Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-23
MI. Miller's Opinion.

Mr J. Barton Miller of Georgetown,
when asked his opinion to the effect OF
the sale of the canal property TO the Wa
bash system upon the commercial interests
of that section, said:
Il believe that as soon as the Wabash can
make legislative arrangements it will enter
Georgetown either in the bed of the canal.
as soon as permitted by agreement or pur-
chase. will run parallel TO the canal The
Wabash wishes to enter Georgetown in
order to compete with the Pennsylvania
railroad which has established freight
facilities at Rosslyn. l don't believe it is
the intention of the Wabash people to es-
tabish a passenger station in Georgetown.
but to accommodate heavy west END
fIeighting facilities" Mr.. Miller added
that the coming of the Wabash will create
an unprecedented boom in Georgetown COM
mercal interests. and that aside from the
special proposition attending the incoming
OF the Wabash, the general results brought
about by railroad competition would con-
duce to the benefit of the public. He also
declared there would be a rise in the
realty values of that section.
Advocated the Sale.
c. c. Boteler said he had for many years
advocated the sale of the canal property,
because he had long since recognized that
the canal was dead one" and could
never be resurrected 1T Is a great pleas
ure," he said, ito see that the board OF
public works or Maryland mas given us
consent to the sale of the right of way in
the canal. This canal he continued, in
the hands of any railroad can be made one
of the greatest coal-carrying roads in the
United States, and perhaps in the world,
largely because of the fact that with its
continuous down grade of 1Sl miles from
the coal mines at Cumberland to tidewater
at Georgetown practically no power would
be required in the handling of such traffic.
think the waterway would never be de-
stroyed in the lower Levels Of the canal II
legislation granting them the right to es-
tabish a terminus is put through. for the
reason that the tremendous water power
on one side and the tidewater on the other
would work as a most valuable asset to the
railroad. This water power would be a
great source of revenue to the railroad IN
addition to its freight facilities"
Mr. Boteler declared that If the road Is
eventually constructed, and he saw no rea-
son why it should not, business prop
critics in Georgetown will be enhanced 100
per cent in value. He said he had been sur
prised for long period to that the
great possibilities have been wasted and
overlooked by capitalists who invest in such
enterprises. 1t could be used. he asserted.
not only as a coal-carrying road but as a
pipe line for transporting Oil from the ex-
tensive oil regions north of Cumberland to
tidewater at Georgetown, which Is the
shortest possible line. and could be accom-
pllshed without the aid and expense Of
pumping stations.
Views of Mr.. King.
Mr.. George W. King of the Georgetown
Citizens Association thought that the in
tention of the Wabash to establish termi-
nus at Georgetown would add an impetus
to business conditions such as has not been
witnessed for many years. He declared
that whatever the upper levels of the canal
may be utilized for, the canal below the
feeder or dam the supply of water, would
be used for motive power. He said that II
II was determined to use the bed of the
canal for the railroad the down grade
would largely eliminate the use of power.
and this in connection with the fact that
the handling of freight would be greatly
lessened would tend to reduce prices. He
also thought the entrance of the Wabash
TO this city, with its terminus at the Aque-
duct bridge or Whereabouts, would act as
great factor in the upbulding of that sec
ton of the city. Having gained the right
of way, he felt that Congress would even
tually pass a measure permitting the Wa
bash to enter Washington with its termi-
nus In Georgetown.