The Evansville daily journal., 1858-12-10
rhe Canal Again.

The Canal Again.
We are thoroughly persuaded that our
canal with any degree of faithfulness and
energy in its management, could be made q
most valuable medium of trade to the
country through which it passes and
even a "paying institution T" to the bond
holders. If it can be rescued from the hands
OF the inefficient and lazy drones to whom
1t has been committed, all the reasonable
hopes of its projectors, may, we believe, be
realized Accidents and appointments
the results of neglect and incompetency-
have so constantly attended the attempts
to use it, since its completion, that the people
of the State have been led to suppose there
were some inherent and insurmountable OBJ
stacles in the soil and face of the country,
that rendered the construction and preserva-
tion of canal through il, work of ex-
ceeding difficult, if not an irreproachable
one. They have looked upon its past fail |
ures as inevitable and unavoidable. B-'
facts are daily coming to light WHICH At
that with fair degree of homes sno"
gy in its management tS' y ana ener-
made one Of the best g canal can pe
works of the III, and most serviceable
sond.hoLAaS~ .nd in the country. The
theip .. through representations of
ks> gents in charge of the canal, have
IN led to believe, and have complained
to the Legislature, that competing lines of
railroad destroyed the business of the canal;
while the honest truth is, the Incidence,
neglect, and unfaithfulness of the Trustees
have been the cause of its decline, and will
be ultimately of its ruin, unless they, or
their system of management, be reformed.
We are glad to see that some of our citi-
zens are taking efficient measures to expose
its shameful mal-administration. Facts are
daily coming to our knowledge that exhibit
NEST culpable neglect, if not willful de-
sign to destroy the business Of the canal
The only motive for this ruinous policy that
can be surnised, is suspicion that certain
parties are plotting to render the canal and
its prospects worthless in the eyes of the
bondholders and the people of the State ;
then those who have apparently ruined it
will contrive to get possession of it for a
song and make out of it for themselves what
they should have done for the bond hold
eTs.
We have other letters eff the same import
as that published yesterday, from highly
respectable correspondent in Pike county
We solicit persons along the line of the canal
who have any facts of importance relative
to the administration of the canal in
their respective vicinities-either creditable
or discreditable to its managers, for we want
the truth-to communicate them to this Of
fee, that they may be handed over to the
committee who are collecting information in
regard to the business and management Of
this much abused and neglected public
work.
Instead of stimulating the Superintendent:
of the sections 10 faithful and vigorous dis
charge Of their duties, the central authority
seems to connive at neglect, and discour-
ages every sensible and effectual plan fol
improving the condition of the work. VIZ
learn from most reliable authority that Mr.
Smith, the faithful and efficient Superintend
ent of the lower division, who has recently
been appointed to the trust, and who hat
not, perhaps, yet attained to full compre
hension of the policy of the Trustees, re
Gently procured-in the honesty and sim
plicity of his conceptions of duty-tools anG
implements for cleaning the canal, at APPOINT
where for a mile, there is but eighteen inche:
of water, and which could have been deep.
ened to "a or 80 inches, at very slight ex.
pense. Instead of receiving the appobatior
and commendaton of the Trustees for hi
enterprise and faithfulness, he got an ordel
from Terre Haute to suspend his plans anC
sell his tools, as such work was not needed
In his report he states the necessity of thu
work and protests against the order for it
discontinuance, as ruinous to the interest
of this part of the canal. His friend!
are apprehensive that his independence an(
boldness will cost him his office The pub
lie will see if the Trustees have no more re
gard for public opinion on this part of tn
canal, than to deeapitate him for his insuh
ordination. He is the only man, as far a
we can learn, on the canal between here an
Terre Haute, who has tried to do his dut
faithfully.