The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1949-01-06
HORSE AND
BUGGY DAYS
by
Ida 10 Martin

the Potomac River.
We remember that the canal, as
we know it, was the second project
along this River; that the first plan
for a water transportation system
here was older than the Nation; and
that there was a certain amount of
trade on the old Potomac Company's
waterway, of deepened channels
and short canals around the bad OBJ
structions.
l have described the beginning of
the present canal, and a few of the
troubles. Without doubt the biggest
of the troubles was financial.
The original company was author
lied to Issue slightly over three mil
lion dollars worth of stock 1t had
been estimated by early engineers
that the canal should cost approx
mately that to reach Cumberland.
But the three million was consum-
ed before the canal had been scarce
ly started. So subsequent issues
were authorized, until the total &C
tual cost reached eleven million for
construction alone.
At an early date the United
States Government had bought one
million dollars worth of stock. The
city of Washington bought one mil
lion; other buyers, $1,359, 100000, and
the State of Maryland, over $8,000,-
10000 So from the start, until 1890,
the State of Maryland had the con-
trolling vote in all affairs. But
when the money ran out and the
canal not nearly completed, pleas
came in for loans, and bonds were
issued. The State of Maryland
seemed to be the only big supporter
of the bonds, and it is recorded that
the reckless issue of bonds brought
the State to the verge of bankruptcy.
AS the work progressed it became
harder to get the additional funds
necessary to carry on. 1t soon be-
came evident that there would be
no dividends on the stock, or inter
est on the bonds. This made it
practically impossible to sell any
more securities of any kind, and so
the whole burden fell on the State.
The last few years of construction
were just as much struggle in the
Legislature as in the mountains.
Just a few more comments on the
financial side of the Canal. The
construction was not the only cost.
Repairs ran high, especially when
the floods began. Incomes never
reached the expected levels. BY 1890,
when the State tried to sell its in
terest in the canal, the unpaid in
terest on the State of Maryland's
holdings amounted to over $4,000
100000 The entire holdings of
Maryland was offered for sale for
$5,000000.00, but no buyer could be
found The sale was finally made in
1904, to the Western Maryland Rail
road, for the price of $155,000.00.
At one time the Legislature voted
to pass an act helping the canal only
on condition that there would be q
guarantee of sale for certain amounts
of coal to be hauled by the canal.
At that time a group of 122 citizens
of Washington County guaranteed
for 10000 tons of coal per year. For
a period of ten years the end of the
canal was at Dam No. 6-this was
during the time that funds were be-
ing raised.
Running a close second to the
money troubles, was trouble getting
and keeping unskilled workers. Pay
for such labor was low, and as time
went on it grew worse. Around 1881
unskilled Irish laborers, of whom
there were more than of any other
one kind of workers, were drawing
ten dollars per month, plus board.
Several years later many of them
were willing to work for five dollars
a month, and some were working
for their board only.
And the dread cholera, which
reached epidemic proportions in 1882
and 1888, caused deaths, suffering
and terror. Many fed the canal, but
they were not welcome anywhere
and usually there was little trouble
in getting help to return the runa-
ways. So it was little wonder that
rioting began. In few cases riots
started because of r1on-payment of
wages; other times, and more often,
it was a racial difference among the
Irish workers. Somehow the work
ers secured firearms, and it was
necessary to call out the militia. AT
one time there were thousand
workers engaged in pitched bat
tie; the militia could do nothing
and called for Federal troops, who
came to Williamsport and quelled
L