Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1838-05-26

The Editor Of the Toledo Blade parades, with
great deal Of modest ostentation, couple OF
answers made by Ms. Forrer before the Com
smiitee on Canals, in relation to the eastern
termination of the Wabash and Erie Canal up
on the MauInes River. He however deprecates
awakening the bellicose propensitles OF his
ne,rhbors at the foot of the Rapids, having as
he saws. sno disposition to seek acontroVersy
Win them on this or any other subject. =
Now. if the Editor of the Toledo Blade MEANS
by his disposition to keep his neighbors at The
foot of the Rapids quiet, that he wants the
whole ground to himself, and that he would
thank us to take no notice of his productions
why, SO be it. Let him say honestly, that he
Ia afraid, If the whole truth be told, and we Will
20 great way around before we meddle with
him. Ifby indispositicn to awaken controver-
AZ with us, he intends to inform US that he does
not consider US fitting antagonists, upon ground
which is manifestly debateable,we would say 10
him. that we know no reason why the Editor
ofa Toledo seven by nine is any better than
the Editor of Maumee seven BY nine. Pr''
mn faeie, he is certainly not, and we have no
fears on our part of the Toledo Editor finding
upecial reasons for difference.
The Editor seems to concede that the sub
;ect is debateable one, and he even seems to
have vague fear, that, somehow or other
there are two sides to the question, and that
there is another view which is, at least tenable
besides the one he has taken, though, to avoid
controversy, he had rather we would say noth-
inp about it, which of course we shall not DO.
The matter contained in the answers OF Mr..
Forrer is nothing SO very Objectionable,
and we should never have noticed 1t, but
for the mcaly mouthed manner IN winch 1t
was introduced. They are merely the opln-
ions of one man--an influential man, It'll true'
md gentleman Of scientific atteinments, and
whose opinions, SO far as his ability for obser-
yation is concerned are worthy of respect and
consideration. He thinks Toledo the proper
noiut of termination for the canal; SO be it, and
vet in spite of the opinion of MIR. Forrer, the
Canal goes to Manhattan.
But there are many others, whose judgments
are equally sound, and whose opportunities
for investigation, into the. actual capabilities
of the. Maumee for navigation have been tar
greater, who think differently from MIR. For
rer. He has applied the measure to the stream'
and can tell its depth and the width of its chan
>saels, they have resided upon its banks, in all
stages and can tell of its fluctuations, its ris-
ings and its fallings, that make SO respectable
an appearance ON paper, but which are IN re-
atty SO many notlings; fit subjects of remark,
by those who speculate in Toledo lots, and
whose fortunes depend upon the proof that the
Maumee il not navigable above that City,
MI. .Foref sactual measurements, are undoubt-
edly correct, but his opinions as to the rise and
fall of the river and lake are likely to be erro-
ncous as correct because they must have been
founded upon limited experience, and from a
short period ofactual observation. 1t requires
years to become acquainted with subject OF
this kind, because the lake cannot be seen in all
its phases in one season. And experience and
actual observation will teach, that much that
10 said and believed upon the subject has no
foundation in truth. The half interpreted tales
Of the Indian, and of the equally ignorant
French trapper, have been taken for truth and
distorted to SUIT the views of the interested,
till something supernatural has seemed TO rule
the destinies of the Maumee River, Independent
ofthose natural causes which govern the phe-
nomena of other and more civilized streams
A sort Of witchery has appeared to hang over
its movements and to preside at its fountain
head,tincturing every thing relating to it with a
blush Of romance and peculiarity. And it is
these fables that form SO large part OF the
rround-work Of the claims Of Toledo to the ter
mination Of the canal. Because the water OF
the Maumee River flows down stream, when
The wind blows in that direction, the people of
! Toledo are in an ecstacy of pious horror with
the question, as to what would be the wonder
full effect, provided the wind should blow
pale down stream, the whole year round, and
assuming as their premises the supposition that
such thing may happen in the course ofevents,
and the channel of the Maumee be laid dry, as
the consequence, they infer, that the canal
,shouId by all means be carried to Toledo, as the
only mode of securing the interests Of the
State against such an interposit;on Of Provi-
.dence. Now rs an offset to all this humbug-
rery, our own experience and observation may
Be- 81 some value. We have resided upon the
Maumee ever since it was first nayigated BY
sseamboass, which period has included two