davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1938-07-24
Canal Coming to Life
Under Supervision
of Park Service.

the lesser rivers which flow into it
navigable also Besides the Shenan-
doah they started work on the Mon
ocacy. the Antietam and the Conoco-
cheague. This extra work made the
cost of the project far exceed any
possible returns. For the period from
17S5 to 1917 their total expenditures
amounted to $650,O00 while tolls from
1899 brought in only $l62,38o. The
banner year in collection Of tolls
amounting to $22,542, was 1911. With
the beginning of the War Of 1912
traffic on the river was cut in half
and from then on the business Of
the company went from bad to worse.
In 1928 the Chesapeake 81 Ohio
Canal Co. bought out the interests
Of the now defunct Potowmack Co.
and started work on a continuous
canal to Cumberland along the Mary
land bank of the river. It was in
evitable that Washington's plan should
give way to a more modern means Of
water transportation.
However, its successor, though more
modern. was also destined to fail, for
even before the new canal was COM
pleted, transportation had taken an
other step forward and the railroad
age began. Today the canal Is COM
ing to life again under the careful
supervision of the National Park
Service. Its locks and picturesque
Lighthouses will be restored. its crum-
bling banks reps ired and the old tow
path cleared OF weeds and under
brush. Here will be a refuge from the
rush and confusion of city life. place
of rest and recreation, which will give
us an opportunity to step back into
the leisurely world Of . 100 years ago.
HOWEVER, those who are interested
in the history Of the river will
not be content with the restoration Of
the c. & o. Canal alone, but will in
sist that provision be made for pre-
serving also what Is left of the Potow-
mack Canal. It would not be possible
to restore all the disconnected parts
Of the old canal but certainly the i'm
portant works at Great Falls should
be preserved from further decay.
Here. within IL miles Of the Ma
tional Capital, are the now neglected
remains of an undertaking which for
years absorbed the interest and at
tention Of all the first men of the Re-
public. No project was dearer to
WashinRton's heart than this of OPEN
ing up the vast frontier by means OF
better transportation. 1t was an i'm
practical attempt, but it is important
as the first instance Of cooperation
between two States for the benefit Of
the people as . whole. Aside from
any question of success or failure, the
canal is interesting today. because
Of Washington's active part in its con.
struction. No more fitting memoria
to him could be found than the pre-.
servation Of the locks at Great Falls.
Evening star., 1938-07-24

dria to discuss the matter and COM
mented on its being "a work of more
political than commercial consequence,
as 1t will be one of the grandest chains
for preserving the Federal Union. The
Western World will have free access to
us and We shall be one and the same
people whatever system Of European
politics may be adopted"
Both States finally passed the bill
and the Potowmack Co. was incorpo-
rated on May II, 1785. George WASH
ington was elected president, and as
soon as the business of organizing and
selling shares in the company was
completed, attention was turned to the
problems of actual construction.
OF THE many difficulties confront
ing these men the worst was at
Great Falls, with its drop of rs feet.
However, it was decided that a canal
with locks could be constructed at this
point. This was an ambitious under
taking, as there were no engineers in
america VINO nad ever seen canal
lock. 1t was necessary to dig a canal
1900 yards long and feet deep and to
blast out the solid rock which sur
rounds the falls to make the locks.
There are five of these locks, each 100
feet long and IL feet wide.
Most visitors to the falls have seen
only the small ditch which IA marked
by sign-"George Washington
Canal" However, if the visitor should
follow this ditch down the river he
would come on the remains of the old
locks. now overgrown with trees and
partly hidden by underbrush, with
only trickle Of water at the bottom
desolate memorial to Washington's
dream.
At the point where the canal re.
Evening star., 1938-07-24

ment q great career was born. Frank
Hutchings was greatly pleased. His
watch ticked away in sheer delight.
And naturally Henry Ford was very
proud and happy.
This episode is only curtain-raiser
to the astounding drama that was to
follow and which, for the purposes Of
this narrative. shall be known as the
Baker Street Jewelry Shop.
1T WAS in the Baker Street Jewelry
Shop that Henry Ford went to
work when he was Is years old. This
is how it came about: Henry. ambi-
tious to find a larger field for his
Evening star., 1938-07-24
POTOMAC HAS INSPIRED DREAMS OF COMMERCE BY WAFER

