The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-03-11
A. Misrepresentation.


A. MISREPRESENTATION.
We were mistaken in the supposition that
Mr.. Blythe's bin, authorizing the formation
of companies to lease and manage portions
of the canal, was defeated in the Senate
We learn that it passed both Houses and
was approved by the Governor. 1t sub
stantially the bill prepared by the Commit
tee appointed by public meeting in this
city, and amended by Mr.. Blythe, by whose
efforts it was carried through. 1t provides,
az we understand, for the organization of
companies to lease and manage such por
lions of the canal as may be released or
transferred to them by the bondholders and
canal Trustees. 1t confers no special au-
thority upon the bondholder to relinquish,
lease, or transfer the canal, as it presumes
this right is already possessed by them, as
owners in fee simple of the work They
have the legal right-in the opinion of law
yers-to transfer the work subject to the
conditions and stipnlations under which
they hold it from the State. If this be
correct view of the case, we can accomplish
all we desire with Mr.. Blythe's bill, if the
Trustees are disposed to make lease for
such period and upon terms that will at
ford sufficient inducements for private as
ISOLATION to take charge of it.
Mr.. Bowling is now in New York in con-
ference with Mr.. Butler on the subject, and
ON his return, we shall learn the determine
ton of the Trustees. No doubt is enter
tanned that they will lease the Southern Sec
ton, from Newberry to Evansville; and it
will be we'll that the preliminary steps for
the organization of q company should be at
once taken-for if the canal is to pass into
new hands, there is no time to be lost in
preparingit for the spring and summer trade
Il is matter having an important bearing
upon the prosperity of Evansville, and di-
rectly affecting the interest of every one of
its citizens EACH one should calculate the
value of tire benefits to him of preserving it
navigable and be willing to contribute
mart, at least of these benefits to preserve it.
Dilapidated as it is, and under its present
mal-administration, it is the avenue of near
Iva fifth of our trade. The closing of the
canal would reduce the value Of all real es-
tate in this city more than twenty-five per
cent.
We do not believe the ROndholders will
ever totally abandon the canal, nor part
with it in fee to any parties But our fears
have been and are that they will hold on tc
it. and allow it to remain in decaying anG
dilapidated condition, useless to the presen
generation, az basis of future plans, will
their franchises intact, in the new era- tina
il dawning upon canal navigation. IL
realize the promises of the future, we hav'
desired to see a strong local company gain
possession of the work, who would be among
the first to adopt the new theories of cana
navigation, and secure their earliest bene
fits upon our own city.
The enlargement of the New York ca
nails and the introduction of steam naviga
ton upon them has wrought an entire rev
olution in the theory and plans of canal!
They are about to resume, in the opinion
the commercial world, their former pre-
eminent Importance as channels of trade
instead of being bitches, they are to becom
navipable rivers. Steam vessels are
leave Chicago, Detroit, Toledo, and Clevt
land, and navigating the stormy lakes, pa:
on through the canal, without breakin
bulk, to New York, and perhaps coast alon
the shore to the marts of New England
If this be accomplished at the North, ho'
long will it be before the steamers on tt
Ohio may enter an enlarged canal from hel
and ascend to the Lakes and join the fie
from the Lakes to New York
An expenditure of so or IS per cent upc
the original cost of the old canals, is foun
by the New York experiment, to enlars
their capacity three and five fold. Instes
of boats, with cargoes of so and rs tor
they can pass boats of 200 and 800 ton
propelled by steam at half the cost, al
doable the speed of the old mode of navig
tion Our canal is capable of enlarg
meHt and improvement as well as the Ne
York work and at less comparative COS
and it may be made the basis of what W
become, in the progress of another genei
ton, one of the most important lines OF ;
tificial water communication in the countl
the avenue of the bulky commerce betwe
the Ohio and the Lakes, with this city
its Southern depot. The franchises that 4
to control such trade are too valuable
be relinquished for any temporary sacrifice
or-if in folly--they are to be given up
sagacious and enterprising community "
make strenuous effort to secure them
itself
PosT MASTER GENERAL.--The Hon. Aal
Vail Brown was a native of Brunsw
county, Va. He was educated at Cha
Hill University, North Carolina, and che
inc the nrnfassian of Law settled. not lie