Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-06
THEY MEAN BUSINESS.
That is What Mr.. johnson Says Abou
the Proposal to Lease the Canal.

HE SAYS IT Is AN ENTERPRISE UNDERTAKEN IN
WASHINGTON AND THE COUNTRY ALONG THE
CANAL WILL DERIVE FROM NEW RAILROAD.
MIR. L. kurtz johnson, president of the Citi-
zens national bank of this city, is one of the in
corporators OF the Washington and. Cumber-
land railroad company, who bid to lease the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal for o term of nine
ty-nine years with the view OF constructing a
railroad in the canal bed from Cumberland to
this city. Mr.. johnson. in talking with STAR man
today, said that the offer made was thoroughly
business from beginning to end. 1.-THE names
of the incorporators," he went on, lis
evidence that the proposed road will
not lack financial backing Of the strongest
kind. There is Mr.. Enoeh Pratt, one Of the
best known citizens of Baltimore, who recently
gave about million dollars to establish a pub
lie library in Baltimore. He does not permit
his name to be used in connection with any
enterprise unless it has merit and unless there
is money and ability to put 1t through. He is
the president of the Farmers and Planters' ma
tional bank OF Baltimore, one OF the best known
and Oldest banks in that city. Another moor
porator il MIR. John A. Hambleton, one of Bal
timore's wealthy citizens and the senior men,
Der of the well-known banking firm of Hamble-
L..
the firm Of HAYWARD, Bartlett & Robbins of
Baltimore; wealthy, substantial man OF bust
ness, A. Wilson, leading citizen of Allegheny
county Md; Martin l.. Rohrback, q prominens
citizen Of Frederick county, Nd, and H. w.
Talbot, a prominent lawyer Of Montgomery
county"
ADVANTAGES CLAIMED FOB THE RAILROAD
Gas may be eeen by CHANGING over these
Names" Mr. johnson went on, this is a legiti.
70 ,,oip into bv,
who. on account Of their standing in their re-
spective communities, could not afford to 20
into any other kind Of enterprise. 1t ia pro-
posed, stated in the charter, to build a rail-
road from Cumberland to Washington, passing
through the counties where the old canal was
located. The advantages Of the proposal to
build a railroad are in my opinion manifest, as
it is impossible to obtain the money needed for
the restoration Of the canal as q water way
That is fact which 10 admitted by all who are
at all acquainted with the facts. OF course
there are some who cling to the idea that the
canal may be restored, but this is only dream,
There is nothing, there can be nothing
in it. But even IL the canal could
compared to those which would be desired for
the rapid transportation afforded by railroad.
Not only will there be more goods transported
and in a better time under the new system than
nnder the old, but l believe that the cost Of
transportation will not be any more. Think for
moment Of the advantages which this city,
and. in fact, the entire region will enjoy when
q railroad takes the place Of the old canal. In
the first place the passenger traffic on the canal
never amounted to anything, for obvious rea-
sons. For similar reasons the canal could not
transport perishabie products to the markets
Everything OF that kind that was sent
to market went by way Of the rail-
, roads. Now. with a railroad, the oppOrtu-
mites afforded to farmers and others to get
their goods to market without delay will be
greatly increased.
THE COAL TRADE.
The transportation Of coal by canal was not
only slow but also uncertain. We have reason
to believe that the coal business alone of the
new road will be in . short time twice or three
times much a. that Of the canal In its best
days When the new road 10 built q good deal
Of the freight that now goes TO Baltimore will
come to this city. The advantages to
Washington will, Of course, be very great.
There 10 NO opposition 10 the enterprise
anticipated except from the railroad running
into this city, with which the new road will
como into competition. The plan proposed, In
my opinion, 10 favorable not only 70 the people
along the line Of the old canal but TO the bond-
holders, who viii receive much more BY the
acceptance OF this proposition than they would
be likely 70 In any other way"
IF the new road b built 10 viii connect 1t
Cumberland With the West Virginia Central
railroad"