such trouble and unrest to the from
tier that there was no opportunity
for trade or settlement. After the
war a number of unsuccessful at
tempts were made to restore the COM
pany to its former prosperity, but with
the coming of the Revolution all hope
of reviving the Ohio Co. was lost. It
was not until the formation of the
Potowmack Co. in 1785 that any sus-
/ tanned effort was made to develop the
/ Potomac River as a trade route to the
West.
The leader in the formation Of the
Potowmack Co. was George WASH
ington. His interest in developing the
river dates from the time when, as a
young man. he spent three years sur
veying for Lord Fairfax In the Potomac
and Shenandoah Valleys and had am
pie opportunity to familiarize himself
with the river and its surrounding
country.
During these years as surveyor
Washington became acquainted with
Thomas Cresap. and this early asso-
citation was doubtless the foundation
of his resolve to improve the Potomac.
AS an officer in the French and In
dian War he led several expeditions
to the headwaters of the Ohio, and in
order to transport military supplies,
he made the Nemacolin path into a
wagon road Braddock later improved
the road and used the Potomac in
his campaign against the French and
Indians. The importance of the river
politically as we'll as commercially was
further impressed on Washington
during this campaign. In the years
between the French and Indian War
and the Revolution there was con-
tinued interest in the possibilities Of
developing the Potomac, but the times
were too unsettled for any concrete
action.
A FTER the strenuous years Of the
Revolution, Washington retired to
Mount Vernon, there to enjoy the
comparative quiet and tranquility OF
private life. One Of his letters to La
fayette at this time expresses his salts
faction at being once again "a private
citizen on the banks Of the Potomac"
With the duties of public life behind
him, he now found time in his busy
routine to take up agan the question
of improving the Potomac. During this
time he corresponded with many in
fiuential men on the subject. and such
friends as Jefferson, Madison and Ma
son spent many evenings around the
fireplace at Mount Vernon discussing
the plans.
In September, 1884, he made q trip
to the Ohio Valley to inspect his lands
there. One Of the principal reasons
for the trip, as he says in his diary,
was Ito obtain information Of the
nearest g. best communication be-
tween the Eastern and Western waters,
and to facilitate, as much Is In me lay,
the inland navigation of the Potow-
mack" Upon his return he sent a re-
port Of his journey and = petition for
the formation Of a company to the
Assemblies Of Virginia and Maryland
The Virginia Gazette of December
reports that there was a numerous
and respectable meeting" in Alexan-
Evening star., 1938-07-24

the father bird sings a full-throated
song. This is a family Of song SPAR
rows. The proud parents seem to
have every confidence that the family
OF humans has no evil designs Peace
Is etched into this picture-peace and
happiness and the JOY of simple living.
And now. at IS. the baby who used
to be remembers such a scene and
describes it so graphically to Irving
Bacon that this fine artist has been
able to reproduce it accurately in oils.
The very fact that this should be the
first of Henry F'ord's recollections OF
Evening star., 1938-07-24

q mile long. This canal can be fol-
lowed on foot on the Virginia side. and
at several places there are remnants
of the old walls, which have withstood
the floods Of recent years. We find
that they had diniculties similar to
ours, for in some Of Washington's
letters he refers to the delay caused
by unusually high water.
For . number Of miles above Sem
eca they had comparatively easy sail
ing, but at Harpers Ferry the river
again becomes very rocky and rapid,
and this necessitated the construction
Of more locks. The plans also in
cluded, besides the Potomac route. a
similar use Of the Shenandoah River
as an outlet for the produce Of its
fertile valley. Locks and chutes were
necessary there. and in q few places
their remains can still be seen.
THE job Of clearing channels for
the boats was q tremendous one,
for both the Shenandoah and Potomac
Rivers are full Of shadows and rapids.
Looking at the river now 1t is hard
to imagine that large boats could
have made the journey. The old long
boats were so to 10 feet long. 8 to 10
feet wide, and drew about 2 feet Of
water. One can imagine how un-
wieldy they must have been loaded
down with more than . hundred bar
rels of flour. Flour was the chief
cargo, with whisky, iron and tobacco
next in importance.
Trafiic along the river increased
during the years of construction as
each part Of the project was COM
pleted, but it was not until 1902 that
the locks at Great Falls were finally
finished and the first boat passed
through. Completion Of these locks
enabled the boats to 60 from Cumber-
land, Nd, to Tidewater. In these II
years of work they had had many
difficulties to overcome.
Some years they were SO hampered
by high water that 1t was impossible
to carry on any Of the work Of clear
ing channels in the riverbed. At
such times they continued work on
the locks, but here they also had their
dificulties. Labor was dincult to get
and hard to manage and there was
practically no skilled labor available.
Apparently dynamiters were scarce,
for In a letter from the superintendent
Of construction to the officers of the
company ne complained that he was
having . hard time with his blasting.
as he was short Of dynamiters. OF
the two that he had had, "One run
of, the other blown up"
A T TIMES. the finances Of the COM
pany were IN such bad shape that
construction was practically stopped
The cost was 10 much greater than
they had anticipated that they were
constantly trying to raise additional
funds for the continuance Of the work
and it was necessary to make frequent
appeals to the stockholders for more
subscriptions. The greatest trouble
with the whole undertaking was over
expansion.
Not content with improving the Po'
tomac alone, they attempted to MAKE
Evening star., 1938-07-24
By George ". Stark.

