The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-03-15
Canal Outlet Renort.

We have received the Special Report
of the Board of Public Works, made in
compliance with House resolution, passed
February II +, in respect to the necessity
Of a connection between the Miami and
Erie Canal and the Ohio River at Cincin-
natl -e. ..fs.a.s .E -f....
The Report starts out with the remark
that, latter careful investigation Of all the
interests involved, the Board is Of the
opinion that the connection between the
canal and the river is of great Importance,
and that the abandonment of that part of
it between Broadway and the river would
tend to material reduction of the revc-
nue., and impair the general usefulness of
the canal" The Report proceeds:
"By comparison of the amount of tolls
collected at Hamilton, Dayton and Mid
lleton, from the shipments of coal alone,
during the years 1857 and 1858, it ap-
pears that a falling of in revenue on that
single article in the latter year amounts
to over six hundred dollars This falling
off is, doubtless, directly attributable to
the fact that the locks were out of repair
during the year 1853, t,us forcing a large
quantity of coal on to the railroads that
would otherwise have been shipped by
canal into the interior of the State. The
consumption Of coal in the Miami Valley
is rapidly increasing year by year, and
will at no very distant period become of
vast importance. The canal is relied
upon as the channel for the transporta-
ton of this article, and it is usually pur-
chased and shipped at times of high water
in the Ohio River, when canal boats can
with facility pass into the river and be
moored by the side of the coal barges.
If this communication is cut off, the cost
Of transportation will be increased about
sixty cents per tun. No estimate has
been made of the amount of coal dis
tributed to the various manufactures on
the line of the canal south of Hamilton, as
those points can not be accommodated by
railroad" r..#
The transportation of iron ore ha:
hitherto been considerable item, which
has been suspended by the state of use
lessness into which the locks have fallen
In answer to an inquiry as to the cos
Of repairing the canal so as to put it il
order for navigation, the reply Of tn
Board is as follows: hi8R .riTQ2
2 "Thc cost of repairing the canal cas-
or Broadway, is estimated at eight thou
sand dollars. There are, however thro
Of the locks which will, within the mex
three or four years, require rebuilding
and if rebuilt of Dayton limestone, vii
cost thirteen thousand dollars Zach"
A question in respect to the propose,
new outlet in Millcreek Valley, receive
the following answer:
o. a connection may doubtless be oil
tanned between the canal and the Obi
River, through the Valley of MillcroeI
but it is the opinion of the Board that
would not be equally advantageous t
the State The probable cost Of such
connection can hardly be supposed to fal
below two hundred and fifty thousan,
dollars Two important railroads, to-wit
the 'Cincinnati,\ Hamilton and Dayton,
the ohio and Mississippi and tn,
Whitewater Valley Canal, would have t.
be crossed, and private property to yer,
large amount condemned. 1t is imposs
BILE to give an accurate statement of th
cost of such an improvement withou
careful and elaborate surveys and est
mates, which resolution of inquiry doe
not contemplate.pGara
1t would seem as if the direct and po
itiye testimony, contained in this .rcpor
should put an end to the insaneIand injr
rious project to which it owes its origir
! while it may afford piece Of wholesom
advice to the members Of the City Coul
: ell of Cincinnati-that, impotcnt as the
are for good, they should at least refrai
from doing mischief as far as is cor
patible with their personal and priva
interests.