Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-25
CANAL OR RAILROADs
1t is Said Steps Will Be Taken to Condemn
the Canal Bed.

IL 10 said steps VIII Be Taken to Condemn
the Canal Bed.
Since the Maryland court of appeals has az
frmed the decision Of Chief Judge Alvey grant,
ing to the holders of the bonds Of 1874 the right
to repair and operate the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal as a waterway the question has arisen as
to what will become Of the project represented
by the Washington and Cumberland Railroad
Company, which has been chartered by the
state of Maryland and authorized by the state
legislature to lease the canal and operate rail-
road on the canal bed.
1t is stated that the trustees Of the bondhold-
ers will begin the work Of repairing the canal
as soon as possible. It is said also that tie at
torneys Of the Washington and Cumberland
railroad will begin proceedings to secure pos
session of the canal bed by condemnation pro-
ceedings, as they claim the company is author
lied to by the acts of the Maryland legislature
the legal fight over the canal is by no means at
an end.
TALK WITH Mr. JOHNSON.
Mr.. E. Kurtz johnson, the president Of the
Citizens National Bank Of this city, the only
resident incorporator of the Washington and
Cumberland road, said TO STAB reporter this
morning:
There is no real foundation for the state
ment that the incorporators of the road have
condemnation
the property that will be needed for the construc
ton Of the road but it is quite likely that there
will be some such action taken at the next
meeting of the board. I cannot say now
exactly when this meeting will take place. We
hold q charter from the state and we claim that
this Is supreme authority TO 60 ahead with our
project, this recent decision by the court TO the
contrary Notwithstanding. As TO the report
that the trustees are going to repair the canal
do not think that much attention should
L. - a. <l-%
feint at the same sort Of thing before up near
Williamsport They put . few men at work
and pretended TO be about to 20 on with the
work, but il amounted to nothing. In the first
place, they can never pay OF the Ave millions of
debt and then, IL they should be able TO do 90
and could get the canal in prime working order
there is no prospect that the canal viii ever
pay"
THE =. AID o. AxD TIE cAxAr.
''why, then, should the trustees want 10
make this efort2 What could be their object in
blufang?" he was asked.
II can only answer those questions BY rs-
peating the commonly accepted theory ON the
sSeS Ss s iSS s.,i s.s no % SuO
this antagonism TO our scheme Il inspired and
supported by the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road in order to prevent the building Of Q
competing line from Cumberland 70 wsshins-
ton"
''Could such . road - you propose 10 build b
made proftable?'' asked the reporter.
Il do not know ofany project now on foot in
this vicinity that promises 90 much - this-
The road viii open up new territory. Il viii
create competition in the coal traf6c and IL win
induce producers Of all sorts Of commodities 70
other places.
'sThe line runs through two Of the richest ~
ricultural counties Of the state and win develop
large wheat trade. Ths cheapness Of the rai
transportation Of coal has rendered canal com-
petition practically out Of tie QUESTION, sincs.
the rates being equal - they ere nov, the ali.
ference In speed and methods Of handling in
transit render the rail-frsightsd coal much
more desirable. This shows how absurd Il :