(Copyright, 1898. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. 1nc.)
~ ETROIT, July 23.-On July 80
Henry Ford will have lived
three-quarters of a century.
- The world now knows he has
been one Of its most forward-lookine
men. But 1t is curious fact that
today. looking back from the lofty
summit of his years, Henry Ford seeks
ardently to recapture the time and
the scene and the spirit Of his youth
However in doing so. he is not
motivated by any nostalgia emotions
His great collection of Americana and
his quaint Greenfield Village eloquent
ly proclaim him as still a forward
looking man. He is performing the
task of assembling the symbols Of
this country's heroic past with the
idea that they will point way to
the future.
He was. in his very young boyhood,
tremendously interested in watches
and clocks. He had the boys con-
suming curiosity to see what made
them go. This quality of examining
into things to see what makes them
60 he has retained through life. And
today, having studied the intricate
machinery of living, he would turn
back the clock of America to a simpler
sweeter time.
Henry Ford at IS is an animated
and inspiring spectacle. His youth
is something the youth of America
and of any country should know
about. Because the time is not far
off. If indeed 1t is not already here,
when people will be asking what sort
Of boy Henry Ford was.
That's something no reporter will
get from the lips of Henry Ford He
is essentially a modest man. So, if
we are to turn back the clock to the
time Of Henry Ford's boyhood. we will
have to ask the help of others who
knew him then and who know him
now.
TT SHOULD be set down. first of all,
that the legends which sooner or
later surround all great men are
already beginning to envelope the tall,
sparse figure of Henry Ford. So If
now and then there should creep into
this narrative of his youth some slight
Inaccuracies or small exaggerations,
these may be laid to the slow march of
legend, which, in the far future, Is
sure to attain huge proportions.
Henry Ford was born on Dearborn
farm and he retains farmers deep
affection for the land. He began
plowing at the age Of IL. and even
so far back he thought there might
be a better way, an easier and a
more economical way. to do it. The
wsv that farming was then done did
not please the boy. He tried to sim
plify the grinding tasks of the farm
but, of course, that was heresy. So
the report is fairly current that as a
farmer he was not great success.
1t is pleasant now to know. and it
Is a tender tribute to the simple nature
OF this man, that the earliest recollec-
ton Of which he is now, on his 18th
birthday, aware is sweet domestic
scene whose rural setting is the farm
yard Of his birthplace in Dearborn.
Henry Ford is still baby A
huge oak tree in the farmyard has
been felled. Henry Is in his mothers
arms, his brother John Is in his
fathers. The four of them are look
ing intently into the leafy branches
under the fallen tree. There Is q nest
with four eggs In 1t. At the end Of
the tree the mother bird sits, looking
at the group. On the severed trunk
Evening star., 1938-07-24

