Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-07-01

SATURDAY, JULY /, 1897.

4 '
bash and Erie Canal, within the state Of
Ohio, may be properly divided into three
parts. First, that part running parallel
to the nayigable waters Of the river, and
below the rapids, in length about fifteen
miles. Second, that upon the unnaviga-
bic waters Of the river, from the head to
the foot Of the rapids, eighteen miles.
Third, that part extending from the head
Of the rapids to the Indiana line, where
the river is partially navigable for GER
tain parts of the year about sixty miles.
The proper policy to be pursued by the
State of Ohio. would undoubtedly be, to
construct that portion of the canal, be-
tween the head and the foot of the rap
ids, first, and thereby open communi-
cation with the Upper Maumee and Wa
bash countries, for at least part of the
season. Next in order should come,
that between the head of the rapids and
the state line, by that means making
complete the line of communication from
the navigable waters of Lake Eric, to
those of Indiana. And lastly, the part
between the foot Of the rapids and Man
haitian, which, if constructed at all, can
be of no value 20 the State, and Of no
Importance to the places upon the river,
until the two others have been compile
ted. This was the course which was
expected by the people of this section
Of the state, as being the most obvious,
the most reasonable, and in fact, the on
" Just manner of carrying into execu-
ton this great plan of public improve
ment. This course has not been taken.
The Board of Public Works, have
seemed to be in a strife to commence
matters at the wrong end The portion
of the canal, between the foot Of the
rapids and Manhattan, along the naviga-
bic waters of the river, has been hurried
on, as if the Board were fearful, that
some Legislative action might defeat their
attempt to build this, to them, favorite
section. The money accumulated from
the sale of the lands is fast melting away
under this prodigality of expenditure,
and the prospect for further sales, is, to
say the least. very dark indeed. The
lock sections upon the part between the
head and foot of the rapids yet remain
unlet, thus retarding the work by keep
ing back that which is the most difficult,
and which requires the longest time for
its completion. Under such state of
facts, the animadversions of the editors
Of the Toledo Blade and the Fort
Wayne Sentinel, which we give below
are no more than just.
"IAe claims. of Indiana upon Ohio for
speedy completion ofthe Wabash and
Erie Canal.-More than ten years ago,
in March 1927, Congress passed an act,
granting to Indiana for the purpose of
aiding her in opening canal to connect
at navigable points, the waters of the
Wabash river and those Of Lake Erie,
every alternate section of land from five
milesl on each side of the canal from one
end to the other. The grant was coup
led with condition that the work should
be commenced within five years, and
completed in twenty. An examination
of the route being instituted, it was as
certained by the state Of Indiana that the
proposed communication could not take
place at nayigable points without bring
ing the canal below the Rapids of the
Maumee, and consequently through a
considerable portion of the state ofOhio.
Our sister State accordingly under an
act of Congress authorising the measure,
transferred to Ohio in FEBRUARY, 1884, the
lands granted for the construction of
that portion of the canal that would fall
within her limits, On the condition that
she would comply with the require-
ments Of the act of Congress. The com
pact was ratified by Ohio the next month,
but owing to the difficulties in relation
J 10 her northern boundary line, she has
not, to the great dissatisfaction of hdi-
ana and the prejudice Of her interest,
until very recently put any portion of
the work under contract. The State, in
in the meanwhile, has been prosecuting
her share of the undertaking with her
characteristic enterprise. The whole In
diana line, from the borders of the Ohio
to Lafayette on the Wabash, is now un-
der contract and considerable portion
oft completed. The distance between
our State line and Fort Wayne 20 miles,
was let on the lst INST, and will be fin
ished in less thanrtwo years. Between
Fort Wayne sndaLogansport, $50 miles)
80 milesNNero completed as early as
July, 1885, and the whole length will be
done and )navigable this season. The
remaining distance to La Fayette, 80 OF