The Washington times., 1921-04-24

1t will n the plans OF its present
operators. backed by representative
commercial interests of Maryland and
the District of Columbia and with the
active support or the entire Maryland
delegation to Congress, are reanzeo'
And the realization of this dream.
which first came p George Washing
ton, who surveyed It's course from
what is now the capital of this nation
to Cumberland. Md, in 1Fs4, depenos
largely on whether contract Win
that government OF which he was the
first head, that has been the llfe-piooo
of the canal for more than twenty
years. shall be continued.
NAVY CONTRACT VITAL.
The contract in question is for the
transportation of coal from the
Cumberland fields to the Navy prov
ing grounds at Indian Head, Mo.
About 1O0,0 tons of coal are trans
ported by barge and mule each year
to Observation-Disclosures OF the an,
nual coal movement in the canai-and
Of this 100. 900 tons more than half Is
delivered to the Navy. Thus IL is
clearly seen how important is the con-
tinuancc Of this contract as an aid 70
the present ambitious plans for the
commercial development or TINS
waterway IL not to it's actual con-
tinuance in operation.
In the past there has been no vigor-
Gus attempt made by the railroao
lines for whom the canal pointed the
way to take this course OF revenue
from il. But this year there is. One
railroad. the Pennsylvania, has offered
a bid which is a few cents cheaper
ton than the rate for which the opera
tors of the canal estimate they can
transport coal. In fact, the Navy De-
partment, experts figure thev can
handle the coal they need by rail at
saving of between $4,000 and S1I,Ooo
annually. 1t is this argument OF DOL
lars and cents which the friends OF
the canal must overcome III It's main
support through many troublous years
be not taken from IL aId their EFFORTS
for its rejuvenation nipped in the; bud.
THINK DENNY FAVORABLE.
Arguments presenting the poweriui
historic and sentimental appeal Tor
the canal as well as it's commercial
end military Importance were pres
ented by Congressman Frederick N.
Zihlman.9 of Cumberland, Md, ano
other members of the Maryland DEL
cgation in an interview with Sec
,etarv of the Navy DENLY early last
week. They came away from the in
,erview feeling that the Navy De-
partment, quite likely. would modify
its plans and continue to utilize the
canal even IL its coal from the Cum
berland regions should cost a COM
paratiye trifie more as result.
Secretary DENLY. they SAID, prom
ised an early decision In the matter
end admitted that there was a strong
historical and sentimental reason Tor
encouraging the continued operation
of the canal. He also acknowledged
that this inland waterway would be
of wartime value In the event OF
foreign congestion in the Eastern Sec
ton of the country, as IL had been IN
the recent war.
TAPS "NECK OF BOTTLE"
The canal taps what was known as
"The Neck of the Bottle" during the
great freight congestion on the East
ern seaboard in the early days fol-
lowing Americas entry In the great
war. Not only did II offer a welcome
and sorely needed auxiliary to the
heavily burdened steam Transports
tion lines, but IL was of exceptional
value in the transportation OF coal
because II could use for its short
intrastate hauls coal tipple cars which
were unified for interstate traffic.
So well was the canals military
Importance realized by the Railroad
Administration during these days of
stress. that the Government detailed
its most expert engineers to devise
PLANS for Its Improvement and de-
velopment. These tentative plans in.
ciuded the use of tractors instead OF
mules as motive power and the poesi-
b.lst~ of thux u,odcruixloo. the fscilt.