COMPILATION OF CANAL TRADE ARTICLES FROM THE DAILY MAIL THE MORNING HERALD two Hagerstown, Md. newspapers and THE WASHINGTON TIMES THE WASHINGTON POST THE EVENING STAR AND THE WASHINGTON HERALD District of Columbia newspapers 1919

Including the research of Richard Ebersole

Compiled by William Bauman C & O Canal Association Volunteer [email protected]

Revised June 2017

Canal Trade 1919

A. PREFACE

In this compilation, all the Canal Trade articles were transcribed from The Daily Mail and The Morning Herald, two Hagerstown, Md. newspapers and The Washington Post, The Washington Times, The Evening Star and The Washington Herald, Washington, D. C. newspapers of the era. The articles were compiled, chronologically in a two-column format, much as they appeared in the newspaper. Articles from The Daily Mail are preceded by DM, those from The Morning Herald are preceded by MH, those from The Washington Post are preceded by WP, those from The Washington Times are preceded by WT, those from The Evening Star are preceded by ES, and those from The Washington Herald are preceded by WH. A search was made of the Cumberland, Md. newspaper for 1919 looking for stories about the canal, to no avail.

All the articles from The Daily Mail and The Morning Herald were researched by Richard Ebersole from the microfilm files at Washington County Free Library, Hagerstown, Md. Thank you so much.

The other newspapers were found on-line. There may be some duplication or overlapping of stories due to the varied sources, date of publication, and local interest. The research continues because the reader may yet find a missing date or better yet another missing newspaper.

Newspapers occasionally used the spelling “Nicholson” whereas the Canal Company letterhead stationary used the spelling “Nicolson.” Readers interested in him should search on both spellings.

Readers are encouraged to search the enclosed report for information on their ancestor, as their time and interest permits. Feel free to send additional observations for the benefit of others.

William Bauman Revised June 2017 [email protected]

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Canal Trade 1919

Canal Trade 1919. make the continuation of Federal control for 1 year and 9 months after the proclamation DM, Fri. 1/3/19. WMSPORT TO HAVE of peace mandatory unless Congress AN ICE FACTORY ALONG THE otherwise directs.” CANAL – J. M. Miller, former member of Miller Bros., Williamsport, is remodeling WT, Wed. 2/12/19, p. 7. CANAL TO BE the mill, which he recently purchased from READY FOR USE IN MARCH – the firm and will convert it into an ice Williamsport, Md., Feb. 12. – Arrangements factory. Work has been started on the are being made for re-opening the concrete foundation for the machinery and it Chesapeake and Ohio canal between is expected to have the plant installed within Cumberland and Washington earlier this a few weeks or a month. The mill is located season than usual. at the aqueduct on the canal. Water will be Officials of the waterway here state obtained from a large spring along the W. that improvements being made to the canal M. Railroad and will be piped to the plant. banks and property will be completed within Mr. Miller purchased the machinery of the a week or ten days and that the canal will be Shepherdstown ice plant and will remove it flooded and gotten ready for navigation to Williamsport. early in March. It is expected to transport more coal on the canal to Washington this DM, Mon. 1/27/19. McADOO FAVORS year than has been handled in any previous COMBINE OF RAIL AND WATER season. SYSTEM – Defiance, O., Jan. 27. – W. G. McAdoo, former director general of DM, Fri. 2/14/19. V. CUSHWA & SONS railroads, declared today that a return to “cut ERECT ELEVATOR AT throat competition of railroads under private WILLIAMSPORT – Victor Cushwa & ownership would effectively destroy water Sons, coal dealers, of Hagerstown and transportation” and urged an extension of Williamsport, are erecting an elevator in the five years under government control and the west end of their large warehouse on the C. coordination of rail and water systems. & O. Canal at the latter place, the elevator Cummins’ New Bill will be three stories in height. The firm will Washington, Jan. 27. – President Wilson handle in addition to coal, cement and other would be stripped of his power to turn back products, all kinds of grain and feed. the railroads to their private owners The overjet at this end of the whenever he so desires under a bill warehouse has been closed and the W. M. presented in the Senate today by Senator track has been moved outside the building Cummins of Iowa. on the new ground made by filling in the “The purpose of the bill,” Senator canal basin in front of the warehouse. Cummins said, “is to leave Congress free to exercise its own judgment as to when the ES, Sun. 2/23/19, p. 2. The Rambler roads should be turned back without being Writes of Maryland Homesteads – From influenced by threats from the executive the Davidson and Dodge families the fine department to return the roads immediately old place called Glen Moore passed by unless some pet theory of five-year control purchase into possession of John Moore, is adopted. who married Sarah Coltman, a daughter of “The Cummins bill would amend Charles Lilly Coltman, an early Section 14 of the Railroad Control Act, to Washingtonian, who, according to the

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Canal Trade 1919

Rambler’s information, was superintendent revolutionary soldier and is buried at Queen of buildings and grounds during the Anne’s Chapel, in Prince Georges. He was administration of President Jackson. This a son of John Moore, a London printer, over Charles L. Coltman was also a brick whose shop was a sign, “Printer to His manufacturer and his brickyard was at the Majesty” – that “majesty” during the life of intersection of Vermont avenue and 13th the little print shop being represented at first street, that intersection being marked now by George I the great-grandson of James I. by Iowa Circle, in which the memorial to and second by George II, the son of George Gen. John A. Logan stands. Charles Lilly I. John, The son of the “printer to his Coltman built the big brick house on the majesty,” carried a musket for seven years, northeast side of Thomas Circle at the and it is the belief of his descendants that he intersection of Vermont avenue and M street did his level best to pour as much shot as long occupied by the late Judge Andrew possible into the faithful soldiers of his Wylie. John Moore, who married Sarah majesty, King George III. Coltman, was a son of John Moore, who was born near Old Fields between Washington ES, Mon. 3/3/19, p. 2. C. & O. CANAL and Marlboro in Prince Georges county, and MAY HAVE TO SUSPEND – The who when a boy went to Loudoun county, Chesapeake and Ohio canal, the most Va., where he grew up in the family of Capt. historic inland waterway of the nation, may Everhart, who lived near Lovettsville. He go out of business this year. married Mary Mann of Loudoun. Despite its record of having brought This John became a contractor for 116,000 tons of coal to Washington from the building a section of the Chesapeake and Cumberland fields last season, the canal Ohio canal and one of the family stories is faces the probable necessity of suspending that he took payment in about $50,000 worth operations because the government has not of the bonds of the company, which are still decided to give it the financial assistance in possession of his descendants and are that it received during the war, and the looked on as historic souvenirs. John Moore towage company does not see its way to made his home in Georgetown, on Jefferson meeting an almost certain deficit that will be street, and survivors of the civil war period incurred under existing operating costs. will remember him as the owner of the little Gave Guarantees Last Year steam packet, Flying Cloud, which used to Failure of the canal to open will affect ply between Georgetown and Harper’s nearly 600 employees and their families, Ferry, and which was captured and burned including boatmen and lock-tenders. As a by a body of Mosby’s partisans. He had war measure, the federal government last been a captain of Virginia troops in the war year guaranteed the towage company against of 1812 and took part in the battle of North loss in operation. A loss was incurred, Point, where the British troops who had which the government met. captured the city of Washington were beaten It is understood Director General and Gen. Robert Ross, commanding the land Hines is considering a recommendation that forces, was killed. this agreement be not renewed. Approval of John Moore rests in Oak Hill the recommendation, it is said by those close cemetery. He was a son of John Moore, to the company, would put the canal out of who came to the colonies from England as a business. boy stowaway and settled in Prince Georges Representative Zihlman of Maryland county, near Old Fields. He was a will see Mr. Hines this week and urge that

