The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-01-04

tic contemplated Cdhdl, Is one nuuuTeQ and
seventeen miles. The State has expended
on this route S517, 900. That portion of
the work connecting the Ohio at Evansville
with point on Pigeon creek, distance of
twenty miles, was completed in 1898, and
boats are now engaged in navigating it,
There are nearly one hundred miles as vet
unfinished, on which considerable amount
ofmoney has been expended To complete
this is all that is necessary TO establish the
whole route from Evansville, on the Ohio, TO
Toledo, on the waters of Lake Erie, dis
lance of four hundred and fifty miles. This
canal passes through tht-- hest portions of
the State, and, when completed, will be of
lncaleulable value not only 10 Indiana but to
j the people of the adjacent States.
''ln order that the design cherished by the
Govenmentin 1927, namely, to establish "a
"pnblic highway for the use Of the Govern
ment of the United States,'' may be fulfilled,
Il IS indispensable that the work already in
progress shall be completed TO EvansviIle.--
ifthis is not done, the Government will have
a "highway," but one which will be available
oniy at particular seasons of the year. The
Wabash river is not navgable on the average
more than one-Ihird of the year, and, if the
canal Isnot compiled to the Ohio, the Gov
eminent cannot use It as asshghway' two
thirds ofthe year. 1.-THE policy of CONSTRUCT
ing such work was wise in 1927, it is
equally SO in 1S43. The duty of the Gov
eminent now is exactly what itwas them
When we reflect how cteaply the Govern
ment can complete the entire canal route,
and how magnificent public "highway'' at
all times of war and of peace it would thus
possess. we caifilot conceive what sound OBJ
lJections can be urged against the PROPOSE
ton 10 cede Tie unsold and refuse lands in
the Vincennes district for the completion of
this noble enterprise.
''These lands have been in the market for
about forty years, and the amount unsold and
still belonging 10 the Unfed States is 1885,
l34 acres. These are the refuse lands, ilav-
ng been examined thousands OF times by
greedy spectators who would not touch
them. They cannot be disposed OF at the
Government price. The whole amount of
sales for the year ending September 80, lS43,
was little over Sl7 900, of which, after de-
Quoting the expenses incurred IN selling
them, the Government received the paltIyl
sum Of about 81 600
S'When We celnpare the smallness of the
grant Congress is requested TO make with
The magnihcenee sf the enterprise. we do
not see how that body can refuse 10 comply
ilh illass=a Of the rsssz;ti1zzrz szsl.
Congress Of 1913 refuse TO complete the
.spublic highway deemed SO desirable by
the Congress of 1927, wlIen ii can be done
at so small a sacrifice ofthe public domain,
and after SO many millions have already been
expended? IF it should refuse, it will, we
think, prove Itself 10 be destitute Of those
great ideas on the subject of National under
takings which should guide the deliberations
OF our National Legislature.
The New Harmony Statesman also shows
its good will towards the work, and gener-
ously offers lis aid in agitating the matter be-
fore the country. The promptitude with
which the press generally throughout the
Union have taken Up this matter, has left as
little else TO do than copy their fayors
AEXTENsloN OF THE WABASH AND
ERIE CANAL
"Regarding this work as one of no ordinary
importance both ito the state and the nation, we
this week lay before our readers the Memo
rial adopted at meeting of the citizens of
Evansville, in favor of its extension.
I'm country such as ours canals are of
great Importance. They have been the
making of every State in the Union in which
| they have been created. Witness The rap
id growth of New York since The completion
of De Witt Clinton's master-project-the
progress of Pennsylvania under Il similar
systematic rapid strides of our sister State
of Ohio, by means Of the many canals that
cover the surface of her whole county,
The completion of the Wabash and Erie ca
nal, from the Lakes TO the Ohio river, it
may safely be said, will be attended withre-
suits more beneficial TO Indiana than all the
other public works of the State An open
and direct communication with the whole of
New York AID the Canadas will thus he op-
ened to the citizens of large portion of In
diana, where they will find market at all
times for their produce, instead of being
Icompeiled to sacrifice it on the Mississippi.
sin another point of view, the completion
I of this great work will be advantageous TO
the citizens of the entire State. T will ma
literally assist in diminishing the State debt
Ian OBJECT IN which every tax payer is d.
reciiy concerned. At present, We are pay
'ng taxes Tor works that are fast falling to
decay; and when solittle is required to re-
verse the picture, we see no reason why
such an effort should not be made We shall
say more on this subject hereafter
OHIO AMI EptE rANAT
At meeting of large portion ofthe citi-