Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-06
TO BUILD Up TRADE
OVER c. & 0. CANAL
Cumberland Would Co-0pe-
rate With Washington in
TranSshipment Program.
BASED ON U. S. CONTROL

0HSCU UN U. >. COS f1OI
Development of an extensive trade
between Washington and Cumberland
Md via the Chesapeake and ONO canal
is being considered today by business
men of the two cities in connection with
the proposed operation by the federai
government of this iSfmile waterway.
The Cumberland Chamber of Commerce
has decided TO propose to the ASH
e. incton Chamber of Commerce creation
of a Joint Committee to study trade
possibilities in the operation OF an in
creased number of boats on the canal
Steel rails. Tin plate and glassware.
now manufactured at Cumberland are
some of the products mentioned, IN au
dition to coal. which could be Shlppeu
10 Washington by water, thus relieving
rail congestion.
Residents Of Cumberland believe that
the canal coal boats, which almost IN
variably return from Washington
empty. could be employed to advantage
in transporting materials that now ire
quentIy are delayed IN RAN shipments
Suggest Canvass in Washington.
They want 70 canvass the situation
with Washington's commercial repre-
s.ntatives and submit to Director Cen
oral McAdoo a report showing the pos
sihilities of a general trade develop
n7ent in addition TO the dement's con
tempIated in a greater usage OF the
canal as coal carrier
Suggestion that a joint committee
he APPOINTED to take up the matter was
made at a dinner given by members OF
the chant Der of commerce IN Cumpef-
land last night in honor OF MAJ Johi'
trrG Al
Russell NJ. Easton, who yesterday be
gan a survey of the canal for the m
land waterways committee appointed by
Mr. McAdoo; Representative Frederlch
n Zihlnan of Maryland and member
OF the staff of The Evening star.
President William l. Sperry of the
Cumberland commerce body read let
ter from \. Leftwich Sinclair, presldeht
OF the Washington Chamber OF COM
nerce which was presented by the rep
resentative of The Star. stating that
the National Capital is deeply interest,"
ed in the proposal 10 develop the canal
as a food and fuel carrier.
President Sperry Will communicate
with President Sinclair and urge that
the two organizations get behind the
project with the least possible delay.
This cooperative plan was enthusl-
astically Endorsed by prominent cum
berlaud business men who attended the
dinner, including George q. Young,
secretary of the chamber of commerce;
IaSkST u Low llOeS. pf VI lii
Cumberland Savings Bank; Henry
Shriver, president of the First Nation
al Bank OF Cumberland and also presl-
dent of the United States Rail Com
pany; a. Taylor Smith. general counsel
for the Consolidation Coal Company, and
Charles W. DonnelIy, business manager
of the Cumberland Daily News
Maj Stewart was supplied with a
great amount of information. both as
10 the coal supply of the Georges
creek region and the possibilities for
trade in other directions. He was told
that there is enough coal in this region
to keep in operation all the barges the
government can put on the canal; that
the production last year, when only so
per cent of the railway cars needed
could be obtained, was approximately
four million tons: that at least two mil
lion tons of coal could he sent TO Wash
ington by water. if the facilities are
provided. compared with the $4,000
tons shipped last season, when only
eighty-two boats were in operation.
Other Trade Possibilities.
Mr.. Shriver told Maj. Stewat that
his firm would be glad TO ship steel
rails TO Washington via the canal. II
was pointed out that there is located
in Cumberland, practically on the banks
of the canal, tin plate factory en-
well as a large amount of the produc-
ton of a glass-blowing works in Cum
berland, would be sent to Washington
by the canal route, if the necessary
boats are furnished, was the belief ex-
pressed
Another trade possibility. one con-
tenplating the establishment of a big
apple market in Washington also was
mentioned. The canal Yases through
one of the largest orchard tracts in the
country, which yields millions of bar
rels of apples annually. This fruit is
marketed largely by rail. But s11fi-
a An he r,af
cording TO views expressed, would re-
suit in heavy apple shipments to Wash
ington.
What is believed to be the biggest
commercial opportunity related to the
canal project is the prospective trans
shipment by Washington of South
American raw materials for use by the
kely-Springheld Tire Company which
has commenced the construction of a
hve-million-doIlar plant in Cumberland
Company Receives Big Bonus.
To induce this company to locate its
plant in Cumberland the municipality
Presented it with a cash bonus OF
S!10,VVO- seventy acres of land for a
site and assumed a bonded debt of
S230,eO0 to make improvements on the
site, such as the installation of sew
erage and other facilities This concern
expects to employ 5000 men II
already has communicated with the
canal company as TO whether it will be
possible for coaSting vessels from
south America and other ports to come
10 Washington and transfer their
cargoes Of raw material to canal boats
lot shipment to Cumberland.
The view was expressed that if the
government puts as many as 200 addi.
tonal boats on the canal d vast amount
OF raw material will come to washing.
ton by river for transshipment 10 Cum
oerland and points along the canal. anf
that the port of Georgetown once agar
may become active a shipping cen.
ter
All Cumberland is enthusiastic owe,
the canal agitation Representative
Zlhl!nan. who has been active in Dro.
noting the suggestion. went to Cum
berland to meet Maj. Stewart and Ijeut
Easton. and the Army men were mad.
to feel that the CumberIanders believ,
IN the canal and its possibilities
Representatives of the CHAMBERLAIN
Chamber Of Commerce and Represent
atfVe Zihlnlan accompanied the enei
neers in the afternoon on n yisit I,
mine No u of the Consolidation Goa
company The party descended tn,
shaft and walked for more than a mil.
under ground, where they saw IN,
mining Of coal in actual progress
General Manager Marshall Gillette o
the Consolidation Coal Company of
fciated as guide.
During his talk with the Commercial
representatives at the dinner given a