The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-08-18

1t is we'll known that the plank road com
pany is without funds, save the daily tolls
collected, and these are needed TO replace
worn out plank and extend the unfinished
portion under contract. The resident own,
ers of the adjoining lands, for the purpose of
more perfectly draining them, have applied1
to the trustees Of Perrysburg and Middleton'
townships, with the appreciation of the plank
road company, to have the west ditch deep
ened under the ditch law, which is the only
legal method to accomplish the object
Yet singular as it is, and ne cessary as it is
for the very existence of the settlers upoH
their lands, to have this work done, it is vi
olently opposed by certain individuals in the
town of Perrysburg, who have not been and
never will be called on to contribute one cent
towards it. Persons are said to be busily
engaged circulating remonstrance, with the
view of manufacturing public sentiment.
to control the trustees at their meeting on
the 9th Of Sept next, to defeat the underta-
king This opposition is started and sustain
ed by few individuals owning lands upon
Grassy Creek, near Perrysburg. The assum-
ed ground for this opposition is, that the
deepening of the ditch will cause the water
to run into Grassy Creek quicker, and there
fore 10et it If did not personally know
that such an opposition actually exists, as
suming the form of organization, | should
not believe it, and much less tell the public
of it, . ..
There are modes by which men can pro-
tect themselves from the elements: as against
the rain, by an umbrella, or house but it
is very different thing TO control the rain
itself. Lands covered with water may be
made dry by draining, and it is very COM
mon practice, but it is new idea to drain
creeks by damming the water out of them.
Whether this notion of draing creeks by
damming water back over the land from
whence it is accustomed to flow, is original
with those opposing the deepening the plank
road ditch, will not be asserted If there
is any honor or credit attached to it, will
not prejudice the claims Of its possessors by
questioning it. This set of philosophers have
some members in the country. ra
If this doctrine should prevail, and con-
troll the action of the trustees in reference to
the plank road ditch, it can be applied with
equal proprety to most of the drainage of
the county. What, then, will become of
Wood county? Must 1t be abandoned
God made the earth to be titled, and thus
far man has succeeded in every cline and
country where il has been attempted. 1t
may be that Wood county is an exception.
1t mag be that her water courses, such and as
few as they are, were intended to be kept dry,
and her uplands overtaoaoed 1t may be that
it was made up aorong, and that the natural
laws governing the rest of the world have no
form or validity here. 1t mag be that God
intended dry land here, when he intended
water to run in other places. And finally,
it mag be that the Black Swamp was intend
ed for -- of place, not fit for man to
live in.
But learned jurist has said that wherev-
er you find an Englishman living, you will
also find the common law; and as see there
are some Englishmen living in the Black
Swamp, it mag be that the common law is
in force here. If so, then water must run
down hill here as we'll as in other places;
because the common law and natural law
agree in this. If you should 60 to lawyer
and ask him which waY water rms Accord