ary, 1839, was the last estimate upon which an available appropriation has been made to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company by the state of Maryland.
A committee was appointed, after the presentation of the memorials and the revised estimate, to investigate the affairs and transactions of the company. In their report they expressed their belief in the importance of an early completion of the canal and suggested the expediency of an appeal to the general government. Instead of an appropriation by the state they recommended that a proposition be made to Congress, that the general government should either aid the company, or transfer to the state of Maryland the interest of the United States in its capital stock both as an original stockholder and as assignee of the district cities, on the condition that the state would provide the necessary means to complete the canal to Cumberland. A similar proposition had previously been made under joint resolutions adopted at December session, 1837, but nothing definite had resulted. The legislature, therefore, was not disposed to postpone the
