The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-09-05
81 For Miscellany see first page.
Our Canal.


Petsrsburgh, that the lower portion Of
he canal is really and truly in good
boating condition. There is generally.
three and half feet water IN the bed;
md in the shoalest places on the bars.
thsrs ere full % inches; with the sup
plies from the reservoirs now running in,
he wstsr is rising at the rate Of two
inches day, and The Doctor is confident
the Superint sndssts can Increase it and
nAintaia il, ct hight Of four feet giving
boats three feet on the worst bars. Our
new commissioner tAAtters US with the
hope That the canal is to b kept in good
condition hereafter, and that We are to have
Q most prosperous business upon it this
season. He thinks we have seen the
worst;-that the past troubles were the
inevitable difficulties attendant for the
first years, upon the management Of
canal constructed through . soil like
ours. 1t required time to consolidate its
hanks and prove the weak points in the
structure. The banks have now become
firm and inpervious. and the weak points
arc strengthened. The canal is now in
Q far better state than ever before, and
with Q vigilant superintendent it can,
without much cost, be maintained in good
condition, and be made a valuable and
reliable medium of transportation, full
filing the hopes Of the community and
giving . fair remuneration to the bond
holders. We most sincerely hope the
encouraging prospects held out by the
Doctor may be realized; and if he shall
b the agent in securing them, he
win deserve great credit, and will re
eeive the hearty gratitude o: the COM
munity. We think shippers may now
rely, with good degree of confidence,
on transportation by canal. There is an
enormous quantity of produce along its
lima to 90 North or South. and if the
canal shall he kept in q boatable con-
dition through the autumn and winter,
IL viii maintain busy scene upon our
levee through the season. Our citizens
should all unite to encourage, and
strengthen the hands of our new COM
missioner in his active efforts to make
the canal valuable to US.
The most serious impediment to the
navigation Of the canal. when we have
had water. has been the growth Of a
thick body Of grass and moss in its bed
which retarded boats and greatly i'm
psded the flow Of the water. This has
heretofore been removed, by cutting i,
with scythes under waters very slow
and difficult process-never very effec-
tual-6r . new crop would appear at the
beginning Of section before the end
could be reached.
This serious difficulty has been over
come by Mr.. Osborn. superintendent or
the Petersburg level, who has invented
skind of rake. which takes it out by the
roots and removes it entirely from thu
canal, deepening the bed by the process
end efiectually preventing seconc
growth during the season. The rake il
dropped at the stern Of q boat and drag
god upon the bottom till it gathers loat
Of the grass and moss, when it is turned
10 the hanks, and hauled up over tn
towpath. The machine cleans out from
two 10 four miles day, and one upo'
each level will soon remove the em
bsrsssins obstruction.
The machine has proved to be 50 goo'
an operator, that Dr.. Barton has induces
Mr.. Fuller to procure one for the Lowe
Levels. and they viii soon Be at worl
.slong the whole line where they ar
needed. Mr.. Osborne has rendered a
important service. by bis invention, I
eli interested in the canal.
The Doctor thinks the deficiency i
The canal revenue Of last year, is no
attributable to tho influence Of railroad
and the diversion Of the natural an
legitimate business of the canal from i
but to the entire failure Of crops alon
its line, and the absence Of produce
ship. He predicts the revenues thi
year will b greater than any previou
year. There are still nearly 10000
scrss Of lands unsold, which are increa:
ing in value. and which, with goo
Management Of the canal revenues, ma
make the bond holders title of som
value to thsm. Frvm ell we lears. how
ever. We bslisve il would be more politl
Tor than. sad advantageous to the public
for them to transfer it. for whatever
may b werth. to private company.
will need the superintendent Of prisa'
interest to make it useful or prsfitabl
Its interests are most negligently n
gsedsd By fhs agent Of the bond holder
resident in Nsu York. He has as lIttl
tnoElsdgs - care Of the work-al
pearsntly-as be has Of the great Frenc
LsnSuedoe canal A shipper recent
called upon him twice at his Office
learn II he could ship by the canal
Evansville, and Mr.. Butler could not il