enters the river there Is tremendous
cut through solid rock ~ feet deep
and IL feet wide The wooden gates
of the locks have long since rotted
away. but one can still tell where
they used to hang by the deep groove
in the wall from top to bottom. Look
ing at these ruins, one cannot help but
be impressed by the magnitude of the
job.
Built at a time when construction
methods were necessarily crude, it was
one of the engineering feats Of the
18th century. 1t is said to have at
tracted such widespread attention that
it was written up in scientific papers
all over the world.
GREAT FALLS was the chief, but
~ by no means the only, obstacle,
for eyerv one familiar with the river
knows that it is full of rapids and
other smaller falls. At Little Falls it
was necessary to build a canal on
the same side as the present G. & O..
canal. This was 2h miles long and
had three locks. The drop Of 81 feet
here brought the canal down TO tide
water and from there it was easy going
to Georgetown.
There are many interesting remind
ers OF the work that may be seen only
BY the canoeist, who has probably
often taken advantage Of the chutes
through rapids that were cleared for
the old longboats. Some Of these are
still marked by iron rings fastened in
the rocks at the head Of the chute.
These rings were used in lowering the
boats through the swift water.
At Seneca, where there is fall Of
7 feet and q great deal Of rapid and
shallow water, it was necessary t<
build . canal about three-quarters OF
Evening star., 1938-07-24
EDITORS NOTE:

EDTTOR'S NOTE:
The following story is illustrated
NTH Photographic reproductions OF
paintings by irving r. Bacon. The
scenes are all faithful Representa-
ttons IN oil by Mr.. Bacon from
descriptions from Mr.. Ford's o,on
EDs.
Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-06-02
WHISTLE WHILE YOU WISH

"Pennsy dsovned Roosevelt" saws Af Iandon
pennsylvania has repudiated the New Deal the In
Republicans done with Deal" notes the Evening
Ledger.
"A splendid days work" cries the New York Herald Tribune
All Of which show how little it takes these days
make Republican happy
Even the primary returns offers nc
basis whatever for the notion that the reputation
Roosevelt or slap at his policies If anything the indications
We told that G. O. P vctory-and New Deal defeats
sure next November because the Republican candidates
cratic candidates.
Is this cause for cheer?
Well the Democrats poed as manv votes in the last
eubernatora primary 1884 poled this one the Re
pubans then instead of being geeu would have
cut of their wits.
Let's look at the figures for that primary. Governor the
Republican total primary 09500 The Democratic
tai was 609834.
That is the G. O. P primary double the Dem
ocratic vote-witf a margin of about 600 900
In of that Earle the general election November
1884 polling almost million and half for majority of
about $4,000
Yet the Repubicans-whose primary majority half
million years ago-now see victory and blow at the New
Deal primary majority which barely touches the 100000
If the 1884 elections criterion this years sharply
duced G. O. primary majority betoens greater Demo
cratic victory in November.
Of the intervening four years steady
influx of Republican to the Democratic primaries
the registration figures show But have go last
Years CITY elections show how the Republicans poed only
percent their registration while the Democrats poed "a
Neither is there basis for Roosevian gee the Demo
cratic primary For while National Chairman Farley for the
Of harmonv, had endorsed Kennedy
that Kennedy and Jones pledged support the New Deal
and that ZONES has reiterated that pledge with increased vgo
his nomination. 80
There bit O. p Old Guarders
the complete trimming which Judge James administered
10 Pnchot But that had nothing to do with the New Deal
Still if anNew Deal Republicans find bit Of JOY
histne while they wish would be indeed deprive
e profitable politically be thinking than whing-thn
ing perhaps OF at least Intelligent alternative to the New Deal
.ous that can't beat something with nothing
Record r. - ffY45ElyEygVyrY
Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-06-02
Roxbury

