The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-12-15
TO ACT ON CANAL BIDS

Board of Public Works May Refuse to
Sell.
The Board of Public Works will
meet tomorrow to take farther action
on the two bids which were made on
December for the purchase of the
States interest in the Chesapeake and
and Ohio canal. It'll is quite likely
that no definite action will be taken,
and there is good reason to think that
neither of the two bids will be accept
ed. 1t has been suggested that the
Board, in selling, should safeguard
the interests of the st ate and city as
was done in the sale of the We stern
Maryland Railroad to the Fuller syn
dictate, and to do this it might be nee
essary to readvertise for proposals.
1t is pointed out that during the
administration of former Governor
Lowndes bid of 1926, 900 was reject
ed, and it is said that Democratic
Board could not afford to let the
States interest in the ditch 90 for
$3.50, 900, which is the bid of the West
ern Maryland Railroad Company, and
the highest one now pending. 1t is
known that two of the members of
the Board of Public Works consider
the bids grossly inadequate. The
other bid is that of Mr.. J. H. Wheel
wright for $151, 900 and is believed to
be in the interest of the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad Company.
The view generally entertained in
railroad circles is that if the bid of
Mr.. L. S. Lands treet is accepted the
closing of the deal will eventually be
followed by some settlement between
the purchaser and the trustees of the
canal. Mr.. Landstreet, although
making the offer individually, it was
explained by his counsel, is represent
ing the Western MARYLAND Railroad.
The canal trustees are accepted as
the representative of the Baltimore
and Ohio.
If the sale is made the question
then will be whether there shall be a
legal fight that would prove costly to
all concerned or compromise by
which the Western Maryland would
be given all the rights of way it wants
and the Baltimore and Ohio would
get the States interest in the canal.
The belief that corporations don't
engage in fights when they can be
avoided encourages the belief that if
sale is made the two sides will quick
ly pave way of getting together.
Governor Warfield announced to-
day that the Beard of Public Works
will be glad to hear arguments from
any one interested in the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal when the Board
meets at Annapolis tomorrow to de-
eide whether it will accept or decline
either of the offers made for the
States holdings in the waterway.
1t is pointed out by those who favor
a sale of the States interests that bids
were duly advertised for, and as S151,-
900 was the largest amount offered it
is argued that no one is anxious to
pay more; that as the matter stands
now the canal is of no practical use
to the State unless large amount of
money is spent to improve it, and this
is not believed to be the desire of the
taxpayers; that its value is in what
somebody else will pay for it, and the
two bids referred to were the highest
offered, after extensive advertising
for several weeks in Baltimore and
New York newspapers. 1t has also
been suggested that there might be
some. connection between the offers
made by the Western Maryland and
the Baltimore and Ohio.
Governor Warfield wishes a very
full and free discussion of the adyisa-
bility of disposing of or retaining che
canal, and any one who has logical
reasons to advance pro or con will be
willingly heard at Annapolis tomor-
row. The Board will meet at 3 d. IN.
for the purpose of announcing its de-
cision.