Page:Historic highways of America (Volume 13).djvu/157

 lions which the state had invested in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, should be given up as irretrievably lost or an effort be made to make the investment productive. Maryland had already expended seven millions on the work and had never expected any return from it until after completion. Neither money nor the state's credit was now asked, only that, since she herself was in pecuniary difficulties arising mainly from her support of the company (and these investments would remain unproductive until the completion of the canal) the state would waive her unprofitable liens on the revenues to such an extent as would enable the company to finish the work upon a preferred pledge of its future income. Although the opposition was great and influential there were Marylanders in the house of delegates at the December session, 1844, who believed in the importance of the completion of the canal and whose judgment was earnestly enlisted in favor of the plan. After a prolonged struggle the act waiving the liens of the state, under which the