Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-03-03
s90,343,77
S9o,343,77


You will perceive from the Treasurer
exhibit, that the receipt from tolls, are
for 1857, much less than for the prece.
ding year; which dimunition We predict,
ed in our last report-assig ming as a
reason, competition with the Cleveland
and Mahoning Rail Road. The Rail Road
is completed to Youngstown, and compe-
ties with the Canal for the trade of the
Mineral Ridge, Girard, Briar Hill and
Crab Greek coal mines; from which were
shipped 10 Cleveland last season, over
1000 tuns of coal: the Canal carrying
of this amount, $4,000 iuns, against some
$4,000 tuns the preceding year, from the
same mines. From mines east of Youngs
town, which are without Rail Road COM
petition, the clearances last year were
16, 900 tuns, against $4,000 tuns the yea
before. The financial difficulties of the
latter part of the season affected the Goa
trade perhaps more seriously than any
other one article of trade, inasmuch as the
Mahoning Valley coal is largely used fol
manufacturing purposes, which demand
was much lessened by the inability o
many manufacturers to continue theil
business operations.
The proprietors of the above named
mines have, as we led you in our last re
port to anticipate, shipped Il large par
of their coal by Rail Road, having large
interests in the Rail Road, or in the i'm
provements connecting their mines with it
The total quantity of Coal cleared a
the different offices for 1857, by Canal
was As, ,2O5 tuns, against Is, AIS iuHs fo
1856, showing. a falling off in the article
of coal OF 20, ,237 tuns. As cal is anC
has been the principal article from which
revenue is derived on the Canal, ~e have
eadeavored to make it pay far toll, no
50 high as to hinder shipments, but large
enough TO maintain the Canal in naviga
bic order.
1t was by some shippers complained
Of but when the mailer was reflected
Upon by them, they generally conceded
that the charges were not higher thar
were necessary, with the diminished bus
mess. to keep it in repair. Certainly i
was for their interest 10 have the cana
earn a sum sufficient TO maintain it as ;
means of Transporting their conf 10 mar
ket, for without it all the mines east o
Youngstown would be valueless, You
large expenditure of money in ihe Canal
has developed and made valuable, large
coal fields, which without the facililie:
afforded for shipping to the Lake mar
kets, would have been of little value, bu
with, it coal lands have enhanced from q
mere nominal price TO be worth, in some
locations. thousands of dollars an acre.
We believe it to be unjust 10 ask YOU
to charge toll from which you canno
realize any returns for your investment,
or certainly not more than one per cent.
under the mos, favorable circumstances;
when coal owners are realizing an enor.
nous profit on their outlay solely by
your Improvements; and we would advise
that coal shippers pay the coming season
tariff as high at least, as last years, par.
ticulaIly as margin sufficient will remain
to stimulate as large shipments as the
market demands will warrant. On the
amount of property cleared at our differ
ent offices last season-if charged at the
rates of 1856, d sufficient sum would no
have been realized to have paid the ex,
penses of the canal, managed with the Ut.
most economy.
From points where the Rail Road com.
petes with the canal, we have endeavored
to fix tariff, which, added 10 boating
charges, would be as near Rail Road
rates as possible.
In this we think we were successful
The Rail Road company do not manifest
disposition 10 compete with our company
by fixing low prices, but charge freight
that allows US TO fix reasonable rates auc
leave the boatman a fair remuneration fol
his services.
The distance. by canal, as we have
stated TO you in former reports, is thirty.
five miles farther 10 Cleveland th1n by ihe
Rail Road, and il is generally conceded
that with the advan;as. in distance, the
Rail Road can allord 10 freight for les;
than the canal, on which account we ale
anxious to have them keep their tariff a
a price which will give us fair toll, af
ter paying boating charges. In our last
report, we informed you that the canal
was much out of repair, and that large
amount of money was required 10 put il
in good boating condition-to rebuild al
least nine locks, quite number of lock
gates, cribs, bridges, an aqueduct, &c
requiring an expenditure aPProximalins
to S5O,OOO.
The severe cold of last winter and
spring, precluded US from making any
repairs, except what were absolutely nec-
essary in order TO open the canal for
spring business; this was done early in
April, and no breach of any magnitude
occurred during the season.