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Canal Trade 1919 the government continue to help the “Unless the government comes to the company until business conditions become rescue, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal may more normal. be compelled to suspend. As a war measure Under the government-supervised the Railroad Administration last year operation last year wages on the canal guaranteed the towage company against the increased enormously. The pay of boatmen loss of operations due to the high wages paid was jumped from 50 to 60 cents at the their employees. A was incurred, which the beginning of the season, subsequently government paid, but it is understood that increased to 70 cents and at the end of the Director General Hines is considering a season these employees were receiving recommendation that this agreement be not compensation at the rate of 80 cents a ton. renewed. Approval of the recommendation Increases were given other employees, all of is said by those close to the company would which led to a deficit in operation that was put the canal out of business.” made good by the government. Mr. Zihlman will see Mr. Hines and Mr. Zihlman’s Contention urge that the government continue to help Representative Zihlman proposes to point the company until business conditions out that one of the results of the government become more normal. having interested itself in the canal was a Under the government supervised material boost in wages, and that it would be operation last year wages on the canal unfair for the government to step out at this increased enormously. The pay of boatmen time, while costs of operation are still on a jumped from 50 to 60 cents at the beginning war basis. of the season, subsequently increased to 70 The United States built ten barges cents and at the end of the season these and placed them in service on the canal last employees were receiving compensation at season. Closing of the waterway would put the rate of 80 cents a ton. Increased were out of business about eighty other boats given to other employees, all of which led to owned by the towage company. Despite the a deficit in operation that was made good by strike of the boatmen last year, the influenza the government. epidemic and draft which produced a serious The United States built 10 barges labor shortage, coal shipments to and placed them in service on the canal last Washington via the canal were increased season. Closing of the [illegible] owned by approximately 10,000 tons. the towage company. Despite the strike of The canal as at present constituted the boatmen last year, the influenza has been in operation since 1850. It is a epidemic and draft, which produced serious development of the canal operated by the labor shortage, coal shipments to old Potomac Navigation Company, in 1777, Washington via the canal were increased of which George Washington was the first approximately 10,000 tons. president. ------Ibid, p. 4. TO LIQUIDATE BIG DM, Tue. 3/4/19, p. 1. C. & O. CANAL AMOUNT OF ORCHARD CLAIMS – MAY BE FORCED TO A SUSPENSION The liquidating of claims in a pending – According to a dispatch from Washington bankruptcy proceeding in the United States the future of the old C. & O. Canal is in Court, which in the aggregate amounts to the doubt with the possibility of navigation sum of $3,800,000 and which are distributed being suspended. The dispatch says: among some 2,000 individual claimants, will be taken up by referee in bankruptcy,

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Willie E. Myers, in Baltimore, next Monday. As disclosed in the bankruptcy These claims grow out of the collapse in proceedings a stream of promissory notes 1917, of the huge Green Ridge Valley Apple steadily flowed into the hands of the orchard Orchard project, in Allegany county, which promoting company from 1904 to 1916. In was promoted by the firm of F. Mertens’ that year, according to a written statement of Sons, Cumberland. one of the firm, it reached its high-water In 1910, the Mertens brothers, mark of $3,800,000 negotiable value. In Frederick, John H., Henry F. and William March, 1916, however, as the creditors M. Mertens, who comprised a long- alleged, the promoting scheme became established and prosperous lumber firm in unexpectedly top heavy. The enormous Cumberland, were the owners of 40,000 amount of commercial paper indorsed over acres of wild, wooded land in the mountains. to the concern and the large amount of Much of this tract in what was called the money it had succeeded in borrowing did “Green Ridge Valley” they had, in carrying not suffice to offset the expense of its vast on their industry, denuded it of its timber. projects of automobile boulevards, hundreds They therefore conceived the idea of of miles of public roads, railroad converting this vast acreage into a great developments, etc. community apple orchard. The mountain It was forced into bankruptcy and lands were accordingly divided up into small when the claimants appeared against it from tracts, which were sold to the public on cities not only of the United States, but of installment payments. England, France, Mexico, Canada and even The plan of exploitation was that the Germany, they were found to number 2,000 tract-owner, after a period of five years had people. It is said that the available assets of elapsed, was to take possession of his tract the concern will amount to about $250,000. and have the advantage of dwelling in a community of several thousand apple ES, Tue. 3/4/19, p. 6. Keep the Canal growers, their residence to be on a town site Open! – If the government will not grant whose advantages, as claimed, forecast a financial assistance the Chesapeake and great future for it as a residential and Ohio canal, it is stated, must suspend commercial center. In the meantime, the operations. This would affect nearly 600 culture and development of the orchard was men and their families, and will cut off an assumed by the promoters. A Washington important means of communication between trust company, it was shown, became the Washington and western Maryland and trustee of the Mertens firm. northern Virginia. It would be a serious Approximately 2,000 orchard tracts misfortune to permit the canal to close. being sold, several thousand of the deferred Application has been made to the director purchase money notes, it was testified, after general of railroads to renew last year’s indorsement without recourse, were duly guarantee against loss in operation. If this delivered by the trust company to the guarantee is not continued the canal cannot Mertens Brothers. Despite their small earn operating expenses owing to the amounts, these notes were used by the increase in wages and the higher cost of feed Mertens concern as collateral security for and other items. This historical waterway advances, it was shown, which they obtained was of particular value during the past year from national banks and trust companies in in bringing to the capital a large part of its scores of cities from Pueblo, Colorado, to coal supply from the Cumberland field. The Boston. fact that this has been a mild winter does not

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Canal Trade 1919 lessen the value of this service. It would be description dot its course for a dozen miles a dangerous deprival of transportation or more out of the city. Weekend parties facilities to refuse the canal the guarantee and even bathing in the canal have become that is essential to its maintenance, for there immensely popular. Closing down of the can be no dependence upon the next winter waterway will remove one of the principal being as clement as that just closing. The sources of recreation afforded the canal should be used to its maximum Washingtonian in summer. capacity and not be abandoned. Company Expects Federal Aid It was learned today that the canal ES, Wed. 3/5/19, p. 24. HISTORIC C. & company, expecting the government to O. CANAL MAY GO OUT OF continue to assist it until business conditions BUSINESS – Locktenders and their begin to return to the pre-war basis, has families, owners of bungalows and camps – made preparations for an early opening of in brief, hundreds of Washingtonians and the canal this year. In fact, operations could others whose homes, business pursuits and be started in a few days, it is declared, pleasures are intimately associated with the should the government decide to continue operation of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal the agreement it had with the company last – are perturbed today over the prospective season. closing down of the historic old waterway. Director General Hines will decide Local business interests, remembering the what the government is going to do in the coal shortage of two seasons ago, are matter. From authoritative sources, it is alarmed over the probable shutting off of learned that the recommendation which has this prolific fuel artery, which brought been laid before Mr. Hines opposes 116,000 tons of coal into Washington last renewing the agreement which was in effect year. last year, under which the government made Vitally Affects Vast Territory good a deficit in operation experienced by If the canal goes out of business, due the company. The company has not stated to the failure of the government to renew the definitely what course it will follow if financial assistance given it last year and the government support is withdrawn, but strong unwillingness of the company to begin intimations have been given that it may be operations facing an almost certain deficit, it forced to suspend operations. will affect vitally the residents of a vast territory bordering the canal on its 185-mile ES, Thu. 3/13/19, p. 2. KEEPING C. & O. run between Washington and Cumberland, CANAL IN USE IS ATTEMPTED – Final Md. efforts are in progress today to save the Locktenders, of whom there are Chesapeake and Ohio canal, between eighty, will be the principal sufferers, it is Washington and Cumberland, Md., from stated, as it will be more difficult for them to going into the discard. get in touch with the outside world and find Facing a definite loss if it opens for new employment than for the boat crews, operation, in view of the government having which make headquarters at Cumberland withdrawn the financial aid that was given and Washington and the principal towns last year, the canal company is endeavoring along the route. to work out a plan by which it may carry the The canal has been a veritable loss and continue in business. If it is paradise for Washington wanderlusters and successful in this effort the waterway will vacationists. Camps and shacks of every open about April 1.

