The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-10-28
FOR COUNTY SURVEYOR,
NJ. THEODORE YEISER.
Worse Than a Steal.

Attention is directed to an article on the
first page of the ADVOCATE today under the
above caption 1t explains why John n.
Cowen is Republican; why he IS interested
in the election to the bench ofthe state friends
of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad; why he IS
gathering up Republican legislative nominees
and why he is so warm in support OF Lloyd
Lowndes and the whole Republican ticket
from Allegany to Worcester. In brief he
wants to buy the Chesapeake X Ono Canal
and destroy it so that no competing transpor-
tation line can get to the coal fields OF TINS
state and the rich and poPulous section oil
Western Maryland beyond Harper Ferry
without expanding vast sums Of money tor
tunnels and heavy grades.
When in 1890 a responsible corporation,
composed mostly of wealthy men of Baltimore,
Frederick and Washington, made an offer tor
the canal Of nearly Sl,500,o0o Ar. Cowen
rushed into the columns Of the Baltimore Sun
and undertook to show that the canal prop
erty, tunnels, acqueducts, wharf property
tow-path and property in Washington, D. 9.
was worth from S7,3so,0o0 to Se,4so,ooo'
The Baltimore & Ohio nov wants TO get 1t
for the paltry sum of 100000
And who would get this 100000? OHe-
third, it is estimated, would go 20 Baltimore
4 Ohio interests. by the waiver Of the state 5
claims, one-third TO holders Of claims bought
up, it is said, at from twenty-five to thirty
cents on the dollar, aud the State Of Mary
land would get about S1OO, 900, which would
mean s., 600 year at Eve per cent
Under the bid for the canal in 1890, which
the Baltimore & Ohio interests characterized
an attempt to steal the waterway, i was pro
posed to pay $500, 600 principal ard interest
of the repair bonds of 1878, $4,000 Of labor
claims, sac, geo judgment on wharf proper
ty at Cumberland, 25 per cent. Of the priae'-
nal of the construction bonds Of 1874, SAID %
per cent. amounting to $424, $50, and to pay
annually into the treasury Of Maryland SIS
600 upon the completion Of q single track OF
railroad from Cumberland 70 Wiiliamsport.
The bidders for the canal in 1890 was the
Washington and Cumberland Railroad Com
pany, among whose incorporstors were Enoch
Pratt. David L. Bartlett and John A. Ham
bleton, of Baltimore; A. Wilson, OF CEm-
berland; Martin n. Rohrbaek. Of FredeEicki
=. Kurtz johnson, of Washington, d. C., and
Hattersly w. Talbot, Of Rockville. 1t was
not only intended to pay million and 2 hall
dollars for the canal, but had the lease been
made for ninety nine years, renewable for
ever) the purpose was to build railroad on
the tow-path from Cumberland to Washing
ton. By the terms Of the lease the new
road had to connect with the Western Mary
land railroad at Williamsport, thus aiding that
railroad, largely owned by the city Of Baln-
more, and it was strictly forbidden that the
Washington and Cumberland road should he
owned or controlled by any parallel or nearly
parallel railroad or that such road should
own any of its stock. The object OF this was
that Western Maryland should not be Al the
mercy of a single line of transportation.
Furthermore, all the roadway and property
of the Washington and Cumberland railroad
was to be subject to state and county taxation
The Baltimore aud Ohio interests became
the owners of certain bonds Of the canal aud
obtained an order of court to operate the
canal. thus defeating sale. This was IN
1890. and the order was for four years Al
the expiration of four years the canal was
deeper in debt and then an order was sought
and obtained to operate the canal until 1901
In 1898, however, the Republican Board Of
Public Works advertised the canal for sale,
well-knowing there could be but one bidder,
for no corporation would buy when the Balti-
more & Ohio had several years more in which
TO operate IT, and it would be in the power OF
the B. & o. to destroy the work should some
other corporation obtain it by higher bid.
The operation ofthe canal is mere pretenee,
known to everybody who has taken any IN
terest in the canal. 1t was not intended to
he otherwise. and the B. & o. having possess
sion is anxious to buy before the term Of the
order of the court authorizing its operation
expires.
No one doubts that there is an agreement
between LLOYD Lowndes and John K. Cowen
for the sale of the canal and that is why
Cowen wants Lowndes elected, wants Re-
nubIiean legislature and friends of the Balti-
more & Ohio on the bench of the Court OF
Appeals. With these he would be in a posi-
ton to meet any emergency that might arise.
Every person should read the article on the
first page and learn how close an alliance
there is between the Baltimore Ohio rail-
road and the Allegany Ring. Cowen domin-
ates Llowndes, and Lowndes is the chieffgure
of the Alegany Ring. Thus soulless cor
poration that pays virtually nothing to the
support of the state or county governments
dominates this state. 1t is an Outrage that
such is a fact, but a fact it is. II the people
do not rise in their might and crush the
mercenary and corrupt alliance by hurting the
Allegany Ring from power there is no telling
what harm may be done to the state at the
dictation of John K. Cowen.