Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-02-08


force, when il is very much for his inter-
<sttoiacrease It. Under these circum.
stances, aIlthe acting commissioners could
do. was 10 advise that they should dim'n'
ish the number Of laborers as much as
possible. Itis needless 10 slate that
this advice was but slightly attended
10.
On this extension ofthe Miami canal
as is shown by this report, there has al,
ready been expended sum nearly equal
10 So 100000. There is now due the
contractors, including the money retain.
ed 10 insure the faithful performance OF
their contracts, about $500, 600, which
must be paid promptly even il tho WORK
shall bs discontinued. To complete the
balance Of the line will only require al
the highes, estimate, $3.50 ,OOO. IL Tue
work be suffered now TO stop, ihe uanl'
age caused by the decay OF structures
the washing Of the banks. &c, VIII IN
crease this amount TO upwards oi $ lyOOO,'
600. whenever it shall be again resumed {.
In the meantime The contractors Will very
naturally and very justly consider them
selves entitled to damages sufficient tu
renunsiate them for the loss OF tolls and
outlay for buildings, teams, provisions
&c, TO which may be added all their an
ficipated profits. Also, the damages
that individuals must necessarily sustain
through whose land the canal passes, s,wher
by the suspension Of the work, advanta
res resulting from us completion cannO
be urged as a set OF to their claims
These claims, having in many instances
Justice ON their side, will Geurged will
such energy that the legislature will finC
Il difficult, il not impossible to evad'
them. II, to this, shall be added the in
ters st upon the money expended, il will
be safe to say, that the damage whicI
will be caused to the State by a suspen
sion Of only two years duration, vii
amount to a sum sufficient to complies
the whole work. The Board do not pre-
cent this as an idle estimate intendet
TO deceive or alarm the Legislature;it i
the result Of earnest deliberation and hon
est conviction.
The difficulty Of procoring money b,
ordinary means, has become so gIea'
that it is presumed that some other mod
will have to be resOrled to for the puI
pose Of obtaining an amount suficien: to
the completion Of our present works.
II the selling Of State stocks, or the ms
king Of temporary loans, based upon at
dcipaied sales, shall be found impract
cable, some other plan should bc adopted
There is one among the many that haV
been suggested, which, in the opino
Of the Board, is worthy Of the consdera
lion Of the Legislature. The lands gran
tod by Congress to aid in the construC
ton Of the Iabash and Eric canal, ma
be put in market at fair valuation, AM
tits confidently believed, that it they arr
properly managed, they will produce
sum sufficient to complete both thos'
works. But as it is not to be excepted
that the lands will sell so rapidly as TO en-
able the Board to complete the works
within a reasonable time, it will become
necessary TO anticipate the sales, by al
issue, from time 10 time, as it may be,
come necessary, Of bonds or scrip, hear
Ing interest, and payable periodically
These bonds may be received in payment
for lands, aud, as the amount will be lin
ited, il is thought that their credit will
be sufficient. without making them receiv
able at the treasury in payment for Othe
State dues.
The Board are also Of opinion, that i
oil other means should fail, that part O
the line not under contract may be lei
simply by giving notice that The cOntrac
tors will receive their pay in Ordinar
SlBte bonds at par. II is believed tha
the work would be taken by individual
upon fair terms, who would negotiate tn
bonds upon their own account, aud there
By release the State from the trouble AM
expense Ol further negOtiIIiCn, excep
for that part Of the work now under con
tract
These matters are presented for tht
consideration Of the, legislature with thu
greatest d,ffidence. The members o
the Board are not attached TO any parlic
uIaF plan Of operations. They frmly be
IieVe however, that Q suspension of the
works at this time, would operate mos
iBjuriously to the best interests Of the
State. They would, however, gladly ex
ecuie their duties in any form The legis
lsture may point out, and they, therefore
respectfully submit the whole matteI
10 the wisdom Of your hOnOrOble body.
WILLIAM RAVEN,
LEA NDER RANSOM,
TIMOTHY G. BATES,
.R00AI.pu- DICKSON