Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1845-09-23
From The Ohio State 5ouradl.
Gross Frauds,
SPECULATION AND FAvoRITISM
ON THE NATIONAL ROAD.

tlon into the pro reedings Of those who
have had the charge of the National Road
have brought to light, are Of most extra.
ordinary, and astounding character. Along
the whole line, long before the removal OF
esJohn Yonts, the late Superintendent, lie.
ports were ahoat, indicating that there had
been gross mismanagement, fraud and de-
ception some where. II was also rumored
and believed, from a combination Of cir
2cumstances, that the road was involved in
an enormous debt, nluch greater lhpn t'Ht
represented by Mr. Yontz, although that
was gtea3 enough to excite general sur
prise. Notwithstanding the precedence OF
these rumors and the gross tavoritism that
had characterized the proceedings of the
Superintendent, to the injQry OF the State
and the interests Of the road, Mr.. YOntz
was suffered to retain his post and his pro-
ceedngs went unrebuked, This excited
general surprise and did much to awaken
suspicious as To the fidelity and vigilance
OF the Board Of Public Works.
Last winter, as is known, the Legiso-
ture changed The Board Of Public Works,
and thus opened the door for a thorough in
vestigatiOn into the proceedings Of tie late
Board aud their dependents. The reno
val Of Mr.. Yontz promptly followed The EN-
trance OF the new Beard on their duties,
and then commenced the developments to
which we have heretofore, on several oc-
casions, alluded.
1t is now well ascertained fact that
there are outstanding certificates given by
John Yontz, to the amount Of Sigiy.fue hou-
sand dOiiarSH This amount has already
been returned, and still not a day passes,
as we learn, without information that leads
to the belief that the enormous sum will he
sweIIed still further! When the pedeces.
sor of Mr.. Yontz left the Office, the debt Of
the road was reported at little rising &C.,
600. Mr. Yontz, in a subsequent state
ment, declared that the debt of the road
would reach 100000. In his annual re-
ports extending through three years, be re-
presented the debt as varying from G22,-
900 to c27 900. In his report presented 10
the late Legislature, he summed mp the to-
tai amount Of outstanding certificates AT
$4,000 1t is in the face Of such state
ments az these, made under the solemn Oh
legations Of public servant, holding an
important trust, we have now to record the
fact, that certificates have already been
presented, showing that the road has been
involved IN a debt Of at least sos 900.
But how has this enormous debt been in
Cured! By what means has the road been
thus involved and the State pIundercd!-
BY the grOssesl iaVOritism-5y deliberate
use Of the office opromote political purpo-
Ees and reward political and personal IA
vorites--by deception, fllschood and vio-
lation Of every obligation that can bind an
honest man to the luIiImcnt Of duty. By
such means has corrupt partizan been
permitted to Prey on the State.
BY an examination OF the reports of the
late Superintendent and by inatiluting Il
comparison between the prices paid by him
for work on the road, and those paid by biz
predecessors in office, we Gud that there
has been an advance in many eases, to IA
voTite contractors, equal to oHc, hc0 aHdHr
hundred per cent. Extraordinary develop
menls have been made as to the manncrin
which he managed TO confer on Gv0rtes
liobs n such prices. Mr.. John Moore, Il re-
spectacle and influential citizen Of Perry
county, to whose communication we refer. !
red week or two since, shows that Honlz
resorted to miserable quibblcs and down. |
right laIsehood in order to avoid the per-
formancc of his duty, aud secure his iavo-
rites;and shows also the utter hopcessncss
of all efforts to secure from Yontz himself, !
indemnity for these losses. Bat the deve. |
lopments made by Nh. Moore and attcstcd |
by number Of witnesses Of the highest
respectohllity, belonging 10 the party to
which Mr.. Yontz Eclongs, is but single |
Ink in the chain Of fraud that has cen al |
ready and still remains to heunl0llod. In !
one instance, where the facts have been /
ELECTED within a few days, il Is asccrtoiucd !
beyond doubt that Yontz adoisrd ildigi- !
dual, trho wrrc biddUg GrJ Jojs, 10 PM Hrr |
bids high, cr0ggeraiWg HP amoUW Of trork !
10 be done anil The crPcasc Y doing IT, forHo
other PURPOSE HaH 10 secure 10 ,tacoyiics al
Ihe olher end QtHc lines, contracts al an
enormous pyQM The fvoritcs, after bid |
ding below what Yontz represented aa the !
actual expense OF the work received the |
contracts, and then turned round and sub !
let al Joriy ccHs per rod what they receive
ed one doliw and forty cents period for do
ing! Subsequent developments show that
the amomtand character Of the work to
be done had bcen willulIy msrcprcscntod
by YonlZ. Such il the character Of the pro-
ceedings of the late 81 perintendcht Of the
National Road, aud such the means he re,
Forted to from the time he entered office,
until he was removed, for accomplishing
his nearious designs. Year a(tcf year has
be deliberately nlisrepresented and conceal
ed die actual debt Of the road and his ov n
proceedings. When the whole matter
shall ho understood by the people of the
State, they will he startled at jho frauds of
which they have been made III victims by
an nninilhIul and interruptions man.
Some may be inclined to suppose that the
late Board Of Public Worke are not censu-
'rable for the misdoingsor ,hCr agent aud
instrument. That they were imposed M.
on TO some extent we do not doubts hut
that they were measulcoby acquainted
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