The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-13
an ANCIENT WATERWAY
Points in the History Of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal.
"A Marine Road AntedafinE the In
troductf0n of Railways Into the
Rontc Explored by General Wash
acknowledgements in Virginia.

Few waterways present more varied and
beautiful scenery, while at the same time
serving an essentially useful purpose, than
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
Although its commercial value has. per-
taps. somewhat decreased in late years, II
has during the past made some astonish-
ing records. In 1873. $4,000 tons of coal
were transported through this old canal
from Cumberland to Washington.
A traveller who has seen the most IA
nous waterways of Europe says that the
scenery presented by some stretches of
the canal is, in his opinion, unsurpassed
for picturesque beauty. Its history Ia
closely identified with that of the Nation
al Capital, and 1t has been stated by nu-
I1erous writer's that the present site of
Washington was chosen because it was on
a river the tidewater of which psntratos
farther into the heart of the country than
any other. SO that when communication
should be found necessary between the At
lantic seaboard and the interior of the
country it would from this point be the
most easy and inexpensive. This. of
course, was before the days of railroads,
and the only means contemplated for the
aforementioned purpose was by an improv-
ed navigation of the Potomac or by means
of a lateral canal.
The project of the canal dates, practi-
caly, from 1888. when General Washington
and several other gentlemen, among whom
was Governor Johnson of Maryland, ex-
plored the Potomac. for the first time, for
the purpose of improving its navigable
qualities. The exploration was made in
.'dug-out" canoe, which was launched on
the Monocacy in the midst of a rainstorm.
This little circumstance did not deter its
occupants from Immediately setting about
their task. AS night came on the party
would land and seek accommodations of
the planters or farmers along the banks
of the river. The result of the expedition
was the forming of company which, after
spending nearly a million dollars in an
attempt to make the river navigable. gave
way to another organization. which worked
upon new and more feasible plan.
The first w.s called the Potomac Com
pany, and was Incorporated by the Legis-
latures of Maryland and Virginia in 1854
Its purpose was to extend the navigation of
the Potomac River from tidewater to the
highest practicable point on the North
Branch The difficulties of this task were
enormous. one being that the fall in the
river between Cumberland and tidewater
was as much as SIS feet and the distance
1S5 miles. The company did. however, ex-
ecute many good works. as the locks at Lit
tie Falls, overcoming fall of thirty-seven
feet; the canal and locks at Great Falls
overcoming a fall of seventy-seven feet;
the canal at Harper's Ferry. and several
other small canals around falls in other
parts of the river.
The locks al Great Falls were opened in
1890. and from that time to August. 1926,
there were brought down 1,30S,sl barrels
of -four. 4s.aos barrels Of whisky. and other
articles. the aggregate in value being &c.,
$4,000 AT the Great Falls the canal was