The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-01-26
FUTURE OF THE C. AND O. CANAL

Rumors Regarding Its Use in the Flu
ture.
The future of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal is subject now occupy
ing the attention of the railroad world,
says a Baltimore dispatch to the
Washington Evening Star Since the
acquisition of the State of Maryland's
interest in the waterway by the West
ern Maryland Railroad. many rumors
have been afioat regarding the use to
which the Wabash interests may put
this ownership.
1t will be remem bered that the
West Virginia Central and Pittsburg
Railway Company at one time made
strong effort to buy the canal, but
it was blocked by the Baltimore and
Ohio, which, having purchased all of
the $500, 900 bonds of 1878 and large
portion of the bonds of 1874, interven
ed and obtained possession through
the trustees of the bonds of 1874, and
under decision of the Court of APP.
peals have possession until January 1,
1906. These trustees were John X.
Cowen(now deceased), Hugh l.. Bond,
second vice president of the Balti-
more and Ohio, and Mr.. Joseph Brv-
an, of Richmond. The property is
now in possession of the surviving
trustees and is virtually controlled by
the Baltimore and Ohio.
While the Western Maryland owns
the canal subject to the mortgage of
1874 and 1878, 1t cannot, under pres
ent conditions, force sale of its in
tercsts and claims until January 1
next.
This condition therefore will ham
per the Western Maryland Railroad
in any plans, which may be in con-
temptation, but it is possible that
this receivership, for that is what the
trusteeship amounts to, may be lifted
by agreement before the time set by
the courts, and if such should result,
then interesting developments may
be expected.
One report has it that the canal
may be divided between the Balti-
more and Ohio and the Western Mary
land-the former railroad to take
charge of that portion from George
town, d. c., to Hancock, and the
Western Maryland to takes that Sec
ton between Cumberland and Han
cock.
The fact must not be lost sight of
that possession of the canal gives the
Wabash entrance into Washington,
providing a direct line from the West
to the nations capital, and it is
among the possibilities that such a
road may be constructed from Han
cock to Georgetown as an outlet to
Washington of the large passenger
traffic of the Wabash. Terminal IA
cilities in the national capital are as
sdredlunder the terms of the act of
Congress providing for the construc-
ton of the,union station, which gives
to all railroads now and hereafter en-
tering Washington the right of track
age and of station.
However, it is far more likely that
an agreement will be reached where
by the Baltimore and Ohio will handle
the passenger traffic of the Wabash
from Hancock or Cherry Run to
Washington, while the Western Mary
land will be the outlet of the Balti-
more and Ohio to central Pennsylva-
mia cities and towns and be the con-
Meeting link between the Baltimore
and Ohio and the Reading systems.
The settlement out of court last
week of the Baltimore and Ohio West
ern Maryland freight diversion case
provided for establishment of the
relations which existed before the in
stitution of the now famous suit, and
this is regarded in railroad circles
here as an indication that the Gould
Cassatt war in drawing to an end, or
that truce at least has been declar-