New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-04
NEW HOPE FOR Az OLD CANAL.
ELECTRICITY MAY KEEP THE CHESAPEAKE AND
OHIO CANAL FROM BEING FILLED Up.

rLEcTRICITY MAY KEEP THE CHESAPEAKE AND
OHIO CANAL FROM BEING FILLED UP
baltimore. Feb. 3 (SpeclaD.-The substitution Of
electricity for mule power on the Chesapeake ana
Ohio Canal WILL II IS believed. determine its con-
,,nuance az a waterway. \ petition for the ratica-
ton OF the contract between the trustees OF the
canal and the Chesapeake and Ohio Transportation
comnanv FOR the purpose OF Introducing electric
mower on the canal Will be heard In the Hagers-
town Court on February Is. The agreement be-
tween the trustees and the company gives the lat
ter control OF the canal for ten years the company
guaranteeing that the net profits shall not be Jess
than 100000 a year When the organization of the
nevy company was recently announced 1t was stated
that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company was
largely Interested in IT, AMI that II the canal di
rot nay better when operated by electricity imam
under the old system the costly ditch would he
nuol ND and tracks laid for n coal road. Electrical
engineers and the promoters OF the new company.
however are confident that the waterway can be
operated prontably and tina, IT will pay the railroad
company better than 1t would 10y turning II into
railway.
This famous al canal has cost the state OF Mary
land millions OF dollars, and until lew years ago
WAS controlled by the Democratic political machine
which dominates this State Every office on the
canal from that OF mule-drver to president was a
/ political fob. The patronage it furnished was the
chief sustaining power of the state political ma
chine. For years senator German was known as
the boss OF the canal Ii operated unuct the Ill
rectlon of a board. OF which the Governor and State
+ Controller were members. but Mr.. Germans power
was supreme in the matter OF appointments and the
canal swarmed with political workers
The capital stock of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal Company is 8S5l.J95 %. OF this the United
States owns 100000 and the State Of Maryland the
greater part OF the remainder. In addition 10 this
the State holds two mortgages for A.3150o0 and
another for 100000 These sums were insufficient
To complete the canal to Cumberland. and in 1911
the Legislature passed law authorizing the canal
company TO borrow N,,p,OD to complete the Work
and waving the State lien upon its revenues in
favor Of that loan In 1878 the mortgage was eX-
ecutel under the terms OF this act ana bonds 10 the
amount of Sl.6ygGiJ issued under it. These are
the celebrated bonds of ~ whose trustees are
now operating the canal under the decree by Judge
Alvey October. 1880 Under the terms of that de-
the trustees have until May |, 1922 TO snow
whether not the canal can earn a sufficient rev.
enuc to Justify it's continuance as a waterway. The
decree for the sale has been signed but operation
is suspended until the time named. The trustees
of the bOndhOlders are required 10 file IN the court
reports of their receipts and disbursements ana 4
statement of the condition of the canal at stated
times 1t appears that this has not been done. The
! expenses, however. have been reduced nearly one
! half of what they were when the politicians ran
! the canal There about 200 boats now running
on the canal and the amount of coal transported
! last year 10000 tons The capacity Of the
canal is limited by a tunnel under the mountains
This is seven-eghths OF mile long and boats cam
not pass each other in It. For this reason not more
than million tons Of coal be passed through 1t
! In season. \ bill Is now pending In the Legis-
ature appropriating $4,000 TO pay claims for labor
and material supplied to the canal company before
| the great freShet Of 1889.