The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-11-08
Tho Canal.

of the lower division OF the canal, In saying
the break in the canal, which has suspended
navigation, was in his division. 1t is not in
his division. 1t is in the division above Pc
tersburg, about two miles north of the White
river viaduct. A break occurred at the
same place four weeks ago, which arrested
the passage of boats for two weeks, and it
had been repaired scarcely two weeks, when
1t broke again on Friday last, and another
suspension of business for two weeks, in the
most important season of nayigation, will be
suffered before it can be repaired. This al
ternate breaking and repairing, constitutes
the whole history of the canal South of
Terre Haute. For all practical purposes of
commercial intercourse with the North and
East, the Southern terminus of the canal is
at Terre Haute, and it will remain there so
long as we are without an efficient and en-
ergetic Commissioner, who will insist that
the Southern section shall be attended to-
DR.. Barton has done all he could, but it re-
quires man of vigor and strength to re-
move ponderous obstacle.
There is a section of the canal near Hos
mer, about half way to Petersburg, where
it passes through deep cut, with a steep
bank on one side. Every rain washes the
loose earth into the canal, and for the dis
lance of mile there is not more than 8 or
20 inches of water, for the greater portion of
the year. To get over this shallow place
boats are compelled to restrict themselves to
half or onc-third of boat and to charge
double or threefold freight on what
they do carry. This condition of affairs has
existed for two years. and no one has COM
planned of it but the boatmen. We are in
formed by those who have had the Superin-
tendence of the canal, and are acquainted
with the spot that the whole difficulty could
be removed, and protection from future in
jury could be secured by the expenditure of
fire thousand dollars. By building crib of
timber three feet high on one side, and ar
rest the falling earth from going into the
canal, and removing that which has already
all times at that point, as in other parts of
the canal, and boats be enabled to pass it
with full loads, carried at half the freight
they now charge. AS obvious as the neces-
sity of this work is, no attention has been
given to it by the Commissioners, although
the increased tolls it would bring to the
canal Golfers would repay the costs of i'm
provement in six months, .I-..r II
The canal, though it may never fulfill all
the brilliant hopes that were originally con-
ceived of it, would, if properly managed
contribute steady, safe, and large cur
rent of trade to this city. But neglected
and mismanaged as it has been. it is a nuis-
ance As a medium of transportation it
serves but to entrap, disappoint, vex and an
tail loss upon all who attempt to use it. The
public, vexed and disguised with its wretch
ed management, have ceased to expect any
thing from it, or to take any interest in it.
railroad interests are inimical to it, and are
waiting to see it silently sink into ut
ter decay and ruin.
Thus, at a period when canals are about
10 be appreciated when the popular en-
thusiasm in favor of railroads is abating,-
and when the advantages of water commu-
nication for heavy freights are about to be
demons trated by the lessons of a sad expe-
rience, we are totally neglecting one of the
most magnificent lines Of canal in the world,
and abandoning it to be ruined by selfish
peculation and incompetency. If the peo-
pie of Southern Indiana wish to preserve
the vestiges of this great national work
which belongs to their section, they must
n ow move in the matter, and insist upon
having trustee who has industry and force
of character to attend to their interests
Evansville has a deeper stake in it than
any other place. and one of her citizens would
have stronger inducements than any other
to discharge faithfully the duties of Commits
sioner. We can think of no one more bet
ter fitted by habit, capacity and experience
to restore the canal and make it what i
should be, than Willard Carpenter, if he would
accept the Office. His private affairs are now
in the hands of others, and he is compare
lively at leisure from an inability to use hi:
own means for his own benefit He might
under these circumstances, be willing tt
work for the public for year or two. Tn.
der his management we don't believe thai
many interruptions to navigation would oc
cur on this end of the route. Without an
thority we suggest his name as candidate
for Canal Commissioner. a better can't b,
found in the State.
In Justice to Mr.. Thomas D. Smith, W,
should say that no breaks have occurred il
this section under his care, between her
and Petersburg, that has detained boat
more than ten hours at time, since he tool
charge of the section in May last. He ha
established a corps of watchmen along tn
line at six miles apart, and each one is re
uuirel to TRAVERSE this section morning an
evening armed with a,pick and shovel, to ar
rest any break, or repair any slight damage
Under this excellent arrangement break
are prevented, or stopped before doing niue