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Canal Trade 1919

Railroad administration officials give has served one term in the national body. no indication that there will be a renewal of To his efforts largely was due the action of the agreement by which the government the government last year in taking over the guaranteed the company against loss in Chesapeake and Ohio canal between operation last year. A loss was sustained Washington and Cumberland and operating last season which the government made it on an enlarged scale as a coal carrier. He good. It promises to be even greater this also brought the Cumberland and year. Washington Chambers of Commerce One of the results of the together in a movement to promote trade government’s supervision of the canal relations between the two cities. during the war was to a boost in wages of Of his activities, last year designed boatmen from 60 to 80 cents a ton. It is to help both Washington and his own stated there will have to be a reduction in constituents was his introduction of a bill for this wage scale before the company can an investigation to determine the best means undertake operations on its own hook. Even of increasing the capital’s water supply. with a wage reduction, operation will be This measure passed the House unanimously undertaken with a certainty of loss, it is said. and received the Senate’s O. K. as a rider to What disposition will be made of the the District appropriation bill. It died with government-owned barges on the canal has the appropriation measure in conference, but not been decided. undoubtedly will become a law when the next appropriation bill is passed. The ES, Fri. 3/14/19, p. 1. MR. ZIHLMAN ON District Commissioners regard this as one of D. C. COMMITTEE – Frederick N. the most vital pieces of legislation now Zihlman, representative in Congress from pending in Congress. the sixth Maryland district, will serve on the Given a Chairmanship next District of Columbia committee of the Not only will Mr. Zihlman serve on House. He was selected yesterday to fill the the District committee, but he has been vacancy created by the transfer of chosen for chairman of the committee on Representative Wason of New Hampshire to expenditures in the Post Office Department, the appropriations committee as successor to which promises to be one of the most Representative Mondell, chosen for floor important and active committees of the next leader of the next House. Congress. He will also serve on the labor The assignment given Mr. Zihlman committee and committee on insular affairs. on the District committee will be a popular He represented Maryland congressional one with District citizens, whose interest he delegation in the committee on committees. has sought to protect as well as those of his own constituents. In fact, there are said to WP, Sat. 3/15/19, p. 13. The board of be more government workers in Washington directors of the Farmers and Mechanics from his district then from any other National Bank of Georgetown have elected political subdivision of a state. The sixth G. L. Nicolson second vice president. Mr. Maryland district borders two sides of the Nicolson is manager of the Chesapeake and National Capital. Ohio Canal Company. Promoter of Industry A resident of Cumberland, Mr. DM, Tue. 3/18/19. OFFER BOATMEN A Zihlman served in the legislature of 60 CENT RATE FOR THIS SEASON – Maryland before coming to Congress. He Whether the C. & O. Canal will be operated

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Canal Trade 1919 this season depends upon the action of the This insures the operation of the canal this boatmen who have been offered a 60-cents season. Mr. Nicolson explained that the freight rate instead of an 80-cent rate, which company would pay the boatmen more than they received last year. 60 cents if it is possible to do so. The rate to G. L. Nicholson, general manager of Williamsport has not been fixed. the Canal Towage Company, this morning The canal will be in operation by held a conference with the boatmen of April 1. Water will be turned into the canal Sharpsburg and district in that place and on Friday and the first boats will be loaded informed them that under present conditions at Cumberland in March 27. Boatmen are the Towage Company could not pay more preparing to leave for Cumberland early than 60 cents this year explaining that the next week. additional 20 cents last year was paid by the Mr. Nicolson went to Four Locks to government in order to insure the investigate a disease that has broken out transportation of coal, which was badly among the Canal Towage Company’s mules needed, to Washington. He said the corralled in that section. Two have died and government could not be expected to aid in several others are sick. the operation of the canal this year, and as the canal is not a paying proposition it has WT, Wed. 3/19/19, p. 17. C. & O. CANAL been found necessary to reduce the rate to MAY REMAIN CLOSED – Whether the 60 cents. Last year the boatmen were Chesapeake and Ohio canal, one of the started at a 60-cent rate and later was raised District’s arteries of coal supply last year, to 80 cents by the action of the government. will be reopened and operating this year The rate to Williamsport last year was 42 depends upon the decision of the boatmen, cents. This rate will suffer a proportionate who have under consideration a proposition reduction. to accept the lower rates offered for Mr. Nicolson left for Williamsport, transportation this year. where he held a conference with the The Canal Towage Company says it boatmen of that place and made the same is impossible to pay more than 60 cents a proposition. It is stated that last year some ton for boating coal from Cumberland, Md., boatmen earned from $800 to $1,000 for the to Georgetown. Last year the rate was 80 season. It is thought that the boatmen, in cents a ton. The additional 20 cents was lieu of general economic and labor paid by the Government to insure the conditions, will accept the 60-cent rate. transportation of coal from the mines to Washington, where it was urgently needed. DM, Wed. 3/19/19. BOATMEN AGREE During the winter, while the bed of TO 60 CENT RATE; CANAL TO the canal was almost dry, extensive OPERATE – Following the conference improvements were made to the banks and held by General Manager G. L. Nicolson of property of the waterway, and four new the C. & O. Canal, with boatmen on canal boats were constructed. Tuesday, at Sharpsburg and Williamsport, the boatmen at both places, and also all WP, Wed. 3/19/19, p. 3. OPEN C. & O. along the line, have agreed to accept the CANAL IN APRIL – Cumberland, Md., tentative 60-cent freight rate for hauling coal March 18. - Apprehension felt by from Cumberland to Washington, this year Chesapeake and Ohio Canal men at points as against 80-cents last year, when the between this city and Georgetown over what government supplied the additional 20 cents. they thought was a delay in turning water

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Canal Trade 1919 into the canal is unfounded. The water will this season the company faces an almost not be let in until about April 20 or 25, the certain financial loss, it is stated. usual time it was said by an official today. Water is being turned into the canal Belief in some quarters that the and the first boat will be loaded with coal at government probably intends to abandon use Cumberland March 27. of the waterway as stated in dispatches from Opening Earlier Than Usual Washington was given no credence by the The canal is opening about a month official, who indicated that traffic would be earlier than last year and a total of about carried on as usual. Four new canal boats eighty boats will be operated. It is planned have been constructed. to bring more coal to Washington than was Hagerstown, Md., March 18. – ever before conveyed to the capital over this George L. Nicholson of Washington, water route. Ten barges which belong to the general manager of the Canal Towage United States government and were operated Company operating the Chesapeake and on the canal for a short time last season will Ohio Canal, today at conferences at continue in this service under the company’s Williamsport and Sharpsburg, informed the management, it was announced. boatmen that the towage company this season could not pay boatmen more than WH, Thu. 3/20/19, p. 3. CANALMEN sixty cents per ton for boating coal from ACCEPT WAGE REDUCTION – Cumberland to Georgetown. Eighty cents Operation of the Chesapeake and Ohio was paid last year. Canal will begin again on March 27, largely through the willingness of the boatmen to ES, Wed. 3/19/19, p. 1. C. & O. CANAL accept a reduction in compensation from 80 TO BEGIN OPERATIONS MARCH 27 – to 60 cents per ton for coal conveyed from Notwithstanding the government has Cumberland to Washington. decided to discontinue the financial It was explained that the government assistance that was given it last year, the had decided to discontinue furnishing the Chesapeake and Ohio canal will resume company financial assistance and that the operations March 27, it was announced prospects of financial profits this year were today. remote. Manager Nicholson then learned Opening of the canal was made that the men were willing to co-operate to possible yesterday when the boatmen, after a reduce expenses by accepting a reduction in conference with Manage Nicolson, voted to pay. go to work for wages less than those paid The canal is opening about a month during the war. earlier than last year and a total of about In lieu of the 80-cent wage paid last eighty boats will be operated. year the boatmen have agreed to 60 cents a ton for coal brought from Cumberland to DM, Sat. 3/22/19. FILLING CANAL Washington. AND BOATS WILL MOVE ON Cut Regarded Necessary TUESDAY – Water has been turned into It was explained to the men that this the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal all along the cut in wages was absolutely necessary if the line form Cumberland to the last feeder near company was to resume operations. Last Washington and the first of light boats will year the company lost about $50,000, which leave next Tuesday for Cumberland. was made good by the government. Even Loading will begin at that place next with the reduced wage scale agreed upon for Thursday. It is stated that 80 or 85 boats

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Canal Trade 1919 will be operated on the canal this season. enable it to meet expenses, if not to return a Water was turned into the Williamsport profit. division at Dam No. 5 on Friday and the Government aid is not a wholesome levels are rapidly filling. Between 18 and foundation for any such transaction. Canals twenty boats will leave Williamsport early are not obsolete. They form an important next week. and valuable supplement to the country’s Boatmen along the entire line of the transportation equipment. In the present canal are equipping their boats preparatory instance, the canal is peculiarly suited to to making the initial trip of the season. conditions of traffic, and it is to be hoped The freight rate to Williamsport has that means may be devised to put this line of been fixed at 32 cents and the through rate trade connection in shape to do the volume to Washington at 60 cents. Boatmen will of business that it requires to maintain itself receive an additional rate of 10 cents to without government assistance. Indian Head, below Washington. WT, Mon. 3/24/19, p. 4. C. & O. CANAL ES, Sun. 3/23/19, p. 2. The C. & O. Canal TO BE OPENED THIS WEEK – – Good judgment has prevailed among the Hagerstown, Md., March 24. – Before the Chesapeake and Ohio canal boatmen, who end of this week barges loaded with coal have agreed to a reduction of the pay scale will be on their way to Washington on the from 80 to 60 cents a ton for the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. Cumberland- Washington haul, and they Water is being fed into the canal have accepted the company’s proffered from above the big dams in the Potomac terms, and will resume operations. Had they river into all of the feeder levels from refused, the canal could not have operated Cumberland to Washington, and today the this season, for, even at the lower wage, it is first fleet of light barges will leave likely that the waterway will run at a loss, Washington, Williamsport, Sharpsburg, which the government has refused to Hancock and other ports for Cumberland, guarantee in reimbursement. where loading will begin on Thursday. The Thus, on the principle that three first cargoes of coal should reach quarters of a loaf is better than none, these Washington by Saturday. canal workers will continue operations. Announcement is made of the Washington will have the benefit of a schedule of rates fixed by the Canal Towage comparatively cheap coal-hauling service Company to be paid by [sic, to] boatmen for from the mines. Had it been otherwise, had the season: Sixty cents per ton to the operatives refused to work at the lower Washington; 70 cents to Indian Head; and rate, the capital would have been denied this 32 cents to Williamsport and Powell’s Bend, service, with injury to its business interests. the transfer points to the Western Maryland This situation requires remedy. The and Cumberland Valley railroads. Between canal service should not be left in the eighty-five and ninety boats will be in precarious condition of the present, with the operation on the canal within the week. possibility of suspension. The canal should not be operated at a loss, nor should the men WT, Thu. 3/27/19, p. 2. C. & O. CANAL be required to work for an inequitably low OPEN; 8 NEW BOATS READY – rate of pay. There should be a sufficient Cumberland, Md., March 27. – Boats are volume of business for this transport route to arriving here over the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and the first of the season will be