Mr.. and Mrs. George Loar and
son James of Stockport and Mr. and
Mrs Warren Loar and son Wiley
spent Sunday with their mother,
Susie Chadwick.
Mr. and Mrs. w. H. Pugh of
Newark called on her sister, Mrs j.
A. Risen and family, Monday after
noon, on their way home from Park
ersburg. They report Mr.. Elmer
Abel improving, after a second
stroke of paralysis. last Tuesday.
Arthur Wilson and wife of Mt
Vernon spent the week end at the
home of the formers parents, Mr..
and Mrs. John Wilson.
The Oakland ladies' aid met
June 1, with Mrs. Nutter of Ches-
terhill.
Mrs. Elsie Beach is on the sick
list
Mr.. and Mrs. J A. Risen and son
John were callers in the twin cities,
last Wednesday.
Several campers spent the week
end here.
Mrs. Eta Bachelor of Newark
spent Monday with her brother,
Clarence Travis, and family.
Dogs raided Charley Cheadle's
sheep the other night and killed
four and wounded four.
Mrs. Augusta Ross of Dale spent
Sunday night with her son, Vernon
Ross, and family. Her health is
some improved Miss Virginia Ross
of Columbus spent Decoration day
at home, and her sister Elene ac:.
companied her back for a week s
visit.
Miss Hazel Eddleblute is home
from GAINESVILLE, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Lane and daughter of New
ark, spent Decoration day with their
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Charley Ed
dleblute and family.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wayne Wilson and
baby left for Syracuse, N. Y, Sun
day morning, where Mr.. Wilson will
be employed
Albert and Ray Danielson, How
ard Danielson, wife and baby of
Lowell spent Sunday at T. A. and 0.
r. Wilson's.
Mrs. Nettie Ellis and Mrs. Lou
Use Hoon of Chesterhill spent We'd
nesday. Thursday and Friday with
their sister, Mrs. Nena Wilson, also
her sister Mrs. Katie Gilliland spent
Saturday night and Sunday with
her. Mrs. Wilson is in poor health.
Glen Morris attended the auto
mobile races at Indianapolis.
Roxbury grange will meet in reg
ular session Friday evening, June
8.
Minnie Mills and Opal Cooper
spent Tuesday with Mrs. Mills sis
ter, Susie Wilson.
Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-06-02
GENERAL PERSHING DISCOVERS
AN "EFFICIENT STAFF''

''It is doubtless my military train
ing and experience which makes me
feel that one should have an eff
cient staff to do preliminary work
for him.
Il find this as true in reading and
iI reaching conclusions in the world
of modern thought as I did in com
manding an army. Therefore, my
bag is never without copy of The
Readers Digest 1t studies for me
the different magazines, saves me q
great deal of time, and brings tC
my notice many articles that
should otherwise overlook; hence
read the Digest regularly"
The concise, fast-moving style ol
The Readers Digest enables you tc
spend LESS time and get MORE in
formation from your reading. Treat
yourself to a fund of condensed
knowledge in this months issue OF
The Readers Digest.
Get your copy of the current is
sue today. All local newsdealers
have it on display. 25c per copy
The Editor.
Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-06-02

and Mrs. Floyd McInturf and sons,
New Philadelphia; Mr.. and Mrs.
Curt McInturf and children. New
Marshfield; Mr.. and Mrs. Bernard
Click and daughters, Killbuck; Mr..
and Mrs. Howard Dougan and
daughters, Columbus; Mr.. and Mrs.
Russell Parsons and son Of Fair
mont, w. Va; Miss Mildred Reed OF
Columbus; Mrs. Grace Beckett and
daughter of Gallipolis.
Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. Ham and
sons of Canton visited over the
week end with her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Will Hilaman and Miss Helen
Hilaman. ss-@
Mr., and Mrs. Dwight McInturf
and children OF Macksburg were
week end guests Of a his parents,
Fred McInturf and family. ss
|v Mr.. and Mrs. Russell Bachelor
were Sunday guests, Of his. parents,
Jesse Bachelor and wife. 4
/, ! Mrs. Dora Mendenhall OF Vest
land spent Monday with her daugh-
ter, Mrs Maud Kinsey and family.
/ Mrs. Myla Van Fossen is able to
be out riding, and spent Sunday at
I the home of her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. J. F.. s Dougan. Miss Maxine
Kirkbride. ) is assisting with the
work at the Van FOssen home.
Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-06-02
Pennsville
Finish Running Cement

Work on the road is progressing
rapidly, after delay caused by
rain week before last. They finish
ed running cement on the road
Monday.
Neil Bachelor, wife and children
of Montgomery, w. Va, were week
end visitors of his parents, Jesse
Bachelor and wife.
John Giles and wife had as guests
Saturday and Sunday, his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Giles of Crooksville.
Mr.. and Mrs. Howard Thompson
and children Raymond and Florence
of Fredericktown were week end
guests of his parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
w. S. Thompson, and other rela-
tives.
Mr.. and Mrs. Orvill Wilson have
returned to their home in West Vir-
ginia, after spending several days
here last week visiting his parents,
Charles Wilson and wife, and other
relatives.
r. E. Balm of Utica was here Me-
mortal day, calling on friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Loomis OF
Columbus visited his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Ben Loomis, over the
week end.
Mr.. and Mrs. Eli Thompson and
daughter of Cleveland spent the
week end with his mother, Mrs.
Jennie Thompson.
Mrs. Viola D0ugan OF Cleveland
was week end guest OF her par