Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1849-08-30
The Falls Of The Ohio.

Our readers perhaps not generally aware, that
The last legislature chartered company to make
canal around the falls Of the Ohio on the Indiana
side of that river The charter is Of the most liberal
character and the company has already been organ
lied by the election Of their officers. James G. Hall,
Esq, Of Cincinnati, one of the most influential and
wealthy merchants Of that place, is President A
preliminary survey has been made BY Dir. Ball. engi-
neer, and the plans and estimates laid before the Dr.
rectors. The canal is taken DIRECTLY down the Ohio
river on the Indiana side, with two locks, each $40
feet long. by sxiy-four feet wide giving four feet
water at the ocest stages of the river with an aver
age width to the canal of from 100 to 80 feet, and
terminating below all distractions. The whole esti
mate of the is 1851 600. The Directors at
meeting in Jacksonville last June, with view to
greater enlargement Of the work, ordered further
survey which will be completed the ensuing month,
when books for the subscription Of the stock will Re
opened. We do not hesitate in saying that the work
when completed will be Of the most important and
profitable in the West, yielding greater dividend to
the stockholders probably than any other work Of in
ternal Improvement in the United States, while at the
same time it will be Of the utmost advantage and
benefit TO the whole commerce of the West. The
halfmade and miserable concern called the 'Iouis-
vile and Portland Cunal," has long enjoyed the mo-
nopoy Of taxation to the of the Ohio river
Nominally costing million of dollars, though in
fact but about $3.50, GOO, the stock is Sl95 for
800 paid in. and this is actually turned
to the U. States, by the private stockholders, with
view to have the Government become the sole owner
and to make the canal free one. What will be the
operation of this measure, If ever effected, will be
from the article signed "lndiana," and which
copy from the Cincinnati Chronicle.
That there must be great city at the Falls of the
Ohio some day,--the seat of manufactures. COM
merce, wealth and an Industrious population, cannot
be doubted. That Louisville is not destined to be
that city, think every days experience sufficiently
shows. But, with q canal of sufficient depth and
width to pass all the boats destined above below
the falls-,rih tcdter poper unequaed in the Uni
ted S ntes-with railroad in progress of opera
ton from Jacksonville TO Columbus and ntersectng
with the Madison and Indianapolis raiIroad--wh
another from New Albany TO Salem 10 be extended to
Bloomington, and on part of which The rails
ready to be laid-with short also from Jeffer-
sonville TO New Aloany-does not every nnprejudced
mind and feel, that here, in own State, on
the north side of The Ohio. city is to arise, which
in twenty years at farhest will double in population
and wealth that the south side of the river-which
in ten years will equal Louisville in its present popu-
lation. Time will determine whether we are "pro-
phets the Of prophets" Verify, there is an
enterprise and energy in free population which is
destined to make Indiana of the great States of
the confederacy.