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Canal Trade 1919 loaded today to be dispatched to includes ten barges that were built by the Georgetown. federal government last year. From ten to twelve boats will be dispatched daily. The number will be DM, Mon. 4/7/19. FUTURE BRIGHT increased as the season advances. Eight new FOR COAL, SAYS HOWARD BRYDON boats were built here during the winter. – Cumberland, April 7. – Howard P. Brydon, president of the George’s Creek and WP, Thu. 3/27/19, p. 3. Navigation Opens Upper Potomac coal regions of this vicinity, on the Canal – Cumberland, Md., March sees a bright future for coal operators, and 26. – Boats are being loaded on the says that the output of clean coal and good Chesapeake and Ohio Canal here, and the prices is very promising, despite half- first cargoes of coal will leave for production just now, due to the with-holding Georgetown tomorrow. From 10 to 12 boats of railroad fuel orders. Mr. Brydon states will be loaded daily, and this number this despite the fact that at the present time increased as the season advances. Eight new the production in the coal fields is less than boats were built at the docks here during the half normal. In the George’s Creek and suspension of navigation. Upper Potomac fields, he states, where they used to be at least 2,000,000 tons of coal ES, Thu. 4/3/19, p. 4. FIRST C. & O. dug annually to fill railroad fuel orders, CANAL COAL BARGE’S COMING there is today not a single order for railroad TIMELY – The first coal-laden barge to fuel, nor has there been any since February. reach Washington this season over the For all this, with the prediction of a Chesapeake and Ohio canal arrived in time great movement for soft coal out of this yesterday to help the District government country within the next 60 days, officials of out of a coal shortage situation at the sewage the W. M. are looking forward to freight pumping station, on the Eastern branch. business returning again to normal. At the The boat, No. 22, in charge of Capt. present time only about 40 percent of James McKelvey, was towed to the pumping normal business is being handled. It is station this morning. Other barges are estimated that only about 10 percent of coal, expected to arrive today and at frequent compared with normal conditions, is being intervals from now on. exported. There is a great demand now for On the way down from Cumberland, coal in other countries, but every available Capt. McKelvey was delayed on the ship is necessarily being used to transport fourteen-mile level because the wind blew food. so much water out of the canal that navigation was impossible. WT, Sun. 4/13/19, p. 8. Lafe Pence Would Coal hauling on the canal is starting Turn C. & O. Canal Into Coal Railroad practically a month earlier than last year. to Cumberland. – Is it feasible to turn the Barring accidents or delays of any kind, it is old Chesapeake and Ohio canal into a expected that 160,000 tons of coal will be railroad? conveyed over this waterway before the Lafe Pence, former Congressman season closes – in November or December. from Colorado, has a plan with that result in There will be about ninety boats view. available for operation this year, General Mr. Pence invited a Times Manager Nicolson said today. This number representative to his quarters at the Hudson,

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1407 S street northwest, and outlined the take over the improvement, seeking plan proposed by him and his associates. reimbursement in charges for lessees and In brief, the plan is to convert the old franchises placed at rates to cover interest on canal into a rail carrier and to develop at the a sinking fund for bond redemption, cost of same time a power plant at Great Falls. repairs, maintenance and improvements. Mr. Pence and his associates (he He points out that thousands of does not divulge who they are) propose: soldiers would be given employment and the 1. To run a double track railroad over Government reap a handsome profit. the canal ditch from Cumberland, Md., to Mr. Pence has statistics showing that Washington, D. C. 92,000,000 tons of soft coal are sent to the 2. To develop the potential water tidewater from the coal fields of West power of the Potomac river through Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and construction of a chain of storage and Pennsylvania. impounding lakes along the river with minor “Statistics for 1916 show that power plants for local electric power wan 30,000,000 tons of coal could be diverted to with a main storage power plant at Great the new railroad,” he says. “If the Falls. transportation cost saving could be only 20 3. To reserve in the canal ditch under cents a ton, or one-half the estimated cost of the railroad bed a subway or conduit to carry saving, the total saving would be $6,000,000 water, oil mains and pipes, or electric light, or 4 percent interest on $150,000,000. power, telephone and telegraph lines. “This estimate does not include the 4. To combine and coordinate the certain revenues from passenger and general canal and water-power development projects commercial uses of this proposed railroad, within the District of Columbia so as to or revenue from charges for use of the supplement extension of a contemplated subway under the roadbed.” park system in the western and northwestern Mr. Pence says that the proposed line section of Washington. would connect with the Baltimore and Ohio, Plan Outlined to Baker the Pennsylvania and the Western Maryland Secretary of War Baker, before his railroads at Cumberland and relieve them of departure for France last week, had the plan some of the heavy burden of handling the outlined by Mr. Pence. He carried with him coal business of that section. a bundle of maps and considerable data on The line would connect with the the subject. Washington terminals by entering Since Secretary Baker was born and Washington at Georgetown, passing through reared in Martinsburg, W. Va., one of the tunnels under K and L streets and under towns that would be vitally affected by such Massachusetts and New York avenues. a venture, he is already familiar with the A spur track is proposed under the environs of that end of the proposed Public Library to the old Land Office railroad. building, which would be used for depot, According to Mr. Pence’s estimates, terminals and express and mail station. the undertaking would involve the Other terminals would be erected on the expenditure of about $150,000,00 and would Mall, according to the plan. require two years to accomplish. The aggregate length of the proposed While Congress would have to tunnels under the city would be six miles, determine the financial plan, Mr. Pence according to Mr. Pence. proposes that Government and the District Would Relieve Congestion.

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Mr. Pence sees in the plan possibility carrier in connection with the scheme for the of relief in the existing street car congestion. utilization of water power from the Potomac “The tunnels under the business River. streets of Washington,” he explains, “from The principal feature of the proposal the canal railroad route to the Union Station is the establishment of a double track will afford the proposed road outlets from railroad over the canal ditch from Washington to the north, south and east. Cumberland or some point beyond to this Subway stations in the shopping districts city. These tracks are to connect at the and a station at the Georgetown tunnel Cumberland terminus with tracks of the entrance would assist materially in relieving Baltimore and Ohio, Pennsylvania, the the street railway congestion.” Western Maryland and other intersecting Details affecting the Georgetown railroad lines, and at the Washington terminals and freight yards have not entered terminus with the tracks of the Washington into the plans of Mr. Pence and his Terminal Company, entering the Union associates. Station. As this line will afford a direct He is already working out plans for route from the coal fields, both Washington taking the matter to the State Legislatures of and Alexandria would benefit by receiving Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and cheaper coal, it is said. Virginia. Should Great Falls be developed, the DM, Tue. 4/15/19. FIND DEAD MAN IN proposed railroad could be electrified, Mr. THE CANAL UP AT CUMBERLAND – Pence says. Cumberland, Md., April 15. – The body of At Great Falls, he says, a 3,000 acre George Lohr, a lumberman, aged about 45, park could be developed and made the most was found floating in the canal below the beautiful in the world. He urges the boat yard here today, about noon. The man building of a paved road from Washington had probably been dead a week. There were to the falls. no marks to indicate foul play. Papers found Could Be Beautiful. showed that he had been at Franklin and Along the canal route, wherever Jeannettesville, W. Va., and that a brother, small power sites are developed, Mr. Pence Harry, lived at Unityville, and another says the lakes from the impounding of the brother, Frank, at Carnegie. waters could be beautiful and each of them used as the site of a park. WT, Thu. 4/17/19, p. 2. DRAINAGE OF “The whole system is proposed as an CANAL O.K.’D BY MD. LABOR – The adjunct to existing carriers and not as a rival plan to appoint a committee to report on the or competitor to any of them.” says Mr. feasibility of draining the Chesapeake and Pence. “They are overburdened now. Ohio canal, converting its bed into a double “As to terminals and many other track railroad, was approved at a meeting of details, we are not concerned. That is for the Maryland State Federation of Labor, in the proper authorities to determine.” Cumberland, Md., today. The proposal was submitted by WP, Sun. 4/13/19, p. 14. CANAL A RAIL Henry Nolda, a member of Upholsterers’ CARRIER – With a movement on foot to Union, No. 58, of Washington. industrialize the National Capital there is a Besides reporting on the drainage revival of interest in the plan to convert the plan, the committee will also be empowered old Chesapeake and Ohio Canal into a rail

