The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-06-06
Eayorite Route Of Immigrants
Nearly Century Ago ~ Seek
mo Homes in the West

CIqAGBEIEotAASA11ra s.l&44Ag sss-571e
5ronorfant co-iaborer nth the Baltt-
80 and ONO in the building Of the
Wet was the Chesapeake and Ohio
cs1aI which was the fzvortteS route
a. Smnigrants OF nearly g century:
ago in seeking homes on the western
na4r3es They began his journey
On boats at Georgetown 1anded
at Cuuberland where they started
upon their perilous and ardous 3our-
ney over the mountains. At Cs1Inoer7
land. for shipment eastward were
49, car1oes from the West The
cana4 was originally designated 70
haye its terminus lat Baltimore, but
the cost OF construction from George
town was too 1argesto be constdered:
II was the fourth day OF July, 1873,
that President John Quincy Adams
uGethe first spade full OF earth lot
the canal. and Won the p1andtts or an
enthusiastic nu1tttude because, wren
ne encountered an obstacle In the
stubborn 500, he <1yested himself .,t o.
his coat and welded the shovel with
.s41irt sleevefs diplomacy Some his
toukans say that twas the root OF a
sf1rnp that aroused the en1e1
executive the display OF energy then
4fyen. Others content themselves
with an Ifndefntte reference to un-
named obstacles. but. all tagree In cse
John Quincy Adams accomplish tne
task that he set out to perform ana
that Che work he began ai h1ta q
ate1ysdnished after the conquest-el
1nuche greater obstacles In the shape OF
financial problem The canal. was
not acornplet ed to- Cumberland now
ever; until the latter part OF the for-s
ties. lEtes.ss5s4 A. ~ f>s
First Organization.
P;revfons to the formation OF the
canal company a corporation existed
through mutual and concurrent leg
isfattye acts OF the Maryland and
Virginia assemblies. OF the year los
chartered for the purpose OF openlns
and extending the navigation OF me
river Potomac above tidewater. ms ms
corporation had the right to cur
canals, erect locks, and perform sucn
other works as they judged to be nee
essary. One Of the most ardent cham
pions OF this company was Genera
George Washington, and he and Cen
eral Gates went to Annapolis IN or.
der to help devise the plans for
united action IN carrying out the prof.
ect-
: Washington was chosen the first
president OF the Potomac company
He assisted in person IN the survey
Of the river, and he shared the idea
that the Potomac could be made nav
liable by locks and dams and short
canals, The Father of His Country
successful in many other enterprises.
failed in this, and all that IS left or
the Potomac company us charter
which was surrendered to the Chesa-i
peake and Ohio Canal Company
The ac1 for the incorporation Of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Com
pany was passed by the legislature Of
Virginia; January %, 1924. Assent.
of Maryland. Pennsylvania, Congress.
and the Potomac company was re-
CURED Maryland gave its assent.
January 81. 1925, and assent Of other
parties followed, in due. course, to;
the laws creating the canal company
and TO laws amending it.
Early Subscriptions
What was thought to be sufficient
money to build the canal was read
ily subscribed at the outset, the fol-
lowing records of early Subscriptions
being in existence: Maryland. in 1925.
the full amount of stock IN the Poto-
mac company, and 100000 in cash;
United States. under act of Congress,
OF MAY, 1928, $1,000. 00e; Washing
ton City. $1,000 600: Georgetown and
Alexandria, $3.50 ,oGO; Shepherdstown.
$1,000: individuals. S6e1,4G0; Viz
sfnia. 1893. $3.50 900; Maryland; March
1924. an additional S125:Go0.
Eventually the task OF finding funds
for the completion of the work fell
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