Evening star., 1896-06-24
TIE WEST VIRGINIA CENTRAL
The Handsome, New Depot Of the
B. and o. in Baltimore.
AGAINST TRUNK LINE POOL

| opposite of what it was, there is no reason
able doubt that before the beginning of the
| new century, now but four years off, there
| would have been built magnificent rail-
way line which would have formed a part
| of new through line to the west from the
| national capital, and given the Pennsyl-
| vania a much more direct route between
Washington, Pittsburg and northwestern
| points than it now possesses.
| Those who have closely observed the pro-
| gress made in the railway world are aware
| that the West Virginia Central Railway
Company of which ex-United States Sena-
| tor Henry G. Davis of West Virginia is
president has long been deSirOus of getting
east of Cumberland. Md, and over it's own
| tracks reach Washington, and 1t has been
| believed that the sale of the Chesapeake
ard Ohio canal. which the railroad COM
pany once attempted to buy would be or
dered in the near future by the court of
appeals of Maryland.
| The decision referred to confirms the
control of the canal in. the hands of its
present management which is identical
with the Baltimore and Ohio interests at
| least until May l, 1891 and sweeps away
| all the hopes that We're entertained Of the
| sale of the canal and it's purchase by the
West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Rail-
road Company.
Long Fight.
The history of the legal warfare in which
the state Of Maryland as the holder of a
large block Of the securities of the canal
company. and other parties, have been en-
gagged for several years past is quite inter-
esting, and, according to the records, Is
as follows
''On October 9. $780, Judge Alvey. in the
circuit court for Washington county, Md.
In equity. passed decree for the sale of
the canal But inasmuch as by the sale of
the property in the opini of Judge AL
holders nj of
amount to $lIOoOO. with many years in
terest, would entirely lose their security.
ne suspended the operation of the decree
Tor four years from May L. 1891 and gave
the property over to the trustees of the
bondhoders to be repaired and operated by
them. The tolls received were under the
decree. to be used first for the payment of
expenses; second, to reimburse the trustees
for money paid by them for the EXPENSES
or the receivers: third. to repay for the cost
OF restoring the work; fourth to pay any
elaiihs Whlch might be found superior liens
to- the bonds of 1874: fifth. the bonds of
FiS. and sixth, the interest and then tho
principal OF the bonds under the act Of
!s44 If at the end of four years from Nav
L. i''l. IL shouid appear that the tolls had
not been sufficient for the first four of
these objects. such failure in tolls and rev
enues should be regarded in the words of
the Judge. as evidence conclusive (unless
the time be extended by the court for good
and sufficient cause shown that the canal
cannot be operated so as to produce reye-
nue. with which to pay the bonded indebt-
edness, and, therefore, the right was re-
of the decree for sale.''
AT the expiration of the four years the
trustees went into court and asked for an
extension of the time of sale They ad
mitted that the revenues had been made
quate to meet the purposes named by the
court, and alleged that the failure Of rev.
enues was due, among other things, to a
strike in the coal mines, interruption of
traffic by drought. and further that for
so short time as four years people were
not willing to build boats or engage in
the transportation business
They also asked the court to sanction a
contract proposed to be entered into with
a company known as the Chesapeake and
Ohio Transportation Company, which was
TO 10 conouct the Transportation business on
the canal paying to the trustees an an
nual sum. The state objected to these
propositions. but Judge Stake extended the
time and approved the contract The state
appealed from this. and 1t was on this
that the recent decision of the court of ap-
pealS was based
1t Is said that the amount Of money ex-
pended FOR repairs by the trustees for the
bondholders is 100000. and that If
the sale OF the canal were to take
place at this time that investment would
be total loss.
Another Route.
There Is another way for the West Vir-
gnia Central and Pittsburg to reach
Washington by building a line seventy
miles long from Cumberland to Hagers-
town. Md, where connection could be made
with the Western Maryland railroad, and
in this way they could get to deep water,
which is something they have long wanted
to attain. The West Virginia company has
already taken steps by which it was
thought they could secure control Of the
Western Maryland system, as it's owner,
the city of Baltimore, has, through its
city council. talked for years of disposng
of its holding of that stock.
Now that there will be no chance for the
West Virginia Central to get the canal
property for long time. If ever, 1t is
thought that Its agents and sympathizers
in Maryland will revive the discussion Of
the questions relating to the sale and pur-
chase of the Western Maryland railroad,
which obtained great prominence a couple
OF years ago: AT that time there was a
very strong disposition, which almost pass
ed into law, directing the sale of the prop
erty, the city of Baltimore being the own
er of its entire stock, but the pleadings of
the officers of the road secured postpone
ment of the day of sale until after June
!, 1886
The sale Of the city's interest in the
Western Maryland has been urged by the
various mayors, as well as the several
boards of finance commissioners. for ten
or fifteen years past, but up to this time
their recommendations have not been car
ried into effect.
New u. and O. Station.
Mention has been made in The Star that
the new Mount Royal station Of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company at Bal
timore is almost ready for occupancy.
While the building does not begin to COM
pare. in size. with scores of depot build
ings in the great railway centers, it Is one
of the prettiest in the United States; also
| one of the best adapted for the purposes
for which 1t Is to be used.
The structure is of Port Deposit granite,
with trimmings Of Indiana limestone 1t Is
rooted with red glazed tiles, and the style
Of architecture is renaissance. The build
ing is $50 feet long by SO feet wide, and in
the middle Of the west front there Is a
square tower rising to the height of $50
feet. and in the top of this there will be a
clock, with four large dials.
The central portion of the building Is but
one story in height, though from the out
side 1t appears as two stories This gives
unusually high ceilings to the waiting
rooms. There are two Of these in the
building-one general waiting room sixty
six feet nine inches in length by forty-two
feet IN width. and the other ladies' wait
ing room forty-four feet three inches by
forty-two feet. These two rooms are con-
nected by a wide hall on one side of which