Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/696

 686 CANAL EXPENDITURES. NAME. For construction, enlargements, and improvements. For repairs, mainte- nance, and collection. Total for construction and maintenance. Received from tolU. $46,018,284 $12,900,888 $58,918,567 $81,057,168 8,490,949 4,689,219 8,180,168 9,238,280 1,520,542 1,200,044 2,720.586 2,184.800 1,278,261 1,794,649 8,067,910 2,012,575 833,237 459,374 792,661 520,416 2,782,124 1,022,026 8,804,150 787,285 Black Kivor 8,224,779 498,866 8,723,645 242, 603 5,827,818 1.689,803 7,617,116 1,806,918 64,887 123,231 188,071 65,180 28,550 25,085 48,591 1,261 146,1144 25,005 171.999 204,268 1,488 20 1,508 5,251 2,968 2,968 4,596 Total $64,710,832 $24,877,108 $89,087,940 $97,625,066 The Chesapeake and Ohio canal had its origin in a project of Gen. Washington for a chain of internal improvements by the route of the Poto- mac and across the mountains to the navigable waters which flow into the Ohio. In the year 1774 he procured the passage of a law by the legislature of Virginia empowering such indi- viduals as were disposed to open the Potomac so as to render it navigable from tide water to Will's creek, but the war of the revolution in- terrupted the enterprise. In the fall of 1784 he again took up the subject. His plan was to improve the navigation of the Potomac to Cumberland, then a frontier fort, and to con- nect by common roads and portages with the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers. The legislatures of Virginia and Maryland appoint- ed a joint commission, with Gen. Washing- ton at its head, to examine the subject. In accordance with their report bills were passed by the legislatures of the two states which re- sulted in the formation of the Potomac com- pany. The charter provided that the capital should consist of 500 shares of 100 each, with powers of enlargement; that the navigation should be improved from tide water to the highest practical point on the North branch; and that the company might construct canals and erect such locks as they might think neces- sary. Gen. Washington was elected the first president, and continued to act in that capacity until elected president of the United States. Three years were allowed by the charter for the completion of the work ; but many difficul- ties being encountered, that time passed, and was successively extended five times by the Maryland and ten times by the Virginia legis- lature, till 1820, when it was concluded that the Potomac river could not be so improved as to answer the purpose required. The board of public works of Virginia, on Jan. 18, 1820, took such measures as finally resulted in the forma- tion of a new company by which a continuous canal from Georgetown to Cumberland was completed, and publicly opened on Oct. 1 0, 1 850. It lies on the Maryland side of the river, and passes through the valley throughout its whole length, except at Pawpaw Bend, 27 m. from Cumberland, where it passes through the moun- tain by a tunnel 3,118 ft. in length. Its whole length is 184-5 m., with a total rise of lockage of 609 ft., which is overcome by 74 locks, and a tide lock connecting Rock creek basin with the Potomac river. It is 6 ft. in depth, and from Georgetown to Harper's Ferry 60 ft. wide at the surface and 42 ft. at the bottom. From thence to Cumberland it averages about 52 ft. at the surface and 31 ft. at the bottom. The locks are 100 ft. long and 15 ft. wide, and are capable of passing boats carrying 120 tons. The supply of water is abundant, drawn en- tirely from the Potomac. The cost up to the year 1851 was $11,071, 176. A branch to Alex- andria, 7 m. long, crosses the Potomac over an aqueduct previously described. The earnings of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal from June 1, 1871, to May 31, 1872, were $476,164, while the expenditures for construction, and main- tenance for the same time were $222,859. Du- ring the year 1872 there were brought to Washington and Alexandria 922,177 tons of coal. The stock is principally owned by the state of Maryland. A president and six directors are chosen annually, the board of public works voting for the state. The Dela- ware and Hudson canal, which extends from Rondout on the Hudson to Port Jervis on the Delaware, was constructed by a company for the transportation of coal to tide water. It has since been enlarged, the width being increased at the surface from 32 to 44 ft., and the depth from 4 to 6 ft. The locks were also increased in length from 76 to 100 ft., and the width from 9 to 15 ft. The cost of enlargement was $6,317,653. There are now three locks on the Chesapeake and Delaware canal, one at the W. end of 16 ft. lift, and two E. of the summit, each of 8 ft. lift. They are 24 ft. wide in the clear and 220 ft. long in the chamber between gates, with 8 ft. depth of water. As the water for the summit level of this canal is mainly pumped up by steam, a water-saving basin has been built alongside the 16 ft. lock, of about eight times the area of the lock, which works well and saves about half the water that would be used without it. There are now 14 locks on the Delaware and Raritan canal, with lifts from 6 to 12 ft., of the same dimensions as those on