The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1857-02-13
Oar Canals and Stocks.

,rs Interested, and which must be deci-
ded BY our Legislature. The wisdom Of
hat policy has beeR demonstrated by |
Ihs influence eKertsd by those improve
ments upor the material propriely Of ,he
State. Bat the era Of Canals is past and
she Railroad lightning lines, have appear.
"a in response to the wants Of our
commerce. aud our progress. Look AT
she map Of our State and examine the
progress Of Railroad buildings, and Il !
will b. observed that to he 5000 miles
now Gnishod 5000 miles more must be
added within very brief period The !
Canals are rotting to decay, whilst Rail
road enterprise is boyan' with life. The
canals belong to the people, and the men
Of Seneca Coanty have paid $500 to-
wards maintaining them for 1855. They
yield nothing but cost us $4,000 q
wear for repairs. In addition TO this
ESQ. 900 Is expended annually in legisla-
ting for them. Il is said that rascals
manage Ihem. This has been the cry for
twenty years or more. Is u proven =
What difference does that make praoii'
oally7 Does that benefit the people p
In 1914 an investigating committee
,savsled the State, and gave us book
on "raseailies." No money was made
by the operatiou--few read the report
aud fswer still believed lie coatents.--
The nen charged with the wrongs suf-
fered nothing in sooial . political posi-
tion, but have all been the recipisnts Of
popular favor since that time, whilst the
COMMITTEES is forgotten. Proper as such
Investigations are. there is a popular re-
pupnance to them, and those who are
charged with making them, arc certain
10 be degraded in public favor. Com
mitteos wero raised last winter and the
facts developed are valuable, but mark
our prediction, that il is the political
SISALS Of every member.
Their reports. though abounding in
facts, will 10 branded as. false by ono
half Of those who read them, and two
thirds Of the thousands printed will not
be opened.
Quite enough Of time has been wasted
by our present Legislature, in proving
every man rascal that has been con
nectod with the public service; and it is
time for PRACTICAL action, The people
o1pect Bank lew aud few amends
ments TO the Constitution; but tho Canal
question is Of more importance than oi'
theF.
What is being done? VIM. Blair has
introduced bill to Annull the contracts
for repairs. BY the appropriations Of
last winter that question Was waived by
the State. Such ApropOsitiOu is nAD in
law and morals, and We shall watch with
much interest, TO see how many members
Of the House are willing to be pointed
az by the HoEoRABLEBoYs ''EULLTrERs" d"
II that question MUST be made, lot it be
before a Court; for the Legislature has no
more legal power to pass law impsring
these contracts than they have to
try man for murder. Let the infAmy
OF giving the contracts TO the highest
instead Of tho lowest bidders remain with
the Looofooos. The State cannot take
advantage Of the wrongs ofits own agents
without an act Of bad faith. The spec.
ulators and contractors are now filing
the Capitol, to induce the Legislature to
make an appropriation Of 100000 for
repairs this year
Not one cent should DO given for that
purpose. But we are told the canals win
be useless without newllocks, reservoirs,
feeders. 30, We say lel them 90 TO de.
cay. Abandon them. rather than spend
another dollar in their repair.
Is there not however plain and ad-
vantagious way for disposing of tho
whole question: Make no appropriations
for the works. Last winter, to make
coal cheap in Columbus, $4,000 was
appropriated to eepon the Hooking side
cut. aud now the contractors want SI2,-
600 foF extra work. We shall notice the
vote on that question. And there other
claims with which the Treasury is to be
pluudered, unless the whole system be
al once striker down. We would not
touch lhe contracts. but SELL the Canals
as she earliest probable day. aud lot the
purchasers settle with the contractors.
Why keep the Canals il they can be
sold2 They yield nothing, bu1 are
constant charge upon the Treasury
They tend to corrupt eur Legislature. and
dsmOralize the people.
Lot US examine the figures upon the
question Of sale. Let the law compel the
parties 10 keep up the Canals. and never
increase the tolls above preseut rates; and
provide tha. they shall not be sold for