1858.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.          475

Leave was granted the Montgomery and Prince Georges'
county delegations to introduce a bill entitled, an act to pre-
vent the sale of any spirituous liquors within two miles of
the Agricultural College.

On motion of Mr. Kilgour,

Leave was granted the Allegany county delegation to in-
troduce a bill for the better regulation of Primary Schools in
Allegany county.

Mr. Stirling proposed the following resolutions:
Joint Resolutions relative to the construction of a new Canal
at the Falls of the Ohio River :

Whereas, The citizens of Maryland, being deeply inter-
ested in the cheap, safe, and speedy transportation of their
commerce on the Ohio river, they claim the right of express-
ing to Congress their opinion on the subject of the proposed
mode of improvement of the navigation at the falls of said
river; therefore, to give force to these opinions collectively,
which the citizens individually entertain, the members of the
General Assembly, representing the several counties of the
State, adopt the following resolutions :

Resolved, That the Ohio river, being acknowledged as the
great national highway, under the care and supervision of the
General Government, a free and ample mode of conveyance
should be provided, and at all times preserved for passage of
boats, and other vessels, conveying the commerce of the river
around the natural obstruction, known as the rapids or tails
of the Ohio;

Resolved, That rapid increase of commerce has rendered
two canals necessary for the accommodation of vessels ascend-
ing and descending the Ohio river, and this necessity will be
greatly increased by the completion of the system of railroads
now in progress, of connection with the river above and below
the falls ;

Resolved, That the repair and enlargement of the present
canal would at all times, excepting during the period of very
high water, present an obstruction to the passage of vessels,
and cause the portage of freight a distance of two miles, sub-
ject to the penalties and regulations incidental to a corpora-
tion, thus suspending navigation through the canal for years,
creating daily losses highly injurious to the commercial and
manufacturing interest, and fatal to the interest of those con-
cerned in the navigation of the river ;

Resolved, That surveys and estimates made, heretofore by
competent engineers, establishing the fact that the construc-
tion a new canal around the falls of the Ohio, adapted to the
present and future wants of commerce, would cost very little
more than the repair and enlargement of the present work,