The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-01-25
Me- The Trustees of the bondholders

since the people have manifested so much
readiness to accept a REIMBURSEMENT of the
canal, appear not to have any intention of
giving it up. The pretence of abandoning
it, was only an adroit maneuvre, it seems,
to obtain an appropriation from the State, or
a subscription from the people. As long as
the lands last, and the Trusteeship afford
comfortable sinecures, we are apprehensive
the canal will be retained under its present
wretched system of management.
1t is now intimated by the Trustees that
if the State will make q small appropriation,
or if the people along the line viii subscribe
sac, 900 or $50, 1000, they will repair the ca
nal and open it for the spring trade, and
keep it in order for the future, without
again troubling the public for aid. The en-
gineer has put forth most extravagant esti-
mates of the costs of epairs-probably twice
or three times the amount actually needed
lin order to strengthen their appeal to the
State and people for contribution.
There is not, in our opinion, the remotest
hope that the Legislature will extend
any assistance; and the people along the
line, whose private interest in the maintain
ance of the Canal, would induce them to
contribute all that would be actually neces-
sary for its repairs, are unwilling to pay the
money into the Canal Treasury, to be con-
trolled and expended by men whose inef-
ficiency and neglect have been so conspicu-
Gus in the management of the work As
anxious as the population of Canal counties
are to preserve the canal, and as freely as
they would expend money to put it in or
der, they would sooner throw their bank
notes into the fire, they say, than to pay
them over to the Trustees of the
Bondholders for in their hands the money
would only serve to prolong the wretched
administration which has deprived them of
all important benefits of the Canal, and in
volved them, for one year, in series of most
vexatious losses and disappointment.
If funds cannot be obtained from the
State nor from individuals interested in the
canal the Trustees must raise money by
pledging the lands for loan, or make a
transfer of portions of the canal to compa-
MES who will repair it and keep it in order
either by lease or sale. The sooner they
are convinced that no aid can be obtained,
by them, either from the people or State, the
sooner will the Trustees be forced into final
action, and to terminate the suspense that
now hangs over the future fate of the canal,
in which large interests of the counties along
its line are involved.
An enabling act will be required to au-
thorize any transfer, by lease or sale, from
the bondholders, and steps should be taken
to procure its passage, at once, in order to
be prepared for the contingencies that may
happen. We learn that the Representatives
from the Pocket wish general expression
of public opinion on the subject, from their
constituents, to guide their course in the
Legislature. The suggestion of our cores
pondent in yesterdays Journal, recommend
ing public meetings in all the counties in
terested in the canal, is good one, and
should be adopted without delay.
Such n movement is also necessary to
convince the Trustees that the people have
not confidence enough in their administra
ton to entrust them with any funds for re
pairing the canal and to let them know
at once, that they must either provide
means, from their own resources, to put i
in order, or relinquish it to others.
The people of Toledo and along the North
ern portion of the canal are moving will
some show of spirit and determination il
the matter. We learn from the Toledo
Times that on the 10th instant meeting
was held in that city to consider the forlorr
condition of the Wabash and Erie Canal
Judge Myers was Chairman, and W.
Bari, Secretary.
1t was stated that there was six feet o
water in the Canal at the junction, and
that by the expenditure of $4,000 six fee
can be had to Fort Wayne-llo miles from
Toledo.
Resolutions were adopted, declaring tina
the Canal is of vast Importance to Toledo
and the territory through which it passes
that the meeting cooperate with the citi
zens of Indiana in every measure they ma.
adopt to preserve the existence and promot
the prosperity of the Canal; that the Cana
was built by compact between Ohio and In
diana, to which the United States was con
tracing party, and they are hound to kee
the same in repair and in navigable order
that should convention be held in Indian
to consult upon the difficulty, delegatio
from Toledo shall attend; that, inasmuch Q
the people of Ohio have common intere:
in the work with the people of Toledo
the Board of Public Works of Ohio al
requested to cooperate in the measure
that shall be proposed to place the Canal il
terest on proper footing according to tt
mutual obligations entered into between ii
States and the United States,
Matthew Brown, John Brownlee, Truma