Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1838-11-24
write coolly as becometh historian, we will
indte the "History of the Toledo War;
For the Maumee City Express.
y MIAMI CANAL.

Mn. EDIToR.-I see with pleasure that the
public are beginning to appreciate this lin-
provement as it deserves to be appreciated. :.
Its cost up to Dayton including repairs mad
at the close of navigation last year, amounted
to S8gO,0Oo. lthad been in operation ten sea-
sons, ahd produced an aggregate toll OF $4O2,
600. The first year, 1928, the toll was $S, 800
1.-The last year, 1887, it had increased to $b6
900. In 1928 it was closed by ice IS days;
in 1881, 81 days, and IN 1882, but 10 days.
The average time of its being closed each
year for the ten years was 33 days--being but
little more than one twelfth of the year.
At the close of navigation in 1887, the Mi
ami canal to Dayton had repaid to the state
all the interest paid on loans for its construc-
ton and thenceforth it will furnish contin-
ually increasing surplus for the extingush-
ment of the principal. Thus the state will
in few years have great thoroughfare
which will have paid for its own construction,
and remain on its hands as the means of more
extended improvements. In the mean time,
the towns and country on and near its borders
have been enhanced in value even more than
the whole cost of its construction. If such
facts do not speak trumpet tongued to our state
government to push forward her great system
of canals, 6" they would not believe though
one should rise from the dead" Great, how
ever, as is the present business of that por-
tion of the Miami canal already finished, it is
but pittance compared to what it will be,
when the entire line to it's junction with the
Wabash and Erie canal, near Defiance, shall
be in operation. 1t will then become the
great thoroughfare between Lakes Huron,
Erie and Ontario on the north, and the Ohio
river with its southern tributaries and the
lower Mississippi on the south.
With,n fifteen gears from its completion 1t
,DiN not be large enough for the business aohich
,ciN then cropd bet,Oeen ITS banks. AS Pc
cuniary operation, the state of Ohio is inter-
ested in its speedy completion, and its benefi-
cial o1eration on the business Of the adjoining
states of New York and Kentucky, is such as
must render their intelligent men anxious that
no time should be lost in preparing it for use
from lake Erie to the Ohio.
Its favorable effects on the growth and pros
perity of our place are too obvious to need
comment. That they will surpass the anti
cipatIons of the most sanguine man in our
community, have not doubt. Ar
Do, Mr.. Editor, find out, if you can, when
the unlet portion is to be put under contract.
Perhaps some of our numerous intelligent en-
gineers will be able TO inform you; or possibly
this communication may arrive at the dignity
of being read by one of the commissioners
themselves. In that case l beseech him to
give us light on that subject.
We have good board of commissioners,
but | am little afraid that three of them,
constituting very large majority in board
of four members, live too far east too appre-
ciate properly the Importance of this great
western canal. AS it is, however, the fashion
to change these important officers with every
change Of party ascendancy, it is not unlikely
that few months will place over our great
works other lords to make new laws. There
is not in this case, i believe, any cause of ap-
prehension that timid spirit in this matter
will prevail in the dominant party of the AS
senlbly, or in their appointees; for to do JUS
tice to the party supporting the National Ad-
ministraton, it must be admitted that they
have in this state exhibited bold and liberal
spirit in carrying forward works of internal
improvement. 8. w. }.