Evening star., 1918-02-13
c. & 0. CANAL LIKELY.
TO Be TAKEN OVER
Director McAdoo's Waterways
Committee Orders Deter
mination of Availability.
WILL STUDY OTHER ROUTES

Government operation of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal, connecting Wash
ington with the Cumberland coal fields,
and of other inland waterways for the
purpose of relieving railroads of big
freight burden today is regarded as
practically assured. This confidence
follows appointment by Director General
McAdoo of committee to study water
transportation as it may be co-ordinated
with rail hauling.
Mai. Gen. w. NJ. Black, chief of en-
gineers of the Army, heads the COM
mittee. which was appointed yesterday
and at once began its work. It's first
action was to appoint Maj. S. w. Fox
and Mai. John Stewart of the En-
sineer Corps to investigate the condi-
tion of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal.
Prospect Pleases Advocates.
Representative ]. Hampton Moore of
Pennsylvania and Frederick \. Zihl-
man of Maryland both authors of bills
pending in Congress looking toward
government operation of canals during
the war; the District Commissioners
and members of the Chamber of Com
merce, Federation of Citizens AsSocia-
tions and other organizations which
have advocated greater utilization of
the waterway between Washington and
Cumberland were elated by the an
nouncement of the committees appoint
ment.
The Star deserves credit for Eug-
gestinS that the government take over
and operate the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal as . means of supplying the
capital and surrounding country with
coal, and relieving trunk line railroads
to that extent" said Representative
Moore. Il don't think there is any
doubt that this country will soon be
utilizing its canals a war measure,
just as Great Britain is using her in
land waterways
Representative Moore recently won
his fight before the interstate and for
eign commerce committee to have the
word canals included in the railroad
bill This was done to give the di-
rector general authority to take over
and improve such canals as the Ches-
apeake and Ohio, which are not trans
portation systems as contemplated by
the Presidents order for government
control Of the railroads. Amendment
of the bill as proposed by Representa-
tive Moore paved the way for the
canal investigation ordered by the di-
rector general.
The Star Given Appreciation
Representative zihlman. who wrote
Mr. McAdoo only a few days ago, sug-
gesting that if the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal is to be utilized during the
coming season steps should be taken
ut once to provide the necessary ia
ciities. was enthusiastic today over
the prospect of this waterway being
put to full use in the near future. He
telephoned to The Star to express ap-
probation of the part it has played
in giving publicity to the project
Mai. Stewart and Maj. Fox We're IN
conference with members of the gem
eral committee today relative to the
survey they are to make other mem
bers Of the general committee are Wal
ter s. Dickey Of Kansas City. s. A.
Tomlinson of Duluth and Col. Charles
Keller of the Engineer Corps.
Mr. McAdoo is strongly in favor OF
government building or subsidy of
barges and canalboats. 1t is under
stood to be his intention to send large
Quantities of heavy freight over the
rountrv,s inland waterways within
few months or as soon as boats are
available This applies particularly to
the Mississippi, Missouri and ONO TlE-
ers: the Erie. Chesapeake and ONO
canals, AID the Atlantic coastwise
canals.
The committee does not expect to go
into the question of waterways i'm
proyernent, except where there IS founu
necessity on a small scale TO make
canals operative. The director gener-
ais plan is represented as contefhpiat-
ing the use of rivers or canals as they
are found, without taking time to
dredge them or make extensive repairs
to locks or banks.