Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-10
CANAL OR RAILROAD?
What Business Men Say About
the Situation.
THE TERMINAL QUESTION.
The Railroad Project Heartily Approved
by Many Leading Citizens-Some,
However, Think It Would be Better to
Restore the Canal.

the oio uldoe ny the recently iucoIpoIateu
Cumberland and Washington railroad company
to lease the canal from the state of Maryland,
has been quite generally discussed by business
men here. Various views are expressed. Many
are positive that the canal Is no longer avail
able az q waterway and strongly indorse the
railroad scheme; others believe that the in
terests of the city would be best served by a
restoration Of the old canal: but all are agreed
that it is important that there should be either
railroad or a canal. The new railroad COM
pany has had q preliminary survey made OF the
canal bank, and the report made is to the effect
that the project is feasible one In the plans of
the company, it is stated, is included an extern
ton from point on the canal near the Point
OF Rocks to Baltimore, crossing the Metropoli-
tan Branch Of the Balti more and Ohio near
stated, that Mr.. Cotton proposes to introduce in
the Maryland legislature bill to amend the
charter OF the company. This plan for building a
Baltimore branch is not viewed with much favor
here by some business men, who think that the
result might be that the Baltimore branch will
be completed and the main line to Washington
practically be abandoned.
STAR reporters have interviewed number OF
business men on the subject Of the proposed
railroad.
WHAT MR.. JOHNSON SAYS.
The only incorporation Of the proposed rail-
road residing in this city is Mr.. E. Kurtz John
son. When STAR reporter spoke to him this
morning of the proposed extension of the line
to Baltimore he expressed great surprise. II
never heard such a thing discussed" he
said. 'In all the talk have had with my asso-
ciates Washington has always been regarded as
the southern terminal. In fact that is my only
interest in the enterprise. There is no ques-
ton but that the building Of railroad from
Cumberland to this city would be Of the great
est advantage to Washington, and for that
reason l am favorable to the enterprise. OF
course such railroad would not be Of advant-
age to Baltimore and no doubt this proposed
change, If such is to be made is advocated by
Baltimore interests. 1t will not have my sup
port. One cause Of the high freight rates to
this city by water is due to the fact that boats
are obliged to return empty. If, however
there is Cumberland coal here for transporta-
tion then the boats can make q profitable re-
turn trip and the rates will be much lower
Since the plan of building railroad from Cum
berland has been made public find that it has
met with general favor among the citizens CT
Washington. l have had men tell me that
they would like to take stock in the new road
There is no doubt but that the new road will
be of great benefit to this city,
MYRoN NJ. PARKER
II am in favor of any plan, said Mr.. NJ. M.
Parker, the president of the board of trade,
(which will give additional railroad facilities to
will undoubtedly do that and therefore / am in
favor Of it When visiting at the Woodmont
club have sat on the porch there overlooking
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and it seemed
to me that every few minutes a train loaded
with coal steamed by. 1t appears to me that
there is plenty Of railroad business in that Sec
ton, and road which will bring the products
o. that country, both coal and other articles, to
this city will be Of great importance. A rail-
road will take the place of the canal, which, in
my opinion, can never be restored as water
way. There is no future for the canal. as any
one can perceive who has travelled along its
banks and has seen its condition. But the
communication that has been destroyed ought
to be restored and railroad in my opinion, is
the most feasible way OF accomplishing that
result Our business interests demand better
railroad facilities and the proposed new rail-
road, to my mind, seems to be in that line"
REPRESENTATIVE M'coMAs.
A STAR reporter intercepted Representative
McComas in wild rush for one of the doors to
the House this morning. They we're calling
the roll on the floor and six expectant citizens
were standing in row waiting impatiently for
the reporter to finish with the honorable gen.
tleman 80 as to seize him themselves. The in
terview was then. to put it mildly, hurried. II
have been studying the matter all
canal is in my district and l am, OF course
Interested / am and have always been in
favor OF keeping the canal as a waterway and
having nothing to do with a railway The
establishment Of two railroads would not pay
Washington for the loss of the canal as a car
rier for heavy freights. understand that the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal il one of the
longest in the world and put on business prin-
ciples, have not the shadow Of doubt but
what it would prove a paying investment
Nothing can compare to waterway as a car
rier for heavy freight such as coal England
and the European governments understand
this and in those countries, even where canals
have been abandoned, they are being re-estab-
llshed for the purpose OF carrying the coal to
the larger cities"
JOHN A. BAKER.
Mr. John A. Baker the dealer in agricultural
supplies, said: well, really, Mr. STAR man,
have not given the matter enough serious
thought to be able to discuss it to much ad-
vantage. There is one thing, however, that is
fairly settled in my mind, and that is that a
railroad would be much better investment for
Georgetown and the rest of the District gener-
ally than a canal would ever be-"
c. A. sCHNEIDER's SONS
Mr.. Schneider Of G. A. Schneider's Sons, iron
works, said: "A railroad would be far better
than canal. What is needed on the other
side of the creek is something to lven up
things generally and this might succeed. More
railroad accommodations are needed in this city,
anyhow. DurlnS tulS last year Ill business mas
suffered greatly on this account and il the old
roads get hold of this new one that is being
talked OF l don't see how we are gong to be
any better of"
J. p. AGNEw AND co.
In answer to STAR reporters questions
about the future of the canal Mr.. John Spen-
Ger, superintendent for J. P. Agnew i Co., the
coal dealers, said: 1.-THE coal men are all of
them canal men and do not want railroad in
the canal bed. All the coal business of George
town has always been done by canal. OF course
there Is a possibility that we will have to
change to a railroad, but a carrying agent
that could never compete with the old water
way. The proposition to build railroad has
caused great deal of worry to people whose
business has been done over the canal. for they
do not want railroad. They are all Fixed for
unloading and shipping by a waterway and
have absolutely no facilities for railroad
am firmly convinced. too. that affairs will be so
arranged that the canal can be rebuilt, and
hope so, for if we have a road they can fix rates
to suit themselves, for they will have no COM
petitor except the Baltimore and Ohio"
Mr.. Archibald Greenlees of the firm of Jno. P
Agnew Co., coal dealers, said: What Wash
ington wants and needs and should strive for Is
the restoration OF the canal. 1t made George
town In years gone by and would revive the
lost trade. do not believe that Washington has
ever been considered as terminus of the pro-
posed road. and don't believe it worth while
trying to get il. think that the men behind
the scheme proposed to stop at Williamsport
and transfer their cars there to the Western
Maryland road"
GEO. W. CIssRLL.
Mr.. Geo. ". Cissell said Georgetown men