The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-09-30
More StcnlinR--LocStocO Candidate
for Nuurd of Public Works.

some information respecting the character of
MIR. nendrickson, the Locofoco candidate for
Board of Public Works, that will doubtless
interest the badly swindled voters Of Ohio
win They continue TO support such bold ,Os.
Gals for Offices of the highes, importance 7
Now lew words about MIR. Hcndrickson and
the Middletown Hydraulic Company. In the
early part of September, 1851, the properly
known Hs the Enoch Mills was destroyed by
fire At once Col Hendrickson discovered a
grand speculation towering up from the ruins,
the property having a valuable water power,
which was then purchascnble a, low figure,
and could be nude immensely valuable in con-
nection with the construction of new State
dam. The idea OF Hydraulic Company was
then conceived, aud the importance OF CON
structlng new dam was, iot tile hrst time,
seriously considered. The subject was canvass
ed, and without delay the hydraulic Company
was formed. The firm purportsd TO bs John
w. Erwin, tat tho time Canul Engineer,) Joseph
Cooper, and Col. r. IL. Hendrckson but A.
+. Miller, then acting Canal Commissioned, was
also known TO have an interest III the firm
During the construction ot the race, safety gates
aud other appur;enances belonging to the proper
ty, he had u great deal to say about our Hy-
drauic, &C., and as soon as the people gave
him permission TO retire from public service,
no proclaimed himself partner in the Hy-
draulc enterprise. Tho firm then was Erwin,
Hcndrickson, Cooper and Miller -Hendrickson
claiming to be the originator and prime mover
Of the scheme. He became qualified for the
undertaking. doubtless. by instructions received
while member of the miami Tribc" in this
city. lie had previously been whig, but pros
pected into the ranks Of the Democracy,
and took his first lessons in the business di
Office seeking, in his new relation, from the cor
rupt cli1ue who composed that secret society.
The Enoch property having been secured, aud
the Hydraulic firm organized, it was resolved to
move for the erection OF a new dam. The old
dam was sufficient TO supply the canal aud all
the water power used, aud nobody except the
Hydraulic Company, could SEQ the necessity for
new Improvement. But the interests OF The
Board OF Public Works and the Hydraulic Co.,
having beeu merged, Miller and Erwin serving
the State and Tie firm, at the same time, the
new dam project was favorably received and
and promptly adopted by the Commissioners.
Then was commenced the work on the dam
which was done at the expense OF tho State !;
and stimuli taneously, the construction of race
und other expensive improvements for the ly-
draulc tirm was undertaken.
The latter being private job. had no con-
neclion properly, with the State work. but the
public have ncter been advised of the exact
position of the line, IN tho construction
accounts, that divides the expenses of the twin
contracts Joe Cooper and Col. lIendrickson
received tn. contract for building the dam, from
Miller, Acting Commissioner, and, at the same
time, silent partner in the Hydraulic firm
Thus the EnoCh property was purchased, the
State dam undertaken una contracted for and
the Hydraulic firm formed, all about the same
time and by the very select company of patri-
OTIS whose names have been given. Aud Just
here we will mention significant coincidence:
On the 4th day Of Decembtr--a littlo over one
month after the dam contract was entered into,
and over four months before one dollars worth
of material was furnished ON the site of the
dam-the State paid the contractors FIVE thou
sand dollars on the certificate Of the Engineer,
founded as we suppose, on material represented
to have been furnished. Within few days of
this time, these; same parties, us Hydraulic
firm, paid Mr. Young five thousand dollars, be-
ing tile first nstalment on the Enoch property
purchase. Thus it is seen the enerpfising
Company had progressed finely with splendid
under taking. without drawing upon their own
resoutces il they had any for dollar.
Matters progressed the dam and the hydraul-
ic improvements were constructed 0naccount
Of the former, the State disbursed the sum OF
SEVENTY SEVEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AMI
EiGHTY ONE DOLLARS AND THIRTY. NINE cEETs,
which probalbly covered large proportion OF
the cost Of building the latter, for we find the
estimated cost Of the dam, furnished by John
w. Erwin, Engineer, the particulars of whicl
are before us, was S13,O73 81, while the
amount paid to the contractors was. as stated
above, $77,3 80.
But we have not stated all the damaging de-
yelopments in connection with this clique. IL
1864, Hendrickson and Miller, OF the Hydraulic
firm, discovered in The Warren county canal
| ,l,n. IL, 4
| fixed their attention, and without much diff
Guilty got it within their grasp. This Improve
ment including the stone of six locks, a mum
Der of aqueducts and culverts, worth n large
amount of money. was disposed of TO Col
| Hendrckson and John A. Corwine for rner,
song the only considera ion received BIZ III
State being bond TO indemnify the latte
against loss in case of damage to parties owning
property along the line. But this was really
consideration OF no value, for the only securit,
! given by the purchasers Tor The faithful perform
nnce Of the conditions Of the bond was Il nor
gage on the Canal wkich Attorney Genera
McCook said was of no value whatever and il
letter written TO the President of The Board O
| Public Works when he handed over the pape
| making the transfer, he took occasion TO say =.
Z" return the paper submitted 10 me by you
1 and advise against its execution" Dad he dis
cover fraud in the transaction? Whether h
did or not, the bargain was closed; the hydraul
ic mrn obtained possession Of the Camel. an,
the stone or two Of the locks have since beef
absolutely sold back to the State, TO re- bull,
other locks, thus presenting d Ssiy singuls
economical or financial feat Of giving away Il
fsvorite, four or five thousand perch of stone
and then buying back ,hn sOms material at il
full valne Heudrickson wss not satisfied will
even this profitable operation. H, actual,
claimed the land occupied by the Camel, snt
| endeavored, in some c0sfE, To- sell II back TO tn
farmers from whom it had been taken, withou
compensation, years before. for canal pmpost 3
The enterprising pToprietors Of the hydraulic
works, constructed at the expense of the State
are now receiving an annual revenne from tn
same OF between three or four thousand dollars
for water rents, and according 80 their publishe'
cutdi they expect TO realize double this amouu
when The power is fully occupied. Just here
We may add, that no contact be tween Hen
! erickson Cooper & Co., and the Siuic for N