Evening star., 1922-04-23
Fifty Years Ago
in The Star

Fifty years ago the Chesapeake and
Ohio cana. twas regarded az a most
important artery Of
The G.. 4 O.. trade, by Washinsto-
mans, and II was expect
Can1l. ed that it would develop
in usefulness to make Washington a
busy port for products OF the upper
Pc. ,nc valley. In The Star OF April
IS, 1872, is the following editorial
which deals with the development ot
the District, and particularly the pos
sibilities Of the canal:
The new era Of progress in this
District demands and will hecessitate
enlarged facilitieg In every direction
for the development and growth OF
the advanced spirit OF enterprise.
which will no longer be hampered
with the old and ineficient methods
that we're considered good enough
twenty years ago. Street railroads.
are stretching out into the suburbs
in every direction, followed by long
lines Of dwelling houses: the question
Of river and harbor improvement must
shortly be solved in such way as TO
give US the full advantage OF our
location on a navigable stream; and
instead of only one railroad com.
municatine with our neighbors to the
north and south and west OF US, we
may reasonably hope soon to nave
three or four at least. We have one
other avenue Of trSde-the Chess-
peake and Ohio canai-which has al
ready conduced somewhat to the
prosperity and the growth OF the Dis
trict. and which may be expected 10
do much more for us in the future II
il il managed as it should be. II is
due to President Clarke to say that
since he has had control OF that i'm
portant work his shrewdness, bust
ness tact. good judgment and untir-
ing energy have accomplished won
ders in the way of Increased business
and decreased expenses. due almost
altorether to hts faithful and efficient
management.
"He has done much. but much re-
mains to be done. One Of the most
pressing needs of the work is an
outlet at or above Georgetown. Many
boats have cargoes for Washington,
or the river front in Georgetown.
The Inconvenience OF locks out of
repair and insufficient water in the
basin, necessitating a delay OF day
or two in passing each of these boats
into and through Rock creek with
the alternative of going down TO
city. there to be locked into the river
and towfd up the Potomac to Wash
ington, with great loss of time and
at heavy expense) was bad enough
when but one or two boats passed
through Rock creek daily. Now that
thirty or forty boats day pass
through-or would pass through IL
they could-it is serious matter.
IAN outlet lock will cost only about
$4,000, and its construction. by re-
lieving the jam of boats at George
town-they sometimes extend for
mile or more up the canal, awaiting
their turns to pass down or to dis
charge their freight at the coal
wharves-would not only save a great
amount of time TO shippers. but
would directly benefit the canal COM
pany by an increase of trade. Some
1t is due to the people of Washington
that they should not be virtually cut
of from this avenue Of trade. as they
now are. There is hardly day in the
year that there is not some trouble
with the locks or the basin. For
out Of order. The repairs were fin-
ished last week. and but three boats
had passed through when the lock
again gave way, sinking a boat, and
now the work has to be done over
again. Next it will be sand bars in the
bs sin. or some other trouble.
1.-THE only permanent remedy is an
outlet lock directly into the river. and
the question is whether the canal
company will build II or invite ad-
verse legislation by disreeardiug the
interests of our people. II they will
not do the work themselves, why not
give the franchise to some one who
will? By charge of 81 or 50 On
each boat passing through the locks.
a sum the shippers would willingly
pay, as they would save money there
by. the building of the outlet lock
would be n good investment. At any
rate, there are citizens of the District
who would be willing to to do the
work and take the cha ncesr