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1858 Newspaper Reports

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1858 Newspaper Reports COMPILATION OF CANAL TRADE ARTICLES FROM DEMOCRATIC ALLEGANIAN a Cumberland newspaper and DAILY EXAMINER and THE SUN two Baltimore newspapers and EVENING STAR and DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER two Washington, D. C. newspapers and ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE an Alexandria, Va. newspaper 1858 Compiled by William Bauman C & O Canal Association Volunteer [email protected] Revision 1, NOVEMBER 2015 Revision 2, JUNE 2020 Canal Trade - 1858 A. PREFACE In this compilation, all the Canal Trade articles were transcribed from the Democratic Alleganian, a weekly Cumberland, Md., newspaper of the era, the Daily Examiner and Sun, two Baltimore newspapers of the era, and Evening Star and Daily National Intelligencer, two Washington, D. C. newspapers and Alexandria Gazette, an Alexandria, Va. newspaper of the era, unless otherwise footnoted. The articles were compiled, chronologically in a two-column format, just as they appeared in the newspaper. The Democratic Alleganian newspaper was found on microfilm at the library at Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD, whereas the Daily Examiner, Sun, Evening Star and Daily National Intelligencer newspaper were found on-line. Articles from the Democratic Alleganian are prefaced with the initials: DA; articles from the Daily Examiner are prefaced with the initials: DE; articles from the Sun are prefaced with the word: Sun; articles from the Evening Star are prefaced by ES; and articles from the Daily National Intelligencer are prefaced by DNI, and articles from the Alexandria Gazette are preceded by AG. Interestingly enough the articles mostly relate to an attempt to sell the Canal, the management of the Canal, or to repair dams Nos. 4 and 5. This was a year where Canal officials were politically appointed and not based on merit. Several articles border on editorials and are included for their supposed factual content. There are some duplicate articles included because the same story was reported by different newspapers, and thus the details are different. Feel free to send additional articles for the benefit of others. William Bauman Revision 1, November 2015 Revision 2, June 2020 [email protected] 2 Canal Trade - 1858 Canal Trade 1858. collection office for the past year were $66,410, of which the sum of $63,974 was derived from Sun, Fri. 1/1/58, p. 4. WASHINGTON. the downward trade, and the balance, $2,435, The new wooden bridge over the canal from the trade upward. There is, besides, a at L street south, in the fifth ward, will collection office at Williamsport, where dues probably be completed today. It was an are collected on flour, and considerable improvement long wished for by the residents amounts are paid by the Borden and American of the fifth ward, and its completion will give Coal Companies at Cumberland. great satisfaction to the property owners of that vicinity. Sun, Fri. 1/8/58, p. 1. GOVERNOR'S Georgetown, D. C. - The citizens of this MESSAGE - Chesapeake and Ohio Canal town have shared in the embarrassments and Company. - The history of the Chesapeake and disappointments occasioned by the panic. Ohio Canal Company continues to be marked Their trade has been materially affected by with successive disasters and misfortunes. The frequent interruptions to canal navigation, as interest and liability of the State in this work well as other causes; but the venerable college, amounts to, for the bonds loaned, $2,000,000; seminaries and schools have been well stock subscribed, $5,163,724; being over sustained, and the business of the adjoining $7,000,000. The canal company is also county with Georgetown has been continued indebted to the State for arrears of interest and handsomely extended. about $7,000,000. The State's interest is The unremitting efforts of the President subject to $1,700,000 of preferred bonds, and and Directors of the Chesapeake and Ohio the arrears of interest thereon $550,000, being Canal have been neutralized by causes beyond about $2,250,000; other prior claims exist their control the past year, and the revenues amounting to about $500,000, and the company from coal cargoes alone, to an immense has also a large floating debt amounting to amount, have thereby been lost. Receipts from nearly if not quite $1,250,000. freights on flour can scarcely bear comparison From this statement it must be obvious with those of 1856. It that year there were that the prospects of any revenue to the State inspected here 274,317 barrels. - For the first from this company is very distant, if not three quarters of 1857 we have but 123,947 altogether hopeless. From the last annual barrels. At the Collector's office, in report of the president of the company, and Georgetown the whole amount of revenue for from information subsequently received, it the year