Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-04-03
NUMBER 4:

that the Mansfield and Newark railroad Il
now leased to individuals living ia Buffalo,
for the period of three years, who, OF course.
have no interest in common with the people
of the State.
1t is said these leases are making pfepeTa-
tons for doing large business in the pnr-5
chase OF produce through the aid of some
foreign banks of doubtful psrmaneDey: Ing
result Of which will be that the business must,
be diverted from the canal, the revenues Of
the State suffer great diminution- honest
dealers in produce be broken dewn By an an
natural competition. and the people In the.
! end, be probably sWindled out Of their hard
earnings by worthless currency.
There can be no doubt but The time has
come when the State should exert its sover-
eign power, and protect it's revenues from be-
] ing destroyed by these railroad eompanies
Il ows this to the people. who are already
heavily taxed to pay interest upoh debts con-,
tracted to make these canals; more especially
should this be done when she new constitution
requires yearly appropriations to pay off the
principal of this debt We are hat among
those who believe that these companies can
wrap themselves up in what is called vested
rights" and defy the sosereignty of the State:
There are many ways in which they can be
reached. Let the State repeal all criminal
laws which protect these roads from depreda-
tions, and the companies will soon sue fot
mercy. So the removal Of all the bridges
erected by them without autherity, across the
public works ofthe State; @euld 50 increase
the expenses of transportation upon Tailroadss
aud delay travel, as to cause them to submit
to system Of freightage required BY theif
own true interests and the interests Of the
State. This Board has already passed An or
der for the removal Of these bridges by the
irst day Of June next-We have also order
ed our engineers and supeTintendants to pre-
vent the erection of any more bridges across
the canals by railroad companies. We havs
made these orders because We believe We are
legally bound to protect the canals from aEf
such erections. Should the Legislature see
fit to pass an act specially authorizing the efec.
ton of these bridges, we would suggest the
propriety of making the grant undef. such re-
strictions, and upon such conditions as viii se-
cure the canals from injury. and do justice %
ali concerned.
The Legislature never supposed. in gram
ting railroad charters, it was creating conn
panies to deal in the purchase of wheat and
other produce Stich authority asked forI
would have been refused. We would sug-
gesI that the interests or the canal and for
wardeys thereon. require tie passage Of Law
prohibiting railroads from being Interested
either directly or indirettly, in she Purshssg
or sale of produce We would also suggeat
the pTopriety Of passing a law prohibiting
railroads from shipping prOdaee, fherehah.-.
disc and other articles, from within twenty
miles of the canals; at a less freight per nils
than the highest rate charged for transpCf
tatien on any other parts of the road. We
have no desire to cripple The business d tail-
roads; on the contrary, we have an interest.
in comnen with the people Of the State, in
their prosperity. As guardians, however, Of
the canals, and made such by the people, who
have deep interest In their protection, We
feel bound to guard carefully the avenues
ilsadiag to their ruin, and 10 use all the powers
conferred upon us for their protection. II
the railroads would Be content with doing
their legitimate business. both they and Che
canals might prosper, but unfortunately thef
are owned and controlled mostly BY foreign
capitalists, who feel no sympathy with. the
people of the State or its prosperity. and are
guided only by the hope of large dfyIdends.--
Against the efforts Of these capitalists the
State should early areet barbados, and safe=
fully guard them. or it will soon find, when
too late, the public works Of the State eutife-
~ at their mercy. -
By order ofthe Board.
ALEX P. MILLER Pfss't