Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-01-06

tace. of the bonds when issued. Whether
bonds bearing such reservations will find TAX
ers. can onlr be determined by trial That
they win not, is moro than probable and if
they viii net. it is certain that the taxation of
State bonds is alike impoltie and unjust.
l recommend, therefore, such legislation as
will give the suggested discretion to the Com
missioners. fix beyond liability to alteration
the rate of interest, and secure the control, re-
duction and final payment of the debt, at the
earliest time and in the most economical
II ode. z-- -=
The two great lines of canal, including the
Wabash and Erie, with their feeders, cost $l2.-
II0.l20: the other canals, with the Masking
un Improvement, and The Western Reserve
and GIaumee Road, cost $3,46I,112 and the
amount subscribed to turnpike and rallroad
Companies, Was S3,256, $50, making an aggre-
gate cost OF S~l6,6O3,922.
For u number of yeaIs the net revenues de-
rived from these works though never sufficient
to pay the cost of the investment, were very
considerable. The competition OF railroads
however, soon deprived them of a great part
of the business on which reliance had been
placed for increase, and at length = marked de-
cline took place. Within the last few years
the outlay for repairs and improvements has
exceeded the income. The real deficiency last
wear after deducting the extraordinary Dis
bu9senents directed by the Legislature, was
not large but there is little room for hope
that it will he less hereafter. while there is
much ground for apprehension that it will be
greater. 1t will certainly be greater, unless
the introduction of steam navigation, or other
circumstances now unforeseen. shall enable the
canals to sustain, at less disadvantage the rail-
road competition. The cost of these works,
however, has doubtless been repaid to the
State in the increased value of lands in the
counties through which they extend And this
consideration may well abate the cersures which
the debt contracted for their construction is
apt to provoke while it suggests caution and
prudence in dealing with interests so impor-
tant as are involved in their d sposal- 3a
l have heretofore expressed the opinion that
they should not be retained under State man
agement, if a sale can be effected at a reasena-
bic price, and under such restrictions and
guarantees as will secure TO the people the
benefits of transportation originally coftempia'
ted. That opinion remains unchanged. With
economical management in private hands, the
canals can probably be made sufficiently pro
ductive to warrant the investment of a consid
cradle sum in their pun chase. The reduction
of the debt by the same amount, and relic
from taxation for interest, recommend the sale
to the people at large while the suggested re
strictions and guarantees will prevent any los
Or inconvenience TO the inhabitants of the ca
nal counties.
The State stocks in turnpikes and railroad:
should not be included in any sales, unless thu
interest on the price will equal the revenue
now derived from them. | recommend thai
authority be given to the Governor to appoin
an agent with ample powers to ascertain tn
condition of all companies in.which the State
holds stock. The productiventss Of these in
yestments .would, l have no doubt, be great,
enhanced by such an investigation.
Should you regard a sale of the Canals q
incxpedient, and, in any case, so long as tie.
remain under State management, the prophet.
Of strict compliance, in their administration
with the directions of the Constitution vii
not be questioned. The separation of then
into several divisions, and the assignment 0
each division to the control of a single mem
Der Of the Beard OF Public. works, indcpen
dent. III most important respects, of the Boar
itself, seems to me not on'y ineXped.ent but Q
more than doubtful! constitutionlliiy. I%recorl
mend, thertf1Ie, such notifications Of the act c
the last General Assembly on this subject a
wi secure to The whole Board the control of th
Public Works which the Constitution commit
to its Superintendent. ] a'so. recommend tn
.a.Ao ~ ~ 4I,o ant ~ : CT L.. ,Ts.sE 4Lu
Governor, with the. advice and consent of til
Senate, Is authorized to appoint collectors ant
inspectors and | renew the recommendation
addressed to your predecessors, Of more stri!
gent provisions regulating the settlement O
accounts for repairs and other expenses on til
canals. Under the Law, as it now stands, Their
IS too much room for abuse, to the serious pre-
! JUDGE of the public interests.
During the year 1858, as was fully explain
cd to year predecessors, the sum of $lG,33;
was advanced by the Treasurer of State, upoI
my advice, concurripg with that of the othe
executive Officers, for repairs Of the IIockin!
Canal, greatly injured and seriously endangeI
ed by recent foods. The emergency did mo
permit delay and as the legislature had mad
no provision fer extraordinary contingencies
IAN occasion seemed to have arisen in whicl
public officers ought to take The respoHsibilit,
OF providing the means necessary TO protee
the State from great loss, and the citizens, dc
pendent on the canal for transportation, from
great injury. The responsibility was taken
the means were provided by an advance from
the Treasury, unquestionably the most econom
ical mode Il larger amount than the sum ad
vanccd was saved to the Treasury in tolls, an,
the benefits Of navigation were secured f
the people of the locality. l am still of In
opinion that this money was p~udently ant
properly advanced. a public officer who, il
times Of overruling emergencies, will not tak(
responsibilities clearly necessary to the publ
good, as little deserves confidence, as he wh'
rash!y assumes them on ordinary occasions ant
without necessity. 1t will be for you to deter
mine whether the action of the Treasurer shall
receive the legislative sanction which the las
legislature failed to give.
1t gives me great pleasure to say, that in tp,
department of Public Instruction constan
progress and regular Improvement have beer
conspicuous.
Its burdens, however, now press somewha
heavily upon the resources of the people.
frlor 10 the adoption OF the present Constl
tuition, the fund annually raised by general tax
alton, and Dis r.buted to the counties, was com
paratiyely small. For several years the sun
for distribution was fixed at $2OO,0O0 les
than one fourth of which was derived from
general t~azation. After a time this annua
sum was reduced, for a number of years, t.
$l50,000 but finally increased to 100000
During this period in the history Of our schools
somewhat larger sums than that derived from
the State were annually raised by local taxa
ton but the aggregates from all sources, STATE
and local, did not reach one third of the total.
| under the existing svsfcr,