Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-03-03

eleven sets of new lockgates put in; four
bridges rebuilt, and the planking of locks
No. l, 2, and S, repaired on division 1;
two bridges rebuilt, wooden lock at head
of slack water repaired. one half sett of
lock gates put in, and guard lock repair
ed on division No. 3; two bridges rebuilt,
half sstt of lock gates put in, lcck No. a
, repaired, and repairs on the Lowell dam,
costing about Sl,4O0. The repairs on
the Lowell dam were unexpected; the
dam last fall appeared safe, was much
newer than any other on the line, having
been rebuilt about nine years ago, but ow-
ing 10 some defect in construction, the
breast gave way and had 10 be supported,
or most of the dam would probably have
been carried away before spring. The
cost of the extraordinary repairs of last
season was from $4,000 10 1000, exclu
sive of ordinary repairs.
The work to be done, to keep the canal
navigable, is large, which we will emu
merate in part: on division No. L, from
Akron 10 Campbellsport, nine selt lock
gates and repairing cribs for same locks
extensive repairs on Shalersville dam,
bridge at Old Forge, and rebuilding
locks No. 5, 4, 5, g. 9, and 10, east of
Ravenna Summit; on division No. 2,
from Campbellsport 10 Warren, one side
of lock at Newport, the whole of Doud's
lock, and Newton Falls aqueduct, and cuT-
vert on Freeman's farm. We find on
examination, that the rebuilding OF the
locks will be more expensive Than we sup
posed in our last report. We then
thought that the seven locks east Of Ra-
venna Summit would have 10 be rebuilt
only from the top of second course, but
find on recent examination that all will
have to be relaid except the Grst course or
TWO feet from the bottom, on division No.
8; from Warren TO Kimball's lock large
repairs on GirarJ dam, on division No.
A.: from Kimbali's dam TO Junction, one
bridge, repair of Lowell dam one sett of
lock gates and new trunk 10 Shenango
aqueduct. The long list of repairs emu
merated will cost over $4,000 exclusive
of the materials already provided, yet the
expense must be encountered or what
worth there is in the canal entirely lost.
We feel that il is economy so TO do, al
though the earnings will not perhaps be
more for two or three years Than enough
to defray the ordinary expenses, when we
hope to see the Mahoning Rail Road ex-
tended and used in freighting property a
greater distance, when the canal will re-
sumo the coal carrying of the Mahoning
Valley, which will be remunerating al
what ii will pay, and the large quantity
seeking theLake markets which is year
ly increasingly will, we hope, make the
canal at least moderately paying stock.
| In addition 10 the forenamed amount oi
work and repairs 10 be made, one of The
locks at Slab Town is in bad condition,
having settled so as to contract the lock,
but we suppose it can be kept up for two
or three years. The Grab Creek Culveri
is much spalled and settled, and may
perhaps stand Two or three years. The
new lock gates mentioned are 10 replace
those that have beeA in use since the
opening of the canal, eighteen years.
The seven locks east of Ravenna Sum-
nit 10 be rebuilt, are all yet standing
up, but some of them look much worse
than they did one year ago, and there is
/ hardly a probability that they will
stand through the summer, if they do
this winter. It is difficult 10 tell which
will first fail. The Girard dam must be
repaired next season as soon as the water
is low enough TO favorably prosecute the
work. In view of the large amount of re-
pairs to be made, the Directors have re-
tanned fund for that purpose, knowing
that with the present and prospective
Money Markets, funds could not be bor-
rowed TO make them, nor could they with
any reasonable prospect of success, call
upon the stockholders to contribute.
They have therefore invested the mon
ey safely at interest, subject 10 call when
it is wanted, believing prompt response
will be made-have concluded not 10
make dividend for 1857.
The General Assembly OF the State OF
Ohio, last April, passed Joint Resolu-
tion, requiring Member Of the Board of
Public Works TO examine the condition
of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, and
report whether the canal company have
used proper efforts 10 Keep said canal in
good navigable condition; and if not,
what amount of expenditure is necessary
10 put the same in good repair; also that
said Board inquire and ascertain whether
said company are complying with the
terms of its charter, and what rates of toll
are charged on property transported on
said canal
ln the month of November, Mr.. Blick-
ensderfer, a member of the Board, visited
the work, and reported, iu substance, ''that
the condition of the canal was good for
present boating purposes, and that the
Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal charged
a toll that they considered the amended
Act of The Ohio Legislature authorized,
to wit: thatthey might fix and charge any
rate of toll, that the nett proceeds of said
toll shall at no time exceed ten per cent.
per annum, on thecapital invested in
said canal, unless the rates by which a
Ten per cent. revenue is derived, are not
as high as are the tolls charged on the
Ohio Canal, in which case the canal COM
pany may charge tolls equal to the Ohio
Canal"
This construction of the "amended
act" Mr.. Blickensderfer reports as
ours, and he reports correctly. Mr..
Blickensderfer says that between "Akron
and Ravenna Summit, no repairs are nec-
essary except the ordinary current repairs
/ Incidental 10 all works of the kind, consist
ing chiefly in renewing lock gates and
cribs. Many of thelock gates can be
repaired, and some require nothing but
balance beams, to render them service
able for several years"
Now we know that between Akron
and Campbellsport, nine setts of new lock
gates are required, to replace gates that
have been in use since the opening of