Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1845-06-06
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS IN OH1t


INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS IN OHIO
We copy the following paragraph from
an Eastern Journak
"An article in Hunts Merchants Maga-
zine for May on the Canal Commerce Of
Ohio, says that in the State of Ohio there
are completed eight hundred and eighty.
two miles Of canal and slack water navi-
cation, owned exclusively by the State
The State also owns one-half of the stock
in twenty-siX turnpike companies. embra-
cling nearly one thousand miles Of macad-
amized roads, traversing different sections
of the State"
This statement is correct. Ohio has ac-
complished these great works, and in doing
so, has extended rapidly her growth and
added immensely to her wealth. And she
has done this, without trouble or difficulty
without home di%sensions or sectional
disputes. This great result is no less ben
eRcial than wonderful and merits at least
a passing notice.
The Public Works of Ohio were begun in
1926, The State at that time, had about
five hundred thousand people. 1t was d,
vided geographically into three parts, the
southern, middle, and northern sections
and there would have seemed, if we can go
back in Imagination to our first settlement,
hardly a possibility of giving it, that one
ness of interest-that compaCtness in eve.
ry espPct-which now chqracterizes il
Yet the first thing our fathers did was to
begin these public works, and at the same
time, or near it, to establish the Common
School system in the State.
This action manifested great forecast
Who would justify the seeming extrava-
gance Of Legislature in adopting so grand
a scheme with so small a populations Who
dream Of running State some fifteen mi-
lions Of dollars in debt while yet in the
gristle of early manhood, for public i'm.
provements on so large a scale! The ear.
iy settlers of Ohio did this, and thew did it
anticipating what itwould be. Thevknew
the resources Of the State; they understood
well its capabilities, they were familiar with
its position north and south, EAST and west,
and they saw, at glance, if these resour-
Ces could he developed, if these capabil-
ties, could bemade active, if the State could
be united, that population would pour into
it, and the mighty scheme undertaken bv
them carried forward without difiulty, and
the debt to Re created, in consequence, met
with ease. The result proves their wisdom
What was prediction with lhenl is now re.
atty. Ohio is one in interest, and through
her public works and the facilities of eve-
ry kind they give through the henefcent
action Of her Common Schools, every year
only witnesses her wider growth more
rapid increase Of her intelligence and her
wealth. But if our fathers manifested this
great wisdom, this wonder 'ul filth in the
growth of the future, they were no less re-
for the business like manner in |
which they began and carried on our pub.
lie works. Every thing was reduced to the |
most perfect system. First, the money
borrowed to build public Improvements, W as
fully secured. Nothing was left at loose
ends. The people were taught eerly 10
iibmit to taxation, and the power of tax.
ng them was so arranged as to render The
maintenance of the public credit a matter
'f course. Second, the agents chosen "a
our canals and public works.
we're men Of fidelity-men who mada tbe
public interests their study-who were, in
Ill respects, worthy of me high trust reno.
'ed IN them There was no wasting of
public money; no failure in the works un.
1ertaken from bad plans, or worse Jobs; no
Pecuiat!oH on che partof funderletters-un-
der thPrr superindencp. And although the
making OF canals, basins, reservoirs, locks,
Nc, Was a new business in our country, yet
they mad them done thoroughly, so that
they have stood well all the usual tests.
We cannot over-estimate the good these
wise, bold men have done for us, and for
the country, nor praise too highly the fore. !
cast and philanthrorhY which controlled