Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-04

an account Of the opening Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal This account Mr.. Given read
aloud.
Messrs. P.AByrne, VIM Baron, Jno T. Given,
H. Thompson, c. H. Trunnell and John Mar
bury. jr.. rose at the call Of the president and
stated that they were present Mt the ceremonies
and saw President Adams take out the first
shovelfull of dirt
Mr. J. A. winebereer in connection with the
above said: Il will relate q coincidence pertain-
ing to our District that is not generally thought
OF since nearly two-thirds Of a century, sixty
four years from this day has elapsed. which is
that the Chesapeake and Ohio canal and the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad selected the fifty
second anniversary of the nations birthday to
commence their mighty works, one by wa
ter. the other by land The spade
used to dig the first earth on this
memorable day was welded by John q. Adams
Chen President of the United States) just within
the limits of the District line a short distance
above Little falls for the commencement of the
canal from the District to the Ohio river.
few DAYS after DULY y the first proposal
was offered for commencing the canal. which
was from Little falls TO the Big falls, distance
of twelve miles.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE b. AND o.
The b. and o. railroad also selected the same
day and year rs the canal company, July 4,
1928. for the commencement of their road from
Baltimore to the Ohio river. The earth for the
hole for the first stone dug with a spade by
Charles Carroll of Carrollton and the stone was
placed in position by the Free Masons.
short time after the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company in the same month rs the
canal company. July Is, offered proposals for
building the road from the first stone 20
Ellicort's Mills, which the same distance a
the canal company offered their proposal from
the Little Falls TO the Big falls--twelve miles.
When the railroad il 1880 completed 10
Ellicotts Mills line of stages ran from this
| city to Ellicott's Mills with passengers
In those days Mr. Philip Z. Thomas. promi-
neIt merchant of Baltimore, who WAS ap-
! pointed a canal commissioner by the state OF
Maryland. but voluntarily withdrew in 1927.
foresaw the building of the canal could not be
a success, ana If SO it would be 10 the prejudice
OF the commercial interest OF Baltimore: there
fore he applied himself theoretically in connec-
tion with Mr.. Geo. Brown in maturing n plan
for building the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
The ideas thea enunciated by Thomas
Brown and others appeared at the time some
what chimerical, because although short lines
of railroad such as the stockton and Darlington
in England and the Granite branch near Bos-
ton had been built for the conveyance of coal
and stone to navigable waters no railroad
had been constructed either in Europe
or in this country for the general
conveyance OF passengers and produce
between distant points. SO we see it WAS very
unfortunate for our District that il was a rail-
road instead of canal The advantages. no
doubt, every one in this room can calculate
for themselves
The president announced the death Of John
L. Casseii and the association passed suitable
resolutions, which were sent to the family.
OLD OFFICERS REFLECTED.
Upon the motion of Mr.. B. C. Wright the old
officers of the association we're unanimously
reelected.
The following new members were admitted:
Samuel F. Ourand, Maurice Murphy and
James A. Tanning.
President Marbury announced that owing to
illness the orator Of the day had been unable
to prepare an Grafton. He was glad to say.
however, the grand old document-the Decla-
ration of 1ndependence-was at hand and it
would be read by Mr.. Allison Nailor.
Mr.. Nailor read the Declaration of Independ-
ence in a clear forcible way Vigorous applause
followed, and the old-time patriotism which
stirred the signers of that world-famed
document moved the members to cheers.
Among those present were:
THOSE PRESENT.
Messrs. F. W. Brandenburg, P. A. Byrne, W.
Bradley, VIM. Boron, Robert Ball, ". d. Cramp-
sey, T. A. Connor, J. J. Calvert, Vim. Donald
| son, T. w. Fowler, G.. E. B. French. John I.
Given, ]. H. Click, J. Humphrey, G. /. Hall.
J. T. Howard, George Hill. jr.. J. D.
Hines, J. D. Hendley, J. H. Jones. F.
8. Kern. T. H. Langley, Edward
Mankin. John Marbury, jr., T. +. Mcclure, Al
lison Nailor. jr., Joseph Prather, james Piiiing,
DIR. J. Il. Reilly. A. H. Raglan. c. W. Schell. c.
H. Trunneii, John H. Thompson. James D.
TOpham, Jacob Veihmeyer, W. H. Williams. B.
c. Wright. J. A. Winebergcr. E. Wheeler,
Thomas Williams, A. F. Liphart and T. b.
| Turner.
The meeting adjourned without the custom
AIRY singing Of the ''Star SpaBgied Banner. "
which. upon motion. was deferred until later in
the day. and the members. forming in double file
marched to 18th and H streets. where they Join
the veteran iremen in further celebrating the
day.