South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-18
WILL WAGE FIGHT
TO RETAIN NOTED
OHIO CANAL ROUTE
MAY be Discarded, However.
in Favor of Newer Modes
of Transportation.

OF transportation.
WASHINGTON. May Wheth-
er the Chesapeake and ohio Barge
canal one Of the oldest transporta-
tion routes in the United States. IS
20 sink into disuse or 90 take on a
new lease OF commercial life de-
ponds upon the result OF "A campaign
about 20 be launched by it's opera
tors. with the active support of rep
resentative commercial interests in
Maryland and the District OF Co
lumbia and the Maryland delegation
in congress.
Conceived In the fertile brain Of
George Washington. the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal project had
the active support OF number Of
American pioneers whose names are
nav famous in history. md the
route was first surveyed by Cen
washington himself ia 1854 Since
its completion 30 has been in virtual
- constant operation, though the
enterprise has never been particu-
larly successful from "a financial
point Of view. and since the coming
Of the rail competition has many
times been threatened with eX-
tnction.
At several periods during its his
tory. notably during the world war.
the ola canal has proved a boon 90
shippers and 20 the nation "a
whole by furnishing an outlet for
traffic when the steam routes were
hopclcssly congested. Tapping what
Is known as THE Neck Of the Bot
tie" the canal route was not only of
immense value as AN auxiliary 90
the heavily burdencd steam routes
TO the eastern seaboard. but also
proved a veritable life saver" in the
transportation Of coal owing 90 the
fact that for its short Interstate
hauls tipple cars could be used
which were UNFIT for Interstate traf-
tic
Railroads Interested.
The railroad administration, APP
pleciating the strategic Importance
OF the barge route. detailed its most
expert engineers 20 work out plans
for its Improvement and develop
ment These tentative plans includ-
ed the substitution of tractors for
mules as motive power, and the di-
version from the steam roads of
freight more adaptable 20 the canal
route. either because of the nature
OF the commodity or its destination
These plans are now being revived
and pushed by the interests which
have undertaken 20 prevent the old
trade route from being abandoned.
The immediate crisis which CON
fronts the Chesapeake and Ohio ca
nal il the danger Of losing "A con-
tract with the navy department, un-
der which the little barge mules of
the Chesapeake and Ohio have for
than twenty years transported more
than 100000 tons of coal annually
from the Cumberland Nd. fields TO
the navy proving grounds at Indian
Head. Md. In the past this enor-
nous haul of coal has constituted
about two-thirds of the annual coal
movement IN the canal fact which
indicates the Importance OF this con-
tract as an aid 10 the present ambi-
tious plans for commercial develop
ment. If not it's actual continuance
in operation.
Until now there has been no Wig
orous attempt on the part of the
railroads 10 compete with the canal
for this contract This year how
ever. the Pennsylvania railroad has
submitted a bid which is few cents .
lover than the rate for which the .
canal operators estimate they can .
transport the coal Navy depart
ment experts figure they will save .
$4,000 To $1,000 annually 10y use .
of the steam route.
To Give Decision.
Congressman Frederick n Zihlman /.
of Maryland headed a delegation .
which recently presented powerful .
and sentimental arguments as we'll as .
the military and commercial reasons
why the waterway should not bc
abandoned. They came away from
the interview with SeC'y OF the Navy .
DENLY feeling that the navy depart
ment may yet see its way clear TO f
modify its plans and continue utiliz- .
ing the canal route SeC'y DENLY. .
they said. promised an early deci-
sion and admitted the sentimental as .
well as the military value of the /.
route. The early history OF the
canal is that OF the Potomac COM
pany. formed shortly after the revo-
lutionsry war.
The Potomac company had its
inception i'm the fertile brain OF
George Washington. saws the Off
cial history OF the company "The .
father OF his country had the vision
81 a prophet. I'm the development of .
the country and the building Of
commerce ne was fully twenty years
in advance of his fellow citizens.
Was Shareholder.
The general left his home at
Mount Vernon. Sept L. 1854. ON .
horseback. following tho course of
the river and its tributaries. making
"a personal examination OF it's depth
and the rapids. as well as the settle
ments. who the inhabitants were and .
their ability Co clear the forests and T
ain the soil The general returned
from the preliminary survey oct g.
|being absent 80 DAYS lie travelled
sac miles. an average of eS miles a
Iday
Upon his return ne Immediately
began the organization OF com
|pany 90 develop the waterway The
legislatures ~ Maryland and Vir-
|ginia granted charters durInS May.
|l-S5- 90 the Potomac company. and T.
George Washington was elected It's
|Hrst president. He was also a large
Sf1a r,fr 1rier-