Evening star., 1924-08-10

Georgetown in boats and landed
considerable distance above that city,
and proceeded to the spot designated
by Judge Wright. the chief engineer
of the canal, for the beginning of the
work. and not far from the canal of
the old Potomac Company. the dream
of Washington. Here, in hollow
square, stood President Adams and
Gen. Mercer. At that moment the sun
shone out from behind cloud and
amid a silence so intense as to chasten
the animation of hope and to hallow
the enthusiasm of joy, the Mayor of
Georgetown handed tn Gen. Mercer,
the president of the canal company,
the consecrated instrument, which
was later presented to President
Adams
Many Difficulties Experienced.
From this time until the canal was
completed in 1850. difficulty after
difficulty was experienced. On 10
separate occasions, the company had
to petition the Virginia and Mary
land Legislatures for -, more funds,
while Uncle Sam also aided the pro-
ject financially. Finally the canal
was completed at cost of s11,07l.l76,
or S59,6 1851 mile. Unfortunately,
due to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
with which it had to compete, the canal
was also a representative of a big
idea that went to seed. One of the
earlier years after 1t was opened, its
total revenues amounted to but
s47,635. while its expenses for the
year were $S3.792. These figures
were barometers of what has hap
pened since that period. The great
est single achievement of the c. & O.
Canal was to be the instrumentality
that led to the construction of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. which
by the time the canal was completed
was using 13 locomotives and a dec
ade later had extended its tracks to
I,
pany fought many long and bitter
legal battles with the railroad au-
thorities before it conceded any of its
right of way along the Potomac,
which was the natural outlet through
the mountainous sections. These
legal fights delayed the completion
OF the canal many years.
The canal when completed in 1850
was lS4h miles long. OF this length
5 miles are in the District of Co
County, Md; Is miles in Frederick
County, Md; II miles in Washington
County. Md. and so miles in Allie
gany County, Md. The level at
Cumberland is sos feet above that at
Georgetown: The elevation is at
tanned by "a locks The canal is fed
from the river by means of seven
dams and the capacity was estimated
at 3,264.000 tons a year.
Gates at Cumberland Opened.
At 5 pm. June IL, 1850, the gates
at Cumberland were opened by
Charles B. Fish, the chief engineer
of the company, and water admitted
into the western level of the canal
and a new boat named the Cumber-
land floated in. The ceremonies on
this occasion, attended by the Mayor
of Georgetown and other prominent
officials. were elaborate. Five canal
boats laden with the rich products
of the mines of Allegany and destined
for Eastern markets were passed
through the locks amidst the salvos
of artillery.
During the Civil War the waterway
performed efficient service for the
Government in the transportation O..
supplies. In 1852 an order was issued
respect the canal officials and prohi-
bited them fro minterfering with them
in management of the work. Several
attempts by the armies of the South
to destroy aQueducts were foiled by
the magnificent character of the. ma
sonry.
In 1889, during the great flood,
when the canal was badly damaged,
it was believed that it would never
be operated again, but the waterway
was finally repaired and resumed
that it had before, much of which
pa ssed to the railroads.
The canal was worth to the State
of Maryland all that 1T cost. every
one agrees, because it deyeloped the
great coal mining industry of Allie
gany County. But as a national
thoroughfare, for which IT was de-
signed. it was bitter disappolnt-
ment to it's projectors. 49,