The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-08-22
Our Canal.


ton of our Canal. 1t is evident that if
the people be not aroused to some action
to rescue the Canal from the present i'm
provident and ruinous Encouragement,
the whole work, one of the most impor-
tant IN the country, will in few years
become a worthless wreck. Its locks
and aqueducts are rapidly decaying and
portions Of it filling up, while its reve-
nues are decreasing, and the little that is
collected is being consumed by set of
useless office holders, who are living up
on the ruin and injuries their neglect is
entailing upon the community.
Mr.. CARLILE Il saw few weeks ago,
some very just remarks in the JOURNAL con-
corning the Wabash and Erie Canal. have
thought some more on the same subject might
do some good. While the Canal was build
ing, our people were highly excited with the
Aattering prospects of having the longest ca
nal in the world passing through line OF
400 miles of the richest country on the globe,
giving us the choice of a Northern or q South
ern market with the cheapest mode of trans
portation. There appeared then as if there
could be no way of depriting us of its i'm
portant advantages. They were positive and
certain-beyond the reach of accident or OPP
position. We all sadly realize the disap-
pointment which folly and mismanagement
have entailed upon US. The great work has
been almost entirely useless, and the millions
expended upon it might as well have been
sunkih the sea. AS far as / recollect, there
has been only two months in the last egh-
teen in which boat leaving Evansville,
drawing two feet of water, could 60 through
to Toledo, in Ohio. Persons who have in q
few instances attempted to transport products
or merchandise by the Canal, have been dis
appointed and subjected to very heavy losses.
Those who have built oil. purchased boats,
have met with almost total loss of their in
vestments. Every one who has attempted to
use the Canal has been injured by it, while
| the bond-holders have not received the first
|
complain that the railroads have destroyed
its business but the fact is, the Canal has
been so wretchedly managed ard unreliable
that it has driven all business from it, by its
own shameful condition. Other Canals in
worse locations are profitable, and compete
successfully with railroads. You cannot get
heavy freight from any part of New England
less than Sl5 or $50 per ton by any othel
route; while freight from the interior of Yer
mont has been delivered at Evansville an(
this point for SO per ton in the present con
dition of the canal. 1t costs no more to keel
the Canal in order for the passage of 100
boats than for 10. But every train tina
passes over railroad helps to wear it ont
On this end of the Canal the Commission
ers have reduced the tolls on salt to Mays
vile, to compete with the Ohio and Missis
sippi Railroad, making the freight less t.
Maysville than to Petersburg. If they haC
raised the water in the Canal up to what i
was intended to be, so that boat could carr,
$50 barrels, instead of $50 barrels-which i
all she can now carry-the Commissioners
might have raised the tolls in place of lower
ing them, and secured ten times as mucl
business for the Canal, and rendered som
benefits to the public for the large salarie
they receive from its revenues. Who but tn
Commissioners-th most worthless drone
that ever got into the political hive-are t
blame for the sad failure of this magnifcen
work of Internal Improvement
Suppose you were to pass by farm unde
the Superintendent of an agent whose own
err was abroad, and saw the fences rottin
down, and the fields growing up with briar
the out-houses going to decay, the dwell
ling going to ruin, and the stock half starved
breaking into the fields and consuming u.
poor crops that were attempted to be cultiva
ted would you not say that some triflin
rascal was in charge of the property, VIII
ought to be at once kicked out of his office
Well suppose you take ride up and dow
: our Canal, and see the evidences of neglect
! decay and ruin every where exhibited-se
: the water leaking out through the banks
, which an hours labor, at first, would arrest
but gaining in force and volume, it short
creates a break, and stops navigation for
= month. Behold the tow-path growing n
with bushes and briars-side washes into til
! Canal, filling up its bed-and for miles ne
the foot print of horse on the tow-path fc
q weeks, and you will come to the conclusio
that Turkish sloth, misrule and oppressio
never ruined more useful and magni6cer
work than has been ruined. to all useful pun
poses, by political mismanagement and oticii
7 neglect, in our Canal. If the unworth
agent who had destroyed the farm of b
employer, deserved to be turned out nee
and heels, from his charge, what will yo
: do with the worthless men-the unfaithfJ
a agents-who have so neglected the Canal
. What are the business men of Evansvill
about! They must be blind to their own in
terests to remain quiet while matter of sue
i vital Importance to the business of their cit
Y is so shamefully neglected. If a few of ther
Z had interest enough in the growth of you
. town to make an excursion along the line {
the Canal from Evansville to Terre-Haut
and see the deplorable state of affairs, be
leve they would be aroused from their apa
s thy. G.. ID. j.
n A Place Of Residence.