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Canal Trade 1919 to take the matter up with Secretary Baker Col. Clarence S. Ridley, the engineer and other Government officials. officer in charge of public buildings and grounds, today said he expected to begin the DM, Fri. 4/18/19. LABOR DELEGATES operation of the ferry about the 1st of June. FAVOR RAILROAD ON C. & O. Launch Bartholdi Utilized CANAL – The following officers were The launch Bartholdi, which elected for the ensuing year by the Maryland formerly plied the Chesapeake and Ohio and District of Columbia State Federation of canal between Georgetown and Great Falls, Labor in session at Lonaconing: is being fitted up especially for the purpose President – Francis J. Drum of taking visitors to and from the park. She First Vice President – C. C. Coulter has a carrying capacity of 100 persons and Second Vice President – C. A. Ott will be able to make the short trip across the Third Vice President – Thomas McQuade Washington channel in a few minutes. Secretary – Newton James There already is one landing place on Treasurer – J. E. Toone the park side, down near the southern point. Hagerstown, Washington, Annapolis Another is to be built on the park just east of and Cambridge were put in nomination for the big field house, now in course of the next place of meeting and Hagerstown construction, nearly opposite the ferry wharf won easily. on the mainland. Clark & Winston of this A resolution by Harry Nolda asking city have been awarded the contract for the that a special committee of five be appointed construction of the new park landing at their to look into the feasibility of draining the C. bid of $760. & O. Canal and arranging its bed for a Development Delayed by War double track for a railroad for the hauling of Plans for the development of East coal and farm products to Washington, was Potomac Park into one of the largest and referred to the resolutions committee. It finest playgrounds and athletic fields in the stated that Secretary Baker has the project United States have been delayed by the war under consideration, which called for the use and the diversion of some of the area into of the water of the Potomac in furnishing the war gardens and an Army cantonment. power. The special committee is to report to Consequently, the park area can be utilized the executive board and if the latter for picnicking and pleasure purposes only approves, the action is to be made known to during the current season. The the government authorities. The convention macadamized driveway is to be extended to adopted the resolution. the extreme southern point, and that area is to be improved further with a paved ES, Tue. 4/29/19, p. 1. EAST POTOMAC esplanade provided with seats for viewing PARK FERRY SOON READY – East the river and surrounding scenery. Potomac Park is to be made more accessible to the general public within the next few DM, Sat. 5/3/19. WILL ENCOURAGE weeks by the establishment of the FREIGHT TRAFFIC ON C. & O. government ferry. operating between the CANAL – With the object of providing naval militia wharf near the junction of 6th means and encouraging merchants of towns and O streets southwest and two landing situated near the C. & O. Canal to ship places on the peninsula on which the park is goods over that waterway, a committee will located. leave for Washington on the boat “Lamb,” of Frederick C. Dreyer, to be gone three

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Canal Trade 1919 days. All points along the canal will be committee, proposes to lay before the visited and the merchants interviewed. The Chamber of Commerce, should materialize. party will include John N. Martin, Three large manufacturing concerns correspondent, Washington Star; Thomas O. in Cumberland, Md., Mr. Zihlman’s home, Monk, correspondent, Baltimore American; are considering the feasibility of obtaining W. T. S. Curtis, president, Washington shipments of raw material from Cuba, South Suburban Sanitary Commission; and Mr. American and other ports via the Dreyer. George Diebold will be chef. Chesapeake and Ohio canal, he stated today. Photographs at each point will be taken. Large Dockage Planned The plan contemplates providing WP, Sat. 5/3/19, p. 3. Trip for Business on dockage facilities in Washington, so that C. & O. Canal – Cumberland, Md. May 2. freighters coming up the river may transfer – A party which is to include Representative their cargoes to the canal company’s fleet of Frederick N. Zihlman, Fred C. Dreyer, nearly 100 barges. The inland boats, used Cumberland; John N. Martin, W. T. S. exclusively for transporting coal, now return Curtis, president of the Washington to Cumberland in ballast. Suburban Sanitary Commission, The Kelly-Springfield Tire Washington; and Thomas O. Monk, Company, which is to let a contract this Baltimore, will leave tomorrow morning month for a five-million-dollar plant in over the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Mr. Cumberland; the American Cellulose Dreyer’s boat Lamb for Washington. One of Company, which has an investment there of the reasons is to encourage merchants to use more than a million dollars; and a rolling the waterway for goods. mill company, now in process of formation, which will handle large quantities of Cuban WP, Tue. 5/6/19, p. 3. Cumberland ore, are the concerns mentioned by Mr. Trainmen End Strike – Cumberland, Md., Zihlman which are considering utilization of May 5. – The strike of the trainmen of the the canal, provided the necessary terminal Cumberland and Pennsylvania railroad was facilities can be provided in Washington. called off today following conferences in Will Seek Co-operation Here which General Manager M. S. Byers, It is to bring about co-operation Potomac region, United States railroad between the commercial interests of the administration; Val Fitzpatrick, senior vice capital and those of Cumberland that the president of the Brotherhood of Railway Maryland member proposes to bring the Trainmen, and other took part. The matter to the attention of the Chamber of brotherhood refused to uphold the strike. Commerce and urge the appointment of a General Manager Byers agreed to reinstate joint committee to consider trade expansion all employees. The loading of boats on the possibilities. Chesapeake and Ohio canal was resumed Impressed with the fact that this morning. Washington and Cumberland together may be able to develop an important port here for ES, Wed. 5/7/19, p. 5. SEES D. C. AS foreign trade, Mr. Zihlman last week made a PORT FOR OCEAN CRAFT – trip over the canal in a launch to obtain Washington again may become a port for information first hand as to the condition of ships plying the high seas if a suggestion the waterway and its availability for the uses which Representative Frederick N. Zihlman proposed by the Cumberland manufacturers. of Maryland, member of the House District

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He was accompanied by W. T. S. is about one-third of last season’s total Curtis of Chevy Chase, Md., chairman of the shipments. Washington suburban sanitary commission; Frederick C. Dreyer of Cumberland, WT, Sat. 5/10/19, p. 5. C. OF C. TO chairman of the Allegheny [sic, Allegany] HEAR SEAPORT PLANS – The most county republican committee; and George attractive program in months will be offered Diebold of Cumberland. members of the Washington Chamber of The party reached Washington Commerce at their May meeting at yesterday, having left the Maryland terminus Rauscher’s next Tuesday. of the canal last Saturday. In addition to Congressman “Canal as Good as Ever” Frederick N. Zihlman, of Maryland, who “The canal seems to be as good as it will tell of plans for the development of the ever was,” said Mr. Zihlman, “and I am Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, between here confident it could be used for large and Cumberland, which will practically shipments of raw material, such as rubber make of Washington a seaport, eighteen and iron ore. members of the Washington staff of the “Cumberland is experiencing a United States Chamber of Commerce will be business boom and there is no reason why guests. Washington should not share it. If the F. N. Shepherd, head of the field chambers of commerce of the two cities will forces of the national chamber; Merle get behind a practical plan for development, Thorpe, editor of Nation’s Business, and Washington may again become a busy port, Elliot H. Goodwin, secretary, will speak. as famous as Georgetown was before the civil war, when that section of the capital DM, Mon. 5/12/19. POTOMAC IS HIGH engaged in an extensive lumber and grain – DELAYING BOATING – The Potomac trade through its shipping facilities.” river is badly swollen and the Antietam and Representative Zihlman said that the Conococheague creeks are high as a result canal is making a big record on its coal of the heavy rains last week. The river got shipments this year. Approximately 40,000 out of its banks at Williamsport and other tons of coal already have been brought to points causing delay in navigation on the C. Washington. This is about one-third of last & O. Canal, preventing boats from passing season’s total shipments. through Slackwater. Some of the lowlands below Williamsport was flooded by the river DM, Thu. 5/8/19. PREDICT FUTURE Sunday. The water is reported to be falling FOR C. & O. CANAL BY A NEW PLAN today, and no damage has been done. Rain – Representative Zihlman has devised a plan fell heavily throughout the upper Potomac which he will lay before the Chamber of region. Commerce of Washington on an early occasion, for providing a cheap means of WT, Mon. 5/26/19, p. 8. CANAL CUTS transportation of raw material from COAL COST 30 CTS TON – Hagerstown, Washington to Cumberland by means of the Md., May 26. – Congressman Frederick N. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. Zihlman of Maryland told the Hagerstown It is said that the canal is making a Chamber of Commerce that the Chesapeake big record on its coal shipments this year. and Ohio canal will carry this year 200,000 Approximately 40,000 tons of coal have tons of coal from Cumberland to already has been taken to Washington. This Washington at $1.90 per ton, while the

