The Washington times., 1906-03-02
C.& D. CANAL BILL.
Up FOR HEARING
Government Large Stock
holder in Enterprise.
SECRETARY TAYLOR WITNESS
No Dividends Received Since 1872.
Measure Proposes Charging
Passenger Toll.
SECRETARY TAYLOR WITNESS

Assistant Secretary Taylor. of the
Treasury Department. went 10 AnnapO-
lis yesterday afternoon to appear be
fore the committee on canals and rail-
roads Of the Maryland Legislature.
which is considering the bin introduced
by Senator France. of Cecil county.
granting the right, to the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal Company to
charge toll for passengers transported
through its locks.
The Chesapeake and Delaware canal
enjoys the distinction, perhaps, of being
The only canal in the world that the
United States mas a monetary interest
In. besides the great interoceanic canal
which is to connect the Atlantic and
Pacific at the Isthmus of Panama. 1t
is also one of the oldest, if not the old
est. canal in the United States.
Uncle Sam Large StockhOlder.
1t is because of the financial interest
of the Government In che little canal
that Secretary Taylor went TO An
napolis. Uncle Sam is the largest stock
holder, and he does not look with favor
upon the objections of the steamboat
company. which is practically causing
his stock to depreciate in value each
year. by opposing the passenger toll bill
More than seventy-1Ve years ago, the
United States Government purchased
$3.50. zoo worth OF bonds from the canal
company. Every year up TO 1872 the
Treasury Department received nice
little dividend from the company, as IL
prospered and fiourished. These little
annual sums amounted in the aggregate
to $500 coo but since 1872 the Govern
ment has not received one penny IN the
4.
The cause of the trouble is the de-
crease fin the toll allowed on freight.
The principal common carrier Whicn
uses the Chesapeake ana delaware
canal, which connects Chesapeake Day
and Delaware bay Is the Ericsson
Steamboat Company. This corporation
is opposing with might and main the
efforts of the friends of the historic Ola
waterway to increase its revenue. 1t
certainly Is in dire need OF Increase d
revenue Last year. with minimum
expense account, the company laced al
deficit of $500. and Tor the last eleven
years there has been an annnal de-.lJ,
Jnul the total now amounts TO Sll, 81.
100000 Passengers Carried.
The number of passengers carried
through the canal average about 1Vo,coo
per year. Senator Frances bill provides
for a toll of : cents a passenger, which
would increase the revenue of the com
l1lA ABOUT C-orNDt per dllLAAi 4 us
would be amply sufficient TO pay of the
deficit and allow a small dividend each
year 10 the stockholders, COMPOSED Of
The United States Pennsylvania. Mary
land, Delaware, and many of the best
citizens of those States.
Unless this is done the canal company
will be forced out Of business. and
Uncle Sam will lose the $4,000 which he
invested SO many years ago.
The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
Company was first chartered in 1872
nearly a half a century before the first
railroad. Its object was to connect Bal
timore and Philadelphia by water with
out necessitating an ocean trip, which
Is extremely rough in that neIghbornood
even now in the days Of powerful steam
boats.
Work was first begun in 1924. and, The
thirteen and a hdlf miles OF waterway
was finished in a short time AT a cost
of S2,500,000. The United States Govern
nent was a stOckholder to The extent
of $4,000, the State of Pennsylvania
contributed $4,000. Maryland gave $50
coo, the little State Of Della vva-e 90. .UJu.
and the remaining Sl,S75,C00 VS. tl--
nished by the citizens Uf the three
States
Many years ago the company was
permitted a small toll on passelCe-- ,yao
were carried through the canal i'm boats
but this has not been allowed since the
civil war.