is $65,731.71. appears that the canal has been inoperative for a considerable portion of the past two years. DNI, Tue. 1/5/58, p. 1. Criminal Court – The severity of the winter, and the drought of James Thomas and Gusty Price (colored) were the summer of 1855, closed it for a great part of tried and found guilty of stealing a quantity of that year, and other causes contributed to wheat from a canal boat in Georgetown. diminish its operations. In February last, an ice Motion for a new trial to be heard today. freshet carried away a great portion of dams [Transcriber’s Note: Unless the wheat was Nos. 4 and 5, which, after being temporarily shipped in bags, it seems like an article hard to repaired, were again destroyed by the steal.] occurrence of freshets. The president of the company, animated by the hopeful spirit which Thu. 1/7/58, p. 3.1 Chesapeake and Ohio characterized his report, succeeded, by the most Canal – The receipts at the Georgetown energetic and praiseworthy efforts in procuring 1 States, Washington, D. C. 3 Canal Trade - 1858 from the friends of the work, a loan of funds revenues she may in future receive. The sufficient to renew the repairs, when other probability of the more efficient and successful disasters occurred, which again closed the prosecution of the work in private hands, canal; and lately two heavy landslides, possessing the requisite means to carry forward requiring much time and expense to remove, the enterprise, and governed by a permanent have occurred, effectually suspending for the policy in relation to it, and thereby promoting present all navigation. the trade and business interests of an important The company, now heavily encumbered portion of the State, are considerations to be with debt, appears to be without sufficient viewed in close connection with the measure, means or credit properly to prosecute the work, and decided as your judgment may dictate. and its heavy losses and repeated disasters ---------------------------------------- seem to have dampened the ardor and Ibid, p. 2. Affairs in Allegany County. destroyed the hopes of the warmest friends of The Cumberland Telegraph announces that this great, but most unfortunate enterprise. during the past year there were shipped from Several propositions were made to the Cumberland, via canal, 125,503 tons of coal, 37 Legislature at its last session for the disposal of tons of cement, and 567,400 feet of lumber, in the entire State's interest in this work. One was 1,160 boats. for its transfer to the preferred stockholders, or companies representing them, on certain AG, Fri. 1/8/58, p. 4. The Chesapeake and conditions. - Another for its sale to a northern Ohio Canal has recently suffered a break near company, who proposed (of course) to assume Edward’s Ferry, which required four or five all liabilities to the preferred stockholders, and days to repair. to give the State in addition $1,000,000 for its We hear that the clearing out of the interest in the work. These and other fallen stone at the tunnel is progressing, but not propositions failed of acceptance, either very rapidly. On Friday and Saturday last, the because the sum named did not meet the views Board of Directors held their usual monthly of a majority of that body, or because the meeting; they will continue in office until June. proposals were presented too late in the session The receipts at the Georgetown Collector’s to give proper time for consideration that its Office for the year 1857 were $66,410, of importance demanded. which $63,974 was from downward trade, the In view of the present condition and balance of $2,435 from trade upwards. Besides prospects of this company, and of the series of these sums, considerable amounts are paid by disasters which has marked its career for so the Borden and American Coal Companies at many years, should the offer to purchase the Cumberland; there is also a collection office at State's interests be renewed, and no Williamsport, where a good deal of flour pays constitutional objections to the measure be toll. – Nat. Int. found to exist after the precedent established in 1853 by the sale of the State's interest in the AG, Sat. 1/9/58, p. 2. The Governor of Susquehanna Railroad Company, I do not Maryland, in his annual message, recommends hesitate to say that in my judgment the State the sale of the State’s interest in the would be greatly benefited by the sale of this Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Speaking on this work at an equitable valuation. subject, the Cumberland Telegraph says: “It has This great work has been completed been intimated of late that the Baltimore and mainly by the resources of the State, and the Ohio Railroad Company, the people generally State is really more interested in the steady and of Baltimore city, are urging its sale, with a uninterrupted operation of the canal than in any view of its transfer to the Baltimore Company.
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