Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-02-24

ded in a misapprehenslon. do not hesitate to pro-
the whole of the report of the Trustees IN re-
ation to these lateral branches, in which they at
tempt to create an impression that it is exceedingly
doubtful whether they can be constructed without de-
stroying the main line Of the canal perfect hum
bug. 1t is thrown as feeler Of this Legislature
Why, sir, is it not supremely ridiculous to approach
the Legislature of this State, composed as II is OF
men possessing at least common sense, and grayey
assure them, that it is exceedingly doubtful whether
there is water enough in the Wabash river, to I'll one
of the levels ofthe canal And yet that is the and
substance of that report far it relates the side
cuts in Warren county. 1t was desirable TO create
feeling of doubt in the minds Of this General Assem-
bly, In regard TO these works. that it might be follow
ed up at the next session with bold proposition to
dispense with them entirely.
The plan ugenously arranged, but it
poor compliment to the intelligence OF the people OF
the State and their representatives, to imagine for
moment that the arti6ce would not be detected Talk
OF scarcity Of water, when they are deluging the
farms along the route with water from the cara, and
the farmers complaining of the injury which they are
sustaining by othe constant baptism which they
are undergoing. They appear to have an abundance
Tor every Injurious purpose but great scarcity when
any proper object is to be accomplished. This def
cheney OF water which is seized upon as the pretext
Tor creating dIstrust in regard 10 the proprety Of
constructing the works provided for in the State Debt
Bill, was known and the and extent of it, fully
before the present Trustees took charge Of
the work Stearns Fisher ESQ.,, the State Superin-
dent OF the Wabash and Erie canal as competent an
Engineer as is to be found within the limits of The
State of Indiana, and intelligent 10 relation to
such matters any individual who was ever connected
with that great and important work, in his report
the General Assembly Of the State its last session,
communicated the facts in regard this deficiency Of
water He tells that below Attica the canal runs
through stratum of exceedingly clear, gravel,
through which the water escapes nearly as fast as it
can be thrown into the canal and that the low places
which connect with the stratum OF gravel must be
filed up, and that the canal must be lined for nearly
two miles with clay or loan, and that when this is
done no further difficulty need be apprehended In sup
plying the canal with water. This opinion accords
with that of his predecessor. The present chief En-
gneer in his report to the Board of Trustees men,
Ons another fact which has its influence in affecting
the volume of water in the canal it is that below
Lafayette the width of the canal has been much di-
mlnlshed by the washing in Of the banks where the
canal has been constructed close to the bluffs and
| recommends Its enlargement to the legal width Of
forty feet 1t this contraction of the canal to
which Mr. Fisher refers in his report TO the present
General Assembly, when he speaks Of the difficulty
lof forcing sufficient quantity of water into the ca
nal. If 1t was even admitted, that there is with
Standing the DEVIATION Of these difficulties, defcen-
cy of water, there be doubt that with dam
across the river at Delphi the quantity be increas
ed to any required extent
ious they all for the promotion of the peculiar
interest of their constituents, very short sighted
in regard TO those interests and TO the best interest of
the State, when they suppose that the construction Of
the side cuts In Warren county and Clinton county,
initiates against those interests What is the con-
dlton OF the canal on its whole route from Lafayette
to Terre Haute! 1t in competition with the Wa
bash river, which during considerable portion of the
lyear, is navlgable for steamboats, They bearing
off annually the great bulk of the produce collected at
the intermediate points on the west bank of the rv
err These side cuts intended to open commune
cations between the canal and places of deposit and
10 give to the canal the entire carrying trade of that
part Of the country without this with the river nav-
CATION carrying off all the surplus of that REGION the
canal necessarily be Improbable, and has but
one parallel in absurdy, and that is TO be found in
anecdote told of Sir Isaac Newton who is said to
have cut large hole in the door of bis for the
entrance of his cat and smaller adjoining for
the kitten pass through. We are all interested in
the construction of these works. The people of War
rem county anxious for the construction of these
works, not merely because they are in the mmedi-
ate vicinity of them, but because they have deep
interest in the success of the canal in common with
the citizens of every other section Of the State They
look TO the of this canal u of flu
ture relief from taxation at least in part they look
its a of increasing the prosperity of
the State and enabling citizens bear without Sc
rlous inconvenience the increased taxation which for
long series OF years. they VIII leave 10 bear under
the provisions of the State Debt arrangement The
State is meeting her arrangements under that con-
tract with unbrOken, good faith At the present
sion the State authorities directed negotiate
loan to meet the January instament of the interest
due on the public debt. The State has acted in good
faith throughout, and she has right to expect that
this feeling will be recprocated that those who have
contracted with her, will manifest the same mistaken
determination to fulfil that contract and when report
is presented TO US, giving but too much
prehend that the provisions of this contract sought
to be evaded by the Trustees of the Wabash and Erie
canal call upon the Representatives ofhe people to
speak out, in the language of courtesy Tut at the
same time of the irmest determination. If they will
not, the people will speak for themselves, and their
voice will neither be misunderstood disregarded
FOREIGN RAILROAD ITEMs.-A tunnel two
+ and quarter miles in length, is in the course
of construction, under the tOton Of Liverpool,