Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-01-23

AS the only cause Of complaint Is nov
removed, may VIC not hope that tho peo
pie In the neighborhood OF this Reservoir
as well as all other citizens, viii rcfrail
from further hostility and violence to th'
works and structures OF the canal? Tha
the Trustees had perfect right to con
struct the Reservoir, and that they adoptet
the mode of its construction from the orig
inal plans and surveys Of the State author
tiles. and by the examples Of other States
are matters which admit OF no Doubt
That the persons engaged in the destruc
ton Of the Reservoir, were mislcd by th,
belief that the health Of the county WA
endangered by the timber remaining on th'
submerged land, is also clear and undoubt
cd; and II anything could justify thei
conduct this mistaken conviction would
be pallIation Of 1t.
1t will be seen by reference TO the repor
Of the Trustees, that there is serious d.
minution of the receipts Of tolls on tn,
Canal, as compared with 1854, and tn,
preceding year. BY the Report Of 1856
made to this department, it win be observ-
ed that the tolls for that year fall short,
more than forty thousand dollars, OF the
income Of the previous year; and that the
receipts for the last year just ended, show
still further decrease Of twenty-six thou
sand dollars before the revenue Of 1855
making, in two years, an aggregate de-
crease Of sixty-six thousand dollars
This decline in the revenues of the Ca.
nal, seems quite extraordinary; and espe
cially, as it is believed that the Navigation
was maintained with fewer Interruption
than occurred in the year when the reve.
nues yielded the highest income. The
report Of the Trustees will explain this
extraordinary decrease, and to that report
your attention is respectfully directed.
II is gratifying to have the assurance,
contained in the report Of the Trustees,
that the completion Of the Reservoir q,
Birch. Creek, and other precautions to SO.
cure good supply Of water, will ensure
for the commerce Of Of the next season, O
more reliable navigation than that Of any
previous period. The Canal is now on.
sidered in good repair; and such arrange
ments are being perfected as will give GER
tainty and promptitude to the transmits
on Of the productions of the soil, to north
ern or southern markets.
This Canal is the largest artificial water
communication in tho United States, and
has always been cherished work Of In.
diana. AS check on high and exorbit-
ant charges, by other competing modes
Of transportation, the people Of Indiana
have direct interest in the maintainancc
Of the Wabash and Erie Canal, aud in IL
successful results as measure Of revenue
10 those FOR whom It Is hold in trust The
contract between the State and her credit.
ors, was fairly and deliberately made
and II Is the highest duty Of tho State 70
keep and perform faithfully all OF her oh.
legations, and to require the samo ION The
part Of others.
Agricultural improvement is visible in
ovcry portion Of our State. The action o,
the General Assembly in making q small
appropriation to aid this cause, Is exortIng
a most beneficial influence. A large ma
jority Of tho counties have well organized
agricultural societies, whose delegates arc
now In session with the State Board Of
agriculture; and, throughout our State, the
increasing interest that Is manifested In ad.
vancing tho cause Of agriculture, aud 9th.
or branches Of home industry and skill
Is rapidly augmenting the amount and val
no of our domestic products. Iii sug'
gestod that it would bc productive OF good
results, to amend the present law, so as 10
make the Presidents Of county societies,
or other delegates appointed by them,.:con'
stutc the State Board.
Having, on several former occasions, urg
cd upon tho Legislature the duty Of pro.
viding for thorough scientific survey Of
the geological character Of the State, re.
greet that my recommendations on sub
jcct Of such vital importance to the people
have failed TO convince the proper author
ity of the propriety Of making tho ncccs'
sary provisions for such survey. While
tho resources OF our sister States have been
thus developed, and immigration and
wealth thereby attracted TO them, We
have neglected to lay bare tho hidden
treasures which Nature has garnercd up;
and, but for accident Of individual enter
prise, we should have remained in pro-
found Ignorance Of the mineral resources
Of our State. Enough has been ascertain.
cd to convince us OF their existence and
extent; but the hand Of science Is needed
to show US their value, and their locali-
ties.
Within tho last year, discoveries OF cx.
tensive beds OF iron orc have been made
in Perry county, In the immediate vioni'
ty Of formations of coal and lime stone
and individual explorations, In other por'
tons Of the State, have been equally pro-
ductivc. !, therefore, earnestly rcnow th,
recommendation foran appropriation for I
thorough geological and Typographical sur
vey Of the State.
In consequence Of the excessive droutl
Of the past season, extending nearly thro'
out the entire year, our citizens, In com
mon with the citizens OF other States Dor
dering upon tho Ohio river, have suffered
4 greatly from obstruction 10 navigation up
on that great national thoroughfare.
In our own river towns, business hal
been paralysed, manufacturing has beer
suspended, commerce has dropped, and
thousands have suffered from the limitei