Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-03-08

use the tracks Of the Baltimore and Ohio
to connect with point in the neighbor-
hood of Bennine, D. c., close to the rail-
road yards. According to a statement
made to the House Committee on Naval
Affairs by the officials of the Washington
Newport News Short Line. which proposes
to build the road from Shepsrds Landing
to Indian Head. it plans ultimately to ex-
tend the line to Newport News. The COM
mittee has favoraby reported the bill
authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to
sign contract with the railroad company
The subject of the utilization of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is now under
consideration by special board appointed
by Director General of Railroads McAdoo,
and this board is expected to report within
few weeks. 1t has been figured out that
the capacity of the boats on the canal
now is lis tons, and that one boat can
make three round trips in a month. So
that one boat can bring in 345 tons Of
coal each month.
There is under consideration the propo-
sition to transfer from other canals boats
for use on the Maryland waterway. Only
80 boats operated over the canal during
the season just closed, and they brought to
Washington about 100000 tons of coal.
The entire output of the Cumberland coal
field is about 100000 tons, so that one
| haf nf THE ont ruf oaY, ha hroudht hara h,y
water If the plans are put into execution.
Representative Zihlman. who represents
the Cumberland District, some time ago
introduced bill providing that the Presi-
dent through the Secretary of War. take
possession and assume control of the canal
for the transportation of war materials
and equipment. Other similar bills were
also introduced. and the discussion of the
subject ended in the whole matter being
referred TO board of army engineers, who
are at work studying the canal at the
present time and formulating report so
that it can be acted upon and actual work
begin in time to complete 1t when the wa
ter is turned into the waterway this spring.
The District Commissioners have strongly
Endorsed the proposition for the develop
ment Of the canal. and apparently the
only thing that may stand in its way may
be the inability to secure labor. Practi-
cally every citizens organization. the board
bf trade and the Chamber of Commerce
have also Endorsed the movement and
have taken steps to cooperate in every
way.
It has developed that the State of Mary
land, the District Of Columbia. Pennsylva-
hia, and Alexandra, Va. contributed more
than $11, 10000 to the building of the ca
nal. Also that while only 50 boats operated
over 1t last season, 500 boats operated
over 1t so years ago. II seems to have
been very strong competitor of the rail-
road company and it was absorbed by it.
The proposition to build the line from
Shepards Landing to Indian Head is made
to the Navy Department by Frank S. Gan
non. president Of the Washington Newport
News Short Line, and 1t has been accepted.
It provides that the government is to pur-
chase from the road 100000 of trans
portation. freight and passenger. for which
the road will issue to it a series Of SO
transportation warrants. covering period
bf eight years. one for each month. These
warrants are to be disable by the govern
ment as they mature monthly, by numeri-
cal order in payment Of its current bills to
the road for transportation. and at the
roads option they may be used in advance
Of their maturity. The company agrees to
mortgage its assets to carry out its part of
the contract. The building of the road is
partly contingent on the ability Of the road
10 secure rails. Mr.. Cannon has Informed
the committee that the company is satisfied
that 1t can secure secondhand rails. which
will be adequate for the purpose.
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels has in
formed the House Committee on Naval
Affairs that "the necessity of early leeis-
lation authorizing the construction of a
railroad to Indian Head to meet these
pressing needs is very apparent" The
pressing needs are the inability or the
difficulties which the powder factory at
Indian Head is experiencing in getting
material, and of the delays incident to
shipping by water completed and tested
guns.
1t is estimated that 1t will cost the COM
pany about 100000 to construct the
road. and of this $4,000 is to be spent
for land.