The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-01-19
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Fcllo1o- Citizcus Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives.
[ConCludod.1
o PUBLIC WORKS.

N''N' @-"''"D " AogL'f I"I'1sItt1bIo'
Concluded
PUBLIC WORKS.
The two great lines of canal, iuclud-
ing the Wabash and Erie, with their
feeders, cost S12,11012O, the other ca
nails, with the Muslingum Improve
ment, and the Western Reserve and
Maumee Road, cost SO, ,467, ,112, and the
amount subscribed to turnpike aud rail
road Companies, was 83,226,69O max
ing an aggregate cost of S18,8O3,922.
For a number Of years, the net rev.
enues derived from these works, though
never sufficient to pay the cost of the
investment, we're 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
"a marked decline took place. Within
the last few years the outlay for repairs
and improvements has exceeded the in
come, The real deficiency last year,
after dcdUcting the extraordinary dis
bursomonts directed by the Legislature,
was not large; but there is little room
for hope that it will be less hereafter,
while there is much ground for appro-
hension that it will be greater. It will
certainly be greater, unless the intro
ductiOn Of steam navigation, or other
circumstances now unforeseen, shall
enable the canals to sustain, at less dis
advantage, the railroad 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
Aud this consideration may well abate
the censurcs which the debt contracted
for their construction is apt to provoke;
while it suggests caution and prudence
in dealing with interests so important
as are involved in their disposal.
I have heretofore expressed the opin-
ion that they should not be retained
under State management, if a sale can
be effected at a reasonable price, and
under such restrictions and guarantees
as will secure to the people the benefits
of transportation originally contem-
plated That opinion remains unchang-
ed. With economical management in
private hands, the canals can probably
be made sufficiently productive to war
rant the Investment of a considerable
sum in their purchase. The reduction
Of the debt by the same amount and
relief from taxation for interest, recon-
mend the sale to the people at large;
while the suggested restrictions and
guarantee will prevent any loss or in
to the inhabitants of the
canal counties.
The State stocks in turnpikes aud
railroads should not be included in any
sales, unless the interest on the price
will equal the revenue now derived from
them. / recommend that authority be
given to the Governor to appoint an
agent with ample powers to ascertain
the conditioned all companies in which
the State holds stock. The productive
ness Of these investments would, 1 have
no doubt, be greatly enhanced by such
IN Investigation:
Should you regard a sale of the Ca
nails as ineXpedient, and in any case, so
long as they remain under State man
lgoment, the propriety of strict compH-
lnce, in their administration, with the
directions Of the Constitution, will not
be questioned The separation of them
into several divisions, and the assign
nont Of each division to the control of
4 single member Of the Board of Pub
ic Works, Independent, in most impor-
.ant respects, of the Board itself, seems
10 me not only inoxpedient but Of more
than doubtful constitutionality. 1 rec
Jmmond, therefore, such notifications
Jf tho act of the last General Assembly
IN this subject as will secure to the
.hc whole Board the control Of the Pub
ic Works which the Constitution COM
nits to its superintendenoe I also rec
lmmend the restoration Of that provis-
on Of the act of 1854 by which the Gov
)rnOr, with tho advice and consent Of
ho Senate, isauthorized to appoint col
octors and inspectors; aud 1 renew the
recommendation addressed to your pre-
leoessors, of more stringent provisions
the settlement of accounts
or repairs and other expenses on the
,anals, Under tho law, as it now stands,
here is too much room for abuse, to
he serious prejudice Of the public in
.erests.
During the year 1853, as was fully
to your predecessors, the sum
IF Sl6,333 was advanced by the Treas
lrer Of State, upon my advice, concur
ing with that of the other Executive
officers, for repairs of the Hooking Ca
nal, greatly injured and seriously en-
langared by recent foods. The emor
yonoy did not permit delay; and as the
Legislature had made no provision for