The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-03-23
Report of the Board OF Pubic Works.

Report of the Board OF. Public Works.
This document shows full and detail.
ed statement Of the conditton. bssiness,,ss
revenues, and expenditures ofthe sPublieS
Works OF the State. during the lash finaM.s
cial year, witt, estimates of tlis ailsolntt
that will probably be required to keep saiaes
Public Worksin repair and operaiioil thse
ensuing year. -
The amount collected on the Canals and
the Muskiigum Improvement. for the. last
two years, was.
1851 1856 -35f rs
1859 ............... 688, IT'S s65
Amount paid iuto the State
Treasury. from lands sold ~
by the Board OF Public -.
Works. for the year end
ing Nov Is, 1859 $3.50. S4,9f9 81
The amount collected from
Tolls. fines. and watr.r
rents from Nov. Is. 1852, ~
to Jam 9. 1858 ........ S5I226 So
Although the statistics following shaw 4 &
large increase Of tonnage for the last YEAR,
over tha, of the preceding year, the above {
table shows decrease in the feyenurs ui !
the year 1852. compared with those of /
1851. The Board remark. however. that
the revenues of the wear 1851 greatly exsa
ceeded those ot any previous year: =
"On the 29th Of january. 1859, theS
Board made an order fixing the rae saf Il
tolls to govern the business on the Pabiic. !
Works. tor the ensuing season of hayigs- \
-tions This new rate was to talse effect
the 18th of February. 1859. The red,rss
lion was equal. on all articles. 10 abcut 95
per cent. on the rates oil the pr,.vans years
In the toll sheet of January 90. 1859. tl'es
system Of discriminating IN favor OF ifpHr.i
ticular points, where railroad se,lterfrises
came in competition with the canals. alals
which is treated of al length. oi.s a,sgext
81 and 35 of our last annual report StA 81
entirely. abantloned. and an uniforai rats
per mile. until the MAXIMUM rata nm ais
articles was attained, was adapted- Nor
exception was made in favor oi any aar-
icular point, The Board snxinnsly si~e<
sired to get rid Of the system OF discriali-s
nation. which the last annual report had
characterized as liable to great obiecfisnlsss
This discrimina a.ing policy had crcpt into
the toll sheet several years ago. and was
extended from point 10 point. as railroads.
came into competition with. our Puhii1s
Works. and was only adopted bg sael
Board. from time to fine. MS il was; fnissssls
necessary to retail, The bnsiness legitimate
ly belonging TO the canal, bui which, ,the /
railroads were taking away hys their disri
criminating charges nsdei Tor thst pursi
pose" II ss NJ n ~
.'In general the railroad companies hsys3
not confirmed to- the, statute Of the, hsts
session OF the, General Assembly. pf4-a
scribing All uniiorm rate OF freight, dss.a
and some Of these companies have ests
ed the law as q nullity The law, i. slssa
fective. in that no penalty isspreyided sfors
the violation OF its provisions. and i II
respectfully submitted to the Represelstef.: s.:
lives Of the people whether anatnendmeNts
providinga an adequate penahys in all cssess
! of violation. ought not 10 DE i.nsDesi4iely,,
added to the law sai.ys.,s u Il "a,
A proposition having beep ggeslsd; foss
the sale of the Public Works, thel Roarda
remark on that subject; & IN .Tss a
...Animpression has been nade,in seRlsb
quarters. thai the public interest, would hes
promoted by a sale sof the public 1orkssnf,
the State. The advocates oi fa.lollN polieyo
are believed, as yet. TO be fewsi pulni,er,.,
and the Judgment of such has brensmAdHa
up without, perhaps. y careful eexanaipN-<1
ton of the subject. II sold. il is moi 10. be.l
expected that our State works would brina
anything like lcost. rAndsveAs.
If they could be sold for an amount aIl-s
proximating to it. the policy would aiieast
be doubtful. They would, in such an
event. most likely be pnrcha sed aud own
ed by the railroad interests OF the State.
and would then be manase,l AS 10 piseio
this interest monopoly OF the Carving
trade at its own rates Of freight. without
The beneficial influence TO The people Of
fair competition between the Canals aud
Railroads" ;" ss. - s q