The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-03-25
BOATMEN DEMAND
HIGHER RATESAS
CANAL IS OPENED

The Chesapeake and Ohio canal
was opened for traffic for the season
today, but not a boat moved along
the entire length Of the waterway
from Washington to Cumberland
however. as a result of refusal OF
boatmen to start business unless
their demands were met in full by
the Canal Towage Company.
Not a ton of coal was loaded at
Cumberland, according to reports up
to a late hour, despite the efforts OF
officials and citizens of Washington
and Cumberland to make the year a
banner one in coal and produce move
ment. =
Water Turned In.
Water was turned into the canal
yesterday, and everything is ready
for the coal movement except the
boat captains. During the early part
OF the day they were standing pat,
despite the offer OF the Canal Towage
Company to leave the entire ques-
ton OF rates in the hands OF the
Inland Waterways Commission.
Major Fox, Of this commission.
which wasr ecently created as part
of the Railroad Administration Of
fee conferred with the boatmen
Saturday and communicated the offer
to the men. They were told that the
commission would arbitrate and settle
the question OF rates and make them
retroactive, the company and the men
to abide by any decision made. The
men are still talking over this offer.
Fear Gshades of DEATH
Officials here believe that they will
start boating in a day or two. The
men are not organized. but they have
gotten together on the rate PROPOSE
ton.
Those who are willing. to break
away and start the first boats are
deferred, 1t was declared here today.
by fear of the Shades OF Death"
The Shades OF Death" is a huge
promontory that hangs over and dark
ems the canal near Sharpsburg. Nd.
1t is legendary among the old canal
folks that those who made them
selves unpopular on the waterway in
the early days never passed the
Shades of Death" alive. Huge
powders rolled down, crushing boats
and crews. II was the rolling of
these powders that gave the cliff It's
name, and It IS said the individual
boatmen are afraid to break away
from their fellows
Want so Per Cent Raise.
The boat captains are demanding a
freight rate offs cents a ton on coal
from Cumberland to Washington. The
Canal TowaOa ToD,nao, ~. oonrod
a rate OF 5Tls cents. An increase OF
IA cents over last years rate. The
rate last year was increased 10 cents
a ton. making the total increase Of
fered nearly 4 per cent above the 1916
rate.
Tho boatmei say that they are over
whelmed by the increased cost Of liv-
ng. The company shows the increase,
which 1t IL prepared to give as more
than balancing the increase cost OF
living. II maintains that II can not
go further and meet railroad compe-
tition. The rail rate on coal from
Georges Creek to Washington Is $3.50
4 ton.
The rail rate from the mines to the
canal wharf at Cumberland Is 80
cents. the canal toll Is 80 cents, tug
gage Is put at cents, and this with
4 rate OF ga cents for the boat cap
tains will make q total OF S1.12h
a ton, leaving but 37ia cents ton
put OF the canal rate to meet the
most OF feed, rope, boat trippage,
mule hire, shoeing, incurencs, unk eep
1f buildings and salaries OF employees.
The company asserts that tho costs
Of these incidentals last year was
Just 3IlS cents q ton, and that they
will be II. cents q ton greater this
year, making the canal rate higher
han the railroad rate,