The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1859-04-15
The Law TO Lease the Public
Works.

~ NAAat
The State Journal publishes this act Of
the late Legislature, aud discusses some
Of i,s provisions. The law divides the
Public Works into three sections, which
are to be leased at auction at tho State
House on the 10th Of August next for
Eve years. They are not to be let uulsss
an aggregate rent Of s52 900 is offered,
and unless all the sections are leased
The Journal sAys;-
Section l, is the Miami and Erie Ca.
nal, which is not TO be rented for less than
$4,000. The gross receipts on this ca
nal last year were sl5S,O55 The con.
tract price for keel ing in repair was 8 1850, :
90. This was supposed an extrava-
giant price, as proposals at $685. 900
wtri made by parties equally responsible.
Assuming this to be fair price, and II Q
receipts Of last year an average, a rent Of
$40, ,O00would leave the contractors pro-
ft Of 913,755.
Section 2, is the Muskingum Improve
ment Ohio Canal. Hooking Canal and
theWalhonding Canal. The minium rent
is $4,000. Gross receipts last year
were Sl49,s3l, The contract prices Tor
keeping those canals IN repair amounted
to see, $50. This basis and the rent
wouid leavea margin in favorofthe lessoes
Of S29.033 year.
The Maumee and Western Reserve
Road is the third section, Of which the
minimum rent is S400. The gross re-
ceipts last year we're 50. 846. The con.
tract price for keeping the road in repair
was $1,000.
The act provides that tho maximum
rate Of tolls charged shall not exceed the
published toll sheet Of 1859,
On this subject the Journal remarks;
II may be generally understood that
the tolls last year were reduced TO what
was regarded as a very low point, in order
TO compete with the ruinous rates at which
railroads are carrying freight, We have
examined the toll sheets Of 1858 and lS.
SO, and compared the rates on the prin
cipal articles transported on the canals.
On iiity-tive Of these, which comprise the
mos, important items, the reduction by
the rate Of 1859, is fifty per cent. Sc.
Letting a smaller number Of the most i'm.
poFtant articles. the reduction is still
greater,
This, the Legislature has fixed as the
maximum rate that tho lessess may charge
for Eve years.
Their idea seems 10 have been 10 Sc.
cure the benefits Of low tolls. But they
have Fixed, as maximum, a rate that
will require double the business Of last
year to produce the same revenue.
Whether low tolls will cause so great
an increase is an experiment that lesses
may not be disposed to Try at their own
cost.
Those who wish to lease. will have some
opportunity to see the effect Of this OK.
pertinent on the revenues ofthe canals be.
fore the letting. IL could not be eNpeo.
ted that any would try at their own
risk.
Should this reduction Of City per cent,
IN tolls result Ia serious loss Of revenue.
II seems not very probable that the on.
nails will be leased. Then what remains
70 be doneg The act provides that in
such case repairs shall continue under
the direction Of tho Board; and appropri-
a.es to the division Of Mr.. Baokus Si4,.
900, TO that of Mr.. Martin e4I, 500, and |
toMr, Waddle for the repairs OF the South. !
ern division Of the Ohio Canal. .tbo Mus. |
kingum Improvement, Hooking and Wal. /
honding Canals, for tho half year from
the 18th Of August, the enormous sum
Of one thousand dollars