Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-02
GOV. JACKsON'S MESSAGE.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal--Po-
tomac and Pocomoke Oysters.


The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal--Po-
tomac and PocOmoke Oysters.
The legislature Of Maryland organized yes.
terday. Robert E. Bratton was elected president
Of the senate, and W. G. Purnell, secretary;
John Hubner speaker Of the house, and Carl
ton Shafter chief clerk, all democrats. The
message Of Gov Jackson was read. He recon-
mends among other amendments to the consti-
tuition one which will enable the state to sell its
interest, If desirable, in the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal and other properties owned by the
state. OF the Canal he says:
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL.
desire to call your special attention to the
condition of tn Jmpany. The controlling
interest is held by the state. 1t has been and
can be an important factor in developing the
resources of large section of the state. 1t
ought to be maintained as a means of transport
tatIon free from the control OF any competing
or parallel line OF transportation, but always
subject to control by the legislature of Mary
land as to its rates Of charges, 80 as to prevent
discrimination against individual shippers or
localities. The condition of the company is
such that it is in imminent peril of being sacri-
need by foreclosure and sale under the mort
gage given in 1878. By reference to the act Of
1878. chapter So, it will be seen that whenever
there shall be default in the payment Of three
successive coupons the holders of majority of
the bonds shall have the right to apply for the
appointment of receiver and for the sale Of
said canal. The default has occurred, There
was on the LIST of January, 1890. six
coupons overdue and unpaid The Balti-
more and Ohio railroad company owns
S26O.OOO. or majority of said bonds
and it is well known that the company con-
template proceedings for the appointment of
receivers. and l am informed the minority of
bond holders insist on the sale Of the canal
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad company
should not be permitted to own or control this
great state work. With its claim of an ire
pealable charter and right to charge exorbitant
rates for transportation, it would be able to
exact such tribute from the people of western
Maryland as it might determine. The inter-
ests OF the whole people of the state, therefore.
demand that some provision shall be made to
save the canal and to see that it is maintained
as an independent line of transportation. For
twelve years past the presidents and directors
OF the canal have reported that it was impossi-
bic to maintain the work unless it was put in
improved condition to meet the low charges by
the railroads.. AS late 1868 the Baltimore
and ONO railroad company charged on gross
ton OF coal from Cumberland to Baltimore
sass In 1888 the charge for the same service
was about $3.50.
In 1889 it is said to be as low as LOS, which
makes it impossible for the canal, unless i'm
proved TO compete and pay expenses. In adj
dition, the Baltimore and Ohio and other rail-
road companies have purchased and now
own and control the greater part of all the
coal i'll the Cumberland basin, which is the
principal tonnage of tine canal. Prior to the
control OF the coal by the railroads and when
rates from Cumberland to Baltimore were
two (s2) dollars and above the canal pros
pered. During the administration of Presi-
dent l. II. Gordon the current expenses were
paid aud sos, 435 was paid on construction
bonds and 1924. 447. 80 was left in the treasury
lDFIn0 PrpAIdpnf II 1orE'j lp,i. iotr -
1t paid expenses and paid to bondholders the
sum of S497,770 so. During the term of Presi-
dent A. L. German, in addition to paying ex-
penses, there was paid to bondholders of
lSi4 s1,O7O5S5. But from 1877 to 1888,
inclusive, twelve years, owing to the low
rates charged and the ownership of the
coal by the railroads the deficit in the main
tenance and operation of the canal has been
S'0l, l3O, including cost of extraordinary re-
pairs. So that when the work was greatly
damaged by the last freshet in the Potomac
river it was without means to repair or credit
to borrow sufficient amount to place it in
navlgable condition. The presidents and di-
rectors who have been entrusted with the man.
agement OF the canal company have for years
frankly stated in their reports that the present
was inevitable unless sufficient ex-
penditures were made to enlarge the canal or
change the mode and cheaper the expenses of
carriage. The constitution of the state pro-
hlblts any direct appropriation from the state
n
terest is likewise prohibited unless the sale is
ratified by the ensuing legislature, which prac-
tlcally prevents sale, for no responsible per-
son would make an offer under such conditions
l suppose lease of it is feasible and legal.
Sundry persons interested in having it MAIN
tanned as an independent line Of transportation
have conferred with the board of public works
with view to leasing it. hope within a few
days to present for your consideration one or
more propositions for the lease, which trust
hnU
action. The people OF the state would not be
content II We permit any competing company
tn own or control this work or to sacrifice all
the money they have invested in it.
THE OYSTER SITUATION.
In the matter of the oyster privileges of
Maryland and Virginia in the Potomac, POGO
moke and other waters, the governor deplores
the fact that the citizens of Maryland are ex-
Guided from that portion of the Pocomoke
lying III Virginia. and suggests that Virginia
make such concessions to Maryland as Mary
land now makes to Virginia in the Potomac. In
the Hog island controversy the governor Of
Maryland says he has seen the governor of
Virginia. and the Virginia legislature has re-
moved all causes OF dlsafection by repeating
the obnoxious measure.
The governor makes the following sugges-
tons relative to the growth and development
Of the oyster:
First. 10 require all oysters to be closely
culied on the bars where taken, and prohibit
the sale of oysters less than a fixed size, say
213 inches in length. Second. To prevent as
far as possible the taking of oysters from this
state to be planted i'll the waters of other
states. Third. To permit the planting of
oysters in this state during certain months of
the closed season. Fourth. To employ the
boats of the state fishery force during the
closed season in distributing shells to catch
the spat. Fifth. To limit the time for taking
oysters with both dredge and scrapes, so that
it should begin the first Of November and end
on the 3lst Of March,"
SENATE BILLS.
In the senate bills were introduced by Sena-
tor Toadvin for four constitutional amend
ments, viz: To control corporation charters;
extending the governors veto power; to make
taxes uniform and equal, and to regulate the
sale. when sale may be desirable, of the states
interest in works OF internal improvement, &c.
Adjourned until Tuesday evening, january
A PROBLEM IN COURTSHIP,
BOARDING HOuse keeners Can't Claim