or any
other company without the consent of the gen.
eral assembly of Maryland.
The said Washington and Cumberland rail-
road company agrees to construct a railroad
from Cumberland to the District of Columbia,
with one or more tracks, and to run at least
one passenger train each way daily and at
least one freight train each way daily for the
whole length Of the road, unless prevented by
floods or unavoidable accidents The said rail- |
road company agrees to construct, complete |
and equip and put in running order one or
more tracks for the transportation of passen-
gers and freight between Cumberland and
Wllliamsport, Nd, within one year from the
date OF said lease, and within two years between
Williamsport and the District Of Columbia;
provided that in case delay shall occur in the
commencement or prosecution of said work in
consequence of legal proceedings begun against
said Washington and Cumberland railroad COM
pany by any person or corporation whatever,
the time above designated shall be extended
SO far as to cover the period during which
the operations of said company were delayed.
When the railroad with at least one track shall
be completed from Cumberland to Williams
port then the said Washington and Cumberland
railroad company shall pay annually to the
treasurer of the state of Maryland, during the
continuance of the lease, the sum of SIS, 600
The act to be passed by the general assembly
shall further contain a provision that said
Washington and Cumberland railroad company
shall have the right at any time to perfect its
title to sell the whole of the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal, all of its property. works and
water rights, under a mortgagd which the state
shall assign to it,.upon giving ninety days
notice Of the time, place and terms of SALE"