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Canal Trade 1919 freight rate for the same haul on the railroad Mr. Marmion is a son of the late is $2.20 a ton. Rear Admiral R. A. Marmion, U. S. N. Mr. He expressed the view that if raw Brown is a nephew of the Governor of material could be secured for reshipment to Arizona. Both are college graduates, and Cumberland, the canal would be preserved until they began preparing for their trip had and made to pay and develop the entire been newspaper work in Washington. If section it traverses. He also said he is of the they reach their goal they will establish a opinion that if the canal tonnage can be world’s record in point of distance covered developed, the Government would deepen by canoe. Their boat was built especially and make navigable the Potomac river for for the trip. They carry 612 pounds of some distance. baggage, compactly packed, and have a complete camping outfit. WT, Fri. 5/30/19, p. 4. Found Young On arriving at Baton Rouge, the Rabbit In Stomach of Eel, He Solemnly capital of Louisiana, the travelers will Avers – Hagerstown, Md., May 30. – present to the Governor pleasant letters from Nature fakers were jolted by a fish story told Secretary of War Baker and Surgeon by Henry Jackson, who is employed on the General Braisted of the Navy endorsing their Chesapeake and Ohio canal near work and trip. As an incentive to the Williamsport, and vouched for by Frank success of their trip, the young men, before Wine, the canal section foreman, his wife leaving Washington were promised a reward and daughter. of $500 by E. C. Garden, a war Jackson dipped a three-pound eel in correspondent, on their arrival at New the Potomac river, and when cleaning the Orleans. Moving pictures were taken of the eel, he found a young wild rabbit in its travelers before they left Washington. stomach. The rabbit measured five inches in The canoeists have averaged 35 length. It is supposed that the rabbit was miles a day so far on the first leg of their drowned when the high water swept away a trip. They spent two days in Harper’s Ferry nest on the river bank. and two in Shepherdstown, reaching Williamsport yesterday morning and were DM, Tue. 6/3/19. TWO DOUGHBOYS entertained there over night. Mr. Marmion ON 2,775 CANOE TRIP – Robert T. and Mr. Brown were in Hagerstown and Marimon and Albert C. Brown – two former called on some prominent citizens and doughboys and newspaper men of explained their plans. They also called on Washington – arrived Monday at Mayor Fahrney and got a letter from him. Williamsport over the C. & O. Canal on a They expect to leave Williamsport 2,775-mile trip by canoe to New Orleans, this evening and to reach Cumberland by undertaking a long and perilous journey and Sunday. Their only portage will be from combining business with pleasure on their Cumberland to Confluence, Pa., where they trip. On the way, they expect not only to will embark on the Monongahela River for enjoy the scenic beauty, but also to advocate Connellsville, thence to McKeesport and a year’s pay as a bonus for discharged Pittsburgh, down the Ohio as far as Cairo, service men and incidentally to sell Ill., from which point they will continue subscriptions for the Soldiers, Sailors and their journey down the Mississippi to New Marines National News Weekly, a new and Orleans. very creditable paper.

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ES, Tue. 6/3/19, p. 12. ONE-PIECE sheriff of Montgomery county for aid in BATHING SUIT IS UNDER BAN – Lock their crusade. tenders along the Chesapeake and Ohio canal near Washington have declared war on WT, Wed. ^/18/19, p. 20. There is no the one-piece bathing suit. Canoeing parties reason for Chesapeake and Ohio Canal whose members are thus scantily clad are mules wearing great raw spots on their experiencing difficulty in getting passage flanks and shoulders. That great big through the locks. The canal employees say corporation can get coal into Washington the style may be all right at bathing beaches, without resorting to cruelty to animals; and but they object to having young men and for that reason, I am sending to the women clad in “tights” constantly traversing American Rescue League a letter from N. C. their front yards. LANE describing some of the sore shoulders Locusts and bather in abbreviated he has seen on canal mules. I think a mere costumes descend upon the canal about the hint at the right direction will result in better same time this year. The latter were an things for the hard-working dumb animals oddity to most of the residents of the Seven that plod the old tow path. Locks group, above Cabin John bridge. John H. Speaker, who has been on the canal ES, Fri. 7/11/19, p. 9. COAL BROUGHT since the civil war and at present presides OVER CANAL GOES BEGGING – over one of the seven locks, served notice at Although warnings of a possible coal once that he did not consider the one-piece shortage next winter have been issued by bathing suit a respectable garment and that it government and other agencies, bituminous would have to be kept off his premises. coal being received in Washington over the Speaker lost no time in going into Chesapeake and Ohio canal is in little action after his declaration of war. A canoe demand and business over the waterway has paddled by a brown-skinned athlete and slacked to such an extent that many boatmen lined with cushions, among which lounged a have quit work, officials of the canal towage young woman of Venus-like proportions, company stated today. pulled up at the lock on its way from Great For several weeks barges have been Falls to Washington. laying in the canal here unable to dispose of “I won’t pass you through,” said the their cargoes except after long waits. About locktender, “until the young lady puts on her 4,000 tons of soft coal on an average are to clothes.” be found in the bottoms, notwithstanding A vigorous but futile protest was much fuel has been stored on the wharves at made by her escort. The result was that the the point where the canal flows into the fair occupant of the craft had to repair to the river. Speakers’ home and don her street attire It was thought the problem had been before the voyage could be resumed. solved recently when an ocean barge was Since then other canoeing parties brought here and loaded up with more than a have been held up for the same cause. And thousand tons of coal to be taken to Boston. the ban put on by Speaker has spread to But this barge has not yet been able to clear other locks. Charles Stewart, who runs lock on account of the difficulty in obtaining No. 11, has chased off the landscape towage down the river. It is stated that surrounding his home every person wearing another barge of the same type may be here a one-piece bathing suit that has appeared on next week. it. The locktenders say they may call on the

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As boatmen are paid so much per ton The party returned home for each trip, the delays at this end of the immediately and notified the parents of the line have greatly reduced their prospective youth, who were almost prostrated when earnings for the season, causing no end of they learned of the drowning of their son. complaint and extensive resignations. The The youth is survived by his parents, situation also is proving a great hardship to Mr. and Mrs. John E. Nye, and the following the towage company, which is operating at a brothers and sisters: Bruce, Merle, Lee, Jay loss. and Lucy, all at home. Officials of the company say the Patrolman Hawbaker notified Justice difficulty lies in the fact that users of soft Tice, who after an investigation deemed an coal here have not been impressed with the inquest unnecessary. importance of stocking their bins for next winter’s needs. The coal undoubtedly will WH, Sun. 7/27/19, p. 6. Backward About be in great demand later, they say, but then Ordering Coal Supply – Referring to the the supply will not be available. published statement that there is a slump in the Cumberland coal supply that comes to MH, Fri. 7/25/19, p. 1. Boy Drowns In Georgetown via the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal At Williamsport On Thursday Canal, J. E. DYER, of the firm of Dyer & Afternoon – Luther Nye, aged 16 years, of Co., informed me that there is an Nyesville, near Chambersburg, Pa., was accumulation of Cumberland coal, but this drowned yesterday afternoon, about 2 condition is due entirely to the fact that the o’clock, just above the aqueduct of the people are not laying in their winter supply Chesapeake and Ohio Canal at of coal as early this season as they did last Williamsport, while swimming with several year. A little later, it is predicted, the coal companions. It is not known whether he traffic on the canal will be resumed in full was taken with cramps or not. His body was volume. recovered about forty-five minutes later by Policeman Hawbaker and John Bowers, and ES, Mon. 8/4/19, p. 22. There are forty-four was taken to the undertaking establishment wharves along the river, eight of which are of Albert Leaf, Williamsport, where it is publicly owned and used exclusively for being held until word is received from the public business, eight are open to the general youth’s parents. Young Nye was one of a public on equal terms and twenty-eight are party of picnickers from the Abner used by their owners or lessees for their own Solienberger factory, near Altenwald, Pa. private business and are not open to general The party came to Williamsport for the day; public use. Some of the wharves used by after finishing dinner some of the youths private parties are publicly owned, but are went in swimming. Near Nye, at the time he under lease. The Chesapeake and Ohio drowned, were several of his companions. Canal Company has a lock at the mouth of They noticed him go under and thought it Rock Creek for the passage of its barges was just a trick of Nye’s believing that he from and into the Potomac river. was swimming under water. They waited for him to come to the surface and when he ES, Thu. 8/7/19, p. 22. Brought in Engine had remained under an unusual length of Tank in 1854 – “The most valuable non- time they became alarmed and began to indigenous fish now inhabiting the Potomac search for him. are the small-mouth and large-mouth black bass. These most excellent food and game

