The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-02-24

Ameeting Of our Merchants was held last
week and . committee appointed to drait .
statement of the causes which have rendered
the Wabash and Erie Canal, -one Of the largest
and most important lines Of Internal Improve
ment, = entirely useless as route Of trsnspor-
tation The reasons Of the failure ofthis great
enterprise are constantly asked every where
but have never been satisfactorily answered
till the appearance Of the following Report
made to the meeting last week, and forwarded
to tho Chairman Of the Canal COMMITTEES in
the Senate. It will Be seen that the chief
difficulties are easily remedied, and would have
been removed and corrected years ago, ifthose
in the management Of it. had any interest in
the Canal except getting their salaries from IL.
They are very industrious and sleepless in
their exertions to get into the Offices. which,
once secured, they 60 to bed and reposs till
they are awakened BY noise to turn them
out. There viii - no great reform in its
condition and management till its proprietor
ship and its relations to the State be changed.
It will ever be worthless to the bondholders
as it is now held; and its woodwork and
locks will soon begin to decay, and the canal
become entirely useless to the public. unless il
be put into more efficient hands. The best
disposition would be, to transfer il TO private
Company for the most it will bring. Or IL
il cannot be sold, lease it for long term Of
years to private enterprise. Itcertainly could
be made to pay something beside the cost Of
its repairs and management, ifonce taken from
the hands Of sleepy official managers. who have
no interest in its prosperity. -t-
There is however no hope Of an immediate
change; and all we can expect is, to keep iii
some state of navigation for few years, till
the last lingering hope Of the bondholders. Of
making something out oft, shall have expired,
and some reform in the State government shall
have overthrow the reign Of the Official
spoilers, when some snterprising. Efficient men
will gain possession Of il. and make II Of value
to the public and profitable to themselves.
The report Of the Committee points out, in
very clear and concise statements, where the
whole trouble exists. and shows how easily,
by ordinary care and attention. the difficulties
could be remedied; and II il Be possible 10
awaken any shame for official neglect or any
regard for public condemnation. in the present
managers, the Report must have some effect
to secure more attention to the work for the
future. The action of the Legislature will
depend entirely upon what use the individual
members can make ofthe subject in their party
canvasses; that is the paramount. ruling con.
sideration in the imbscile. partizan rule, which
at present afilicts the State. v's ,.T.
CoL G. X. DREW, Chairman of Lnses;gatinq
Committee of the Wabash + Eric Canal:
DEAR SR:-Hasing noticed that commit
tee has been appointed to investigate the
causes Of our canal difficulties, We herewith
beg leave to furnish you with statement ol
some Of the many causes of complaint Of those
interested in the good management and sue.
cessful working Of the lower end Of the canal
among which we charge and are prepared ia
prove:n -a 81 fsSE
LIST. That in its construction there seems to
have been greater desire TO build IL cheaply
than in such Q manner n to render il pcrma-
nent, and to meet the demands of its com
merce and that Of the country, through which
itpasses,
I'd. That at point offering the greatest
obstacle to its navigation pigeon Summit)
the tow path is built at so great height above
its level, as to require three times the force
Of teams to propel boats, as on other portions;
and, that for want OF trenches in this deem
cut, to prevent the washing of the earth into
the canal, bars arc continually forming, rem
dering it impossible for boats with full freight;
that this has been known both to the Engi-
neers and Trustees for over three years, and
that all tie distractions which this point has
presented to its navigation, together with all
the complaints continually made. have only
been able within few weeks past to procure
an order for its partial remedy; hence we inIsr
that our interests are studiously, or most care
lessly neglected. a
Sd. That while the two lower districts are
much longer than those above, the banks
comparatively new. and from the character
of the country and soil through which il
passes, are much more liable to breaks, there
is but one State boat for each division. while
two to three times the force is employed on
the shorter districts above. a
4th. That from the fault in the original
construction, or the management OF the canal
since, there are certain p0inss III " WneSo the
water has never been but little over two feet,
even at its best stage, and generally under
that, while the law requires OF the bondhold-
ers thai they shall furnish Casualties except
ed four feet Of water, and that il those points
were dug as deep as others, or kept we'll
cleaned out, this quantity of water might be
regularly furnished with much less danger 70
the banks, at other points, a. there need not be
50 great strain upon them. in order to give
the necessary depth Of water.
9Th. Chat the Trustees or Engineers in THAR
MANAGEMENT Of this end Of the canal, have in
advertently or intentionally. 90 controlled Il a
almost entirely to cut us Of from the eaefts;to
he derived from its successful operstion since
its construstion. That the Trustees and En-
cinesrs do not give enough personal supsrvi.
Sion to. and consequently cannot know the
necessities and condition Of these levels