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neer estimated that it would cost $1,545,000 to complete the eighteen and three-tenths miles to Cumberland. The United States, the state of Virginia, the cities of the District of Columbia and all the stockholders had long since discontinued their patronage and refused all pecuniary aid; even the state of Maryland, which had heretofore sustained the company and loyally upheld it in all its misfortunes, was now unable to give further assistance. The state was struggling under the evils of disordered finances and prostrate credit and a black shadow had been cast upon the name of the state because of its great debt contracted in behalf of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Unable, because of the want of timely legislation, after the default of the internal improvement companies was made known, to meet her own public liabilities, she was certainly unable to give assistance to others. So the canal had no friend and no resources. The freshets of April and September, 1843, made heavy breaches in the canal which had to be repaired. This was done by the aid of accommodations from the banks and as a