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Canal Trade 1919 species are not native to this river, but their been suspended, but traffic between introduction occurred so long ago that the Cumberland and Williamsport is unhalted. general public has lost sight of the It will require ten days to repair the break. interesting facts connected therewith. It was in 1854, shortly after the completion of the MH, Wed. 8/27/19, p. 2. WASHINGTON Baltimore and Ohio railroad, that a lot of PLANTS FEELING EFFECTS OF THE small-mouth black bass from the Ohio river CANAL SHUT DOWN – Washington were brought east in the water tank of a manufacturing plants are already feeling the locomotive engine and liberated in the basin effects of the shut-down of the Chesapeake of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal at and Ohio Canal, it is stated. Many factories Cumberland. Having free access to the close to the canal, which depended upon the Potomac, the fish son found their way to supply of coal furnished by boats plying various parts of the river, and inside of ten between Cumberland and that city are years literally swarmed in all the tributaries greatly handicapped and are only running from Mount Vernon to the headwaters. At part time as the result of their inability to the present time, the species affords much secure coal. The shutdown of the canal is sport from Washington to Harper’s Ferry due to a large break, which occurred near and beyond, but is not common below the Slackwater, about eight miles below capital. The introduction of the large-mouth Williamsport last week. black bass into the Potomac basin was A large force of men are working on accomplished by the bureau of fisheries in the canal, but they are experiencing much 1889, the first plants being made in the trouble in closing the gap, due to the Shenandoah and later in the vicinity of distance from which they are compelled to Washington; by 1896 the fish had become bring the dirt, there being none within a mile remarkably abundant, and now it is taken in of the break. It is estimated that it will be a large numbers by net fishermen and anglers week or ten days yet before the canal boats in all the lower fresh-water reaches of the can resume plying between the two cities river. again. Sixteen light boats have arrived on WP, Fri. 8/22/19, p. 10. Daniel Sounders the C. & O. Canal at Williamsport from Found Dead in Bed. – Hagerstown, Md., Cumberland, the captains being called back Aug. 21. – Daniel Sounders, aged 70, for 40 to use their teams at the big break in the years an employee of the Chesapeake and towpath bank on the Four-Mile Level at the Ohio Canal, was found dead in bed at his Bishop place, below Williamsport. Inability home, Sharpsburg, last night. His wife and to get teams and the scarcity of the proper six children survive. kind of material to be used in closing the break is causing delay in the work. The WP, Sat. 8/23/19, p. 3. Canal Break Near break, it is stated, will be one of the costliest Williamsport – Hagerstown, Md., Aug. 22. the canal company has had in years. – A disastrous break in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal occurred last night near Williamsport. Fifty feet of towpath, ten feet ES, Fri. 8/29/19, p. 8. STRIKE AND below the canal bottom, were swept away. CANAL BREAK HOLD UP COAL FOR The break extends entirely across the canal D. C. – A strike of coal dumpers on the to the berm side. Navigation between wharves at Cumberland, Md., and then a Williamsport and Georgetown, D. C., has break in the canal near Williamsport have

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Canal Trade 1919 combined to delay shipments of coal to how the leather was made into shoes, many Washington over the Chesapeake and Ohio of which are sent to Argentina. He was canal. It will be next week before the break keenly interested, particularly so because he is repaired. The difficulties are expected to found raw products from his own country cause at least a two-week suspension of brought to Washington County, made into shipments here. finished products and sent back to Argentina for sale. WP, Sun. 9/7/19, p. 16. Boy, Aged 10, Ambassador Le Breton stated that he Drowns in Canal – Cumberland, Md., Sept. was very anxious to have tanneries operate 6. – Oscar, 10-year-old son of Henry in his own country and pointed out the Wright, an employee of the Apple Growers’ possibilities that his country offered to these Cooperative Association, near Green Ridge, industries. this county was drowned in the Chesapeake The distinguished visitor left for and Ohio Canal, today. The lad fell from a Washington about noon yesterday by boat in which supplies for the orchards were automobile accompanied by Simms being carried across the canal. The body Jamieson, manager of the Chamber of was recovered. Commerce and Major Robert Campbell. [The hides were brought to WH, Mon. 9/8/19, p. 10. MARYLAND – Williamsport by canal.] Williamsport – After a suspension of nearly two weeks, due to a bad break in the WH, Mon. 11/3/19, p. 8. The water will be towpath on the Four-Mile level, below this drawn from the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal place, navigation on the Chesapeake and in a few weeks and unless the authorities get Ohio Canal has been resumed. busy the bass therein will be illegally slaughtered as usual. MH, Sat. 11/1/19, p. 1. AMBASSADOR VISITS TANNERY AND LEGGING CO. MH, Sat. 11/15/19, p. 2. CANAL BOATS PLANT FRIDAY – His Excellency, L. J. MOVING AGAIN; WERE HELD UP BY Le Breton, ambassador from Argentina, who SOFT COAL STRIKE – The was a guest of the Farmers’ National announcement of the return to work of Congress here, yesterday was taken on a trip miners in the George’s Creek coal region of inspection to the W. D. Byron Sons was good news to the canal boat owners on tannery at Williamsport and later through the C. & O. Canal, it was stated by one of the Hagerstown Shoe and Legging the canal men yesterday. It was stated that Company. Ambassador Le Breton many of the boats have been idle for over a expressed a desire to visit the tannery and to week as the result of the strike of soft coal see the raw hides turned into finished leather miners. The season is not over yet and the products. canal men had hoped for their largest season Upon arrival at the tannery at this year, but were much disappointed when Williamsport, Ambassador Le Breton was the coal strike held up their boats. shown frigorific hides from Argentina sent This is practically the only kind of to Washington County. He was then shown freight that is carried by the canal boats and how these hides were taken through various naturally it meant much to the canal men processes and how the quebracho tanning when the coal was cut off because of the extract from Argentina was used. Later he strike. was brought to Hagerstown and explained

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Canal Trade 1919

those used in 1850, when the canal was first WT, Tue. 11/18/19, p. 6. It was reported completed. Leaves fall, but those at present from the office of the Chesapeake and Ohio on trees along the shore are just like those of Canal that resumption of loading boats was that year. Mules die, but these placid, expected today. The last boats were loaded stubborn, companionable creatures that on November 8. pulled this particular boat must be much like the first mules that ever walked the towpath. WP, Tue. 11/18/19, p. 3. MARYLAND – People come and go, but those the writer Mine No. 10, Consolidation Coal Company, met do not differ materially from those on Eckhart, could only partially resume on the first canal boats. It is as though, in this account of being flooded. The Chesapeake spot, the world has stood still for and Ohio Canal expects to resume loading generations. And this is vacation – to lay tomorrow with coal mined today after a aside one’s motive power for two weeks and suspension of nearly ten days. stand still, contemplating the world. The captain of the boat, father of the ES, Sun. 11/23/19, p. 9. AN AUTUMN family and monarch of all he surveys, will VACATION ALONG THE C. & O. be grateful to you for a remuneration of CANAL – To him whose heels are weary of $1.50 a day and will respect you if you tell their daily 8,000 blows against hard him you usually shave oftener than twice a pavements; whose life, well ordered as a week. His wife will respect you if she finds straight, square-cornered city street, is, you know how to use a camera. Two small nevertheless, as complex as the pavement of boys and a ten-year old girl might respect cement, stone, sand, brick and asphalt; you if you can crack a whip or if you could whose every day from January to December steer a loaded boat – or you happened to is dominated by the twentieth century, with have some chewing gum for them. A small its six-cylinder routine; whose vacations at baby will not respect you under any the seashore but intensify his work-day circumstances. But all are amiable; all diversions; who in his automobile follows become acquainted quickly. Tell them your the concrete trails, and mourns the passing first name and straightway you are part of of the cowbell, the moss covered bucket and the family circle. You will eat with the the milkmaid – the writer would introduce father and his sons from a clean plate, while another world. For he was one of these until mother, daughter and baby wait. You will he met the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, only sleep alone in the hay house. At other times, a step away, and yet as strange as though he you will be left to you own devices – which had stepped to another planet. will be a simple matter, for you will have no Just west of Georgetown, where the devices and need none. National Capital doffs its erudition to meet Like one who, after months of the slow stream, I boarded a boat starting to reduced diet, would delight in sitting before Cumberland, and as we rounded the first a feast and throwing all restraint to the bend I said good-bye for two weeks to winds, so the writer feasted on laziness. pavements, street cars, collars, movies, etc. Through hour after hour of mild October ------sunshine he lay stretched on the deck, at the So, follow and see the stuff that true bow, taking his temperamental cue from the vacation is made of. Here the progression of complacent water. As the hand of a watch the age has not touched. Canal boats wear lingers meditatingly over each minute, this out, yet these boats differ in no way from lazy boat lingers over each bend, scarcely

