Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-01-12
Canal Convention.


A Convention of business men froE
different parts of this State, met at Colum
bus on the 9th inst, for the purpose {
taking some action in concert to memo,
ialize The Legislature now in session
against the sales of the Canals, and
memosialise The Board of Public Work
TO SO arrange the tolls as to bring bacI
to fhs Canals a large portion of bushes
which has been taken off by the Raj
Roads. The Convention was largely
attended, and resolutions expressing it
sentiments were passed.
To the course of the remarks made by
Mr.. Chamberlain of Cleveland. he said
The Mahoning Railroad owning the
greater portion of the stock of the OhiC
and Pennsylvania Canal, put up the tolls
so high that boats can't navigate and
make money, as will be The case il these
canals are sold. The Railroad monopo.
Lies all business. The President of the
canal is a creature of the railroad, and
can't do anything but what the railrosd
says; consequently property has decree.s
ed SO per cent. on The line of the oaDa al
Itisa singular fact that very gener.
ally, the opinions of men relGtive 10 wha
may be for the public good; nave a won.
derful ~procliviiy to ru.n parallel will
their private Interests.
It is not strange therefore, thar a For.
r7rding Gsrehant of Cleveland, WHOSE
profits may have been lessened by the
transfer of business from the canal to The
Railroad. should think 1t very necessary
for the good of fhs Stats, tha, e change
should be made.
The President of the P. & o. Canal
Company, holds some of the stock
of The Rail Road Company, and is q
member Of its Board of Directors. it is
very probable that be has a larger pecu-
mary interest in the Railroad, than in
the csaal, end perhaps his views, also, Of
what is necessary for the public good in
the management of the canal may be
somewhat qualified by this private inter
est. He and his associate Directors,
have the sole control. of the management
of the Railroad, consequently it may be
termed a creature of theirs, but no one of
them is il creatnre of it.
A correspondent of the Cleveland Her.
aid in answer 10 an article on this subject
which appeared in that paper a few days
before, says:
Your correspondent says correctly that
a majority Of the stock of the Pennsylva-
mia & Ohio Canal Company is owned by
parties interested in The Cleveland &
'Mahoning Railroad, and that the State
eiowns one third of the stock of the Canal,
but is he aware hat when the State sub
sctibed for this stock it reserved, and has
always exercised, the right 10 oppcint.
Two directors asiis own immediate agents,
in its management Has "W" ever heard
any COtlpldtuA -ltpfi tueSo oSSulS VI 1Hc
State with regard TO it?"
For lis stock in the Pennsylvania &
Ohio. Canal Co. the State paid the sum
ofS420,00e from which its income is S4,-
200 for the year 1850 small dividend,
il is true, but how is it with the Works
owned by the Sia,e and managed oltcgeh
er by its own agen.s-to wit: the Ohio
Canal, Miami & Erie Canal, Muskingum
Improvement, Hooking Canal, Walhond
ing Canal, and w. R. e. Maumee Road?
For these Works the State has paid in
round numbers $50, Ooo, LOCO, and during
The year 1853 hes had the blessed priv
ilege of paying S55.el9.25, over and
above all receipts for keeping them in
repair. An ounce Of such facts is worth
q ton of ersn avs" theories.
The people of Trumbull and Mahon-
ing counties, in their ignorance, have
supposed that Robert W. Tsyler repre-
rented them in The Senate, but w" saws
he represents the Railroad. and not his
-e~onstiiuenis,", and who shall gainsay
1--WE" NJ Cannot he be persuaded to
go as q missionary among the people of
those benighted counties, and inform
lhem as;o their true condition.