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

passing, in 40 miles, 90 or 80 locks,
many culverts, dams, &C., which could
not have been thoroughly inspected in
The time spent in the examination. The
conclusion that Mr.. Blickensderfer comes
10, is this: that the earnings of the canal
will, in two years, be ample TO meet the
estimated expense of repairs, which he
comedies to be fair, (as estimated by !
Mr.. Robison,) and that the work will
not require rebuilding before that time;
and says the earnings of the canal for the
next two years, will be thirty thousand
dollars (S30,0OO) per annum; when by
his own figures he shows the earnings to
be about twelve thousand dollars, (l2,-
600, which is correct, as shown by our
report for 1857. We know that compe-
tition will be greater the coming season,
with the rail road that coal dealers
are perfecting their means to reach the
rail road; that the larger shippers of coal
have heavy investments in the road, and
in their connecting coal roads; that prob
ably larger proportion of the Mahoning
Valley coal will 90 forward by rail
road than didast year; that the rail road
company contemplate extending their
road two miles east of Youngstown, 10
reach the Powers coal mines, which if
done, will give the rail road large part
of the coal that was cleared on the canal
at Youngstown last year, and consequent
ly diminish our revenue materially.
The season of 1857 was remarkably
favorable for our canal. We escaped
without break of any magnitude; with
uniform and abundant supply Of water
and without a freshet during the boating
season, which enabled us to keep the
work in good boating order, at COM
paratively trifing expense. We can not
expect equally good luck the coming
season. on account of The dilapidated
condition of the work; our repair account
will in all probability be ircreased, and
the work being suspended while making
repairs, will most probably diminish re-
ceiPts 10 an amount not exceeding the in
cidental expenses of the year.
Again, all know, who are familiar
with canals, that breaks frequently occur
on work that is considered perfectly safe.
May we not be visited with flood or
other disaster, destroying parts of the
canal which we now think are out of
danger2 We know that the history OF
the Ohio Canal, as well as our own, es-
tablishes the fact that both have frequently
sustained these unexpected misfortunes,
and will again, and if such catastrophes
should occur without our having funds
on hand TO repair, the chances would be
much against the repairs being made, il
the amount required should be large.
We believe that the receipts will moi
in any contingency, much more than pay
the ordinary expenses of maintaining the
work, if they do as much; and would ii
be giving evidence Of the intelligence that
Mr.. B. awards US, not TO prepare 10 re-
build wha! our judgment tells US must be
done, or the work become worthlessl
We know that in the event of our wan
ting money to make these improvements,
il would be absurd TO entertain the opin.
ion that the stockholders would furnish
the necessary funds, ard 10 try 10 borrow
on the credit of the company, would be
equally hopeless; thereforewe think we
should prepare our funds for the emer-
gency, TO rebuild with economy and dis
patch, at as early day as the interests
of the work require.
Mr.. Blickensderfer says from his ex-
perience, acquired on the Ohio Canal, he
draws certain conclusions respecting the
holding out of work on our canal; and we
suppose the expenditures on the Ohio
Canal are his daIa for his conclusions that
extraordinary repairs, that he comedies
must be made to an amount approxima-
ting to S5O,O00 in two years, in addition
to ordinary repairs, (Which amounted
TO over s2O,OO0 last season. can be made
from the revenue of the canal in two years
In examining the report of the Board
of Public Works for ls57,we find the
southern division of the Miami and Erie
Canal is stated 10 be one hundred and
eighiy.one miles in length, with twenty
one miles of feeders, and as it is the only
canal of which the length is given, We
select it for comparison with our canal.
The expenditures for sustaining that
canal during the year 1857 according to
the report, were Sl39, ,l73,68 or over
S688 per.mile. Now our canal is eighty
three miles (or including feeders. ninety
three miles) in length, and the whole ex-
pense on it for 1857, was $4,000, or a
bout two hundred and fifteen dollars per
mile; but had the work on the Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio Canal cost as much as
that portion of the Ohio Canal, our expen-
ses woull have been S64,OcO in place
of what is stated OF the expenditure Of
our canal, 1857, 10 wit: 10000.
That the large expenditure is all
right and proper, we do not gainsay, but
do say with the expenditure as stated in
the report as TO the incidental expense on
said canal, and the further report, that the
State works, instead of being a source of
revenue to the State,are charge of over
$4,000.
We are much surprised at Mr.. Blick
ensderfer's conclusions in supposiug that
the earnings of our canal, will in two
years construct fifty thousand dollars worth
Of work, and make incidental repairs,
the cost of which will, in all probability,
exceed its receipts; he must have had in
view a different system of management
and greater economy. than is evidenced
in the supervision of the Board of Public
Works
M-.Blickensderfer states that the funds
of the Company are loaned 10 the Cleve-
land and Mahoning Rail Road Company;
in that he is mistaken. The Board Of
Directors passed resolution au,horiz-
ing and requesting the President and Sec
retary Of the Company to loan the money
at interest, which they have done, Tex
cept some7 900 now on hand deposited
in the Western Reserve and Mahoning
County Banks ito individuals who were
then considered responsible, and are so