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Canal Trade 1919 seeming to move, yet gradually changing the a large kettle in one of the yards. A girl of minutiae of each scene. Lazy mules calmly fifteen or sixteen stands near. contemplate each foot of towpath as they Are these people as free from frills pass over it. White clouds are proverbially as is the landscape? What concern is there lazy; one or two drift above, enjoying their here for the buzz of the commercial world, birthright. Tree-tops wave lazily, stirred by the great voice of the statesman, the great a lazy breeze. A leaf falls lazily to the footsteps of the military man? What surface of the water. A crow flaps lazily meaning would attach here to the across the sky. This is the exaltation of expressions: “Keep to the right,” “Move up laziness. Can Washington and New York front, please,” “Six reels of thrills,” “A room and Chicago and Pittsburgh exist in this and bath,” “Number, please,” and “A dollar same world? and ninety-right”? Nearly all of the country along the At certain points the canal makes canal is either wild or simply rural. Close to contact with the outer world. For a few Washington are many summer camps and miles it runs parallel with the Maryland state cottages, also at occasional other places road, and here the passenger on the canal convenient to towns or railroads, but there boat, having grown harmonious with his are great stretches of country where, if man surroundings, perhaps dreamed as the writer ever comes, he leaves no indication of it. was, in blue shirt, old trousers and Here the luxuriant growths of trees, bushes flourishing whiskers, will be part of the and vines almost form jungles. rustic scenery for the mildly curious gaze of ------passing tourists. But at casual open places in the ------woods or at locks, something nestling at the Perhaps you will stop on Saturday foot of a mountain, are simple villages, little night at a small town, such as Williamsport, clusters of ten or twelve houses whose Md. By many this would be called a typical bright whitewash gleams in the sun in shape country town, but it is the borderland contrast to the green pastures and trees. between the canal and the city. Here you They are made of rails or logs or stones, and the captain of the boat will be welcome, plastered between, with shingle roofs and despite a slightly unkempt appearance, to sometimes a few pieces of weatherboarding step into the ice cream parlor for at the top. In such a locality, speculate again refreshment; although two or three youths, whether, somewhere, street cars are still with brightly striped shirts and collars, each clanging, crowds hurrying, policemen eating a quart of ice cream, will wink at each whistling, typewriters rattling. In the dust of other when you pass by and murmur, these roads are no automobile tracks, for it is “Hicks!” far from the travel routes, but there are But the town soon vanishes behind a tracks of small feet, turned toward a school bend in the canal, leaving again the long house some distance away. Shocks of corn, outdoor hours. with heavy ears, stand in small fields on He whose art has always been served each side of the canal; great pumpkins to him daintily but formally upon the canvas scattered about make one feel as though he will find here the original substance from had stepped into a colonial Thanksgiving which it was made, and with a flavor which story. In a bit of woods nearby a cow bell cannot be transplanted. He will see a cold tinkles idly. Two women wearing long blue morning, white with mist, and the sun rising dressed and sun-bonnets are working around out of the canal behind, the same hot, round

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Canal Trade 1919 ingot it was when it set the night before, and Now he can see out over the bowl to the dim a moment later will see it turn its rays, like a blue ridges far beyond. He may realize that great yellow searchlight, upon the mist. The the world is much larger than he had elongated reflection of the sun turns the supposed. The lock tender’s white house canal to gold from one bank to the other, looks like a paper model and the canal like a and, as though the golden water were quietly silver strap. About five miles away there is boiling, it gives off a golden vapor – drops a railroad bridge, and, perhaps while he of gold so tiny and light that they float in the watches, a tiny train creeps over it without a air! sound, disappearing in a moment. A minute Then there is the growing sunlight of drop out of the heart of Chicago it is, the forenoon, the intense sunlight of noon, holding its small share of white-coated the filtered sunlight of the late afternoon, waiters, silver knives and forks and business and the scattering sunlight to clouds and men with great cigars; passing through this mountain rims. Then there is the silent wilderness to the heart of New York. evening, dark trees and their dark reflection The canal trip is not complete in the water, faint sky, ripples at the side of without a turn at driving the mules. To the the boat. And as each star comes out it writer this is the finishing touch, for one seems to complete a picture that had seemed does not completely leave his own sphere complete without it. unless he actively enters into another. At About thirty-five miles below night ten-year-old youngsters are afraid to Cumberland is probably the most deserted be alone on the towpath and the offer to part of the canal. Here the river makes five drive will be appreciated. No skill is turns between two mountains of unusual needed. Mules pull according to their size. Other hills are at each end of the mental state and the presence of any one mountains, so when one is in the center of behind them has a psychological effect. this area he seems to be in the bottom of a And do there are miles of silent gigantic bowl. In every direction, there is a walking. There is a lantern on the bow of barrier between him and the world so solid the boat; it casts a glow before it which that he wonders how he came there. One seems to suggest, rather than illuminate, an lock, with the small whitewashed house of occasional tree or cliff; most of its rays the old man who tends it, is alone in this scatter and are lost in the darkness. And spot. always we are coming out of darkness and ------proceeding into darkness. The trees along From ridge to ridge the bowl is about the towpath are black, and where there is an seven miles in diameter, but by leaving the open space the blackness is deeper still. canal at a bend near one side one can climb Over each dark bank is more darkness, and to the top of the mountain in a few hours. beyond each black cliff is more blackness. There is a clearing about half way up the The writer looks along the towpath and side, appearing from below like a light patch wonders how far away – not in miles, upon the dark mountain, where an apple whereby we measure ground, but in units orchard had been started and then neglected, whereby we might measure darkness and and an indistinct path runs from the lock this silence – is Washington with its busy far. Beyond it the underbrush is thick and government. Here there are only ripples in the climbing difficult, but the goal is worth the water, creaking of the harness and the it. There one can stand for hours looking at crack of the whip, which intensifies the the great loneliness on every side of him.

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Canal Trade 1919 quietness and the distance from the everyday world.

ES, Tue. 12/2/19, p. 2. D. C. TO BE 21,000 TONS SHORT ON COAL DELIVERY – Washington will be 21,000 tons of coal short of the amount which the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company had expected to deliver to the city upon its barges when the canal way is closed for the winter next week. The schedule for the amount of coal which the mule-drawn barges were expected to bring to the capital during the summer months was 125,000 tons. Strike disorders at the mines near Cumberland, Md., where the canal terminates, caused a break in traffic and will allow but 104,000 tons of the fuel to be delivered to Washington before the canal is drained. There are five barges making the trip from Cumberland to Washington yet plying the canal. When they reach their destination here the barge stream will be drained. The canal will reopen in the spring. It is along this canal that the major portion of Washington’s coal supply is brought.

WH, Wed. 12/3/19, p. 1. Incoming Coal Cut 21,000 Tons – The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company announces its barges will be short 21,000 tons of coal of the 125,000 tons expected to be delivered here before the canal is drained. Strike disorders at the Cumberland mines, where the canal terminates, caused the shortages.

WT, Fri. 12/5/19, p. 15. The last shipment of bituminous coal over the Chesapeake and Ohio canal is expected to arrive today or tomorrow. Three boat loads will arrive in this shipment, which was loaded in the bituminous regions before the strike.

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