Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-01-07

| le50.... 1890 363,G06 10000
1850 O..... 3Us 935 3s5,699 76,9Bi
The estimated total cost Of our Public Works at the
time ofthelr completion was Sl46275i9 10. The
age annual EXPENSE beyond the income for this last five
years. has been fraction less than onehalf of per
cent on this cost. We have then this unfavorable
hbit We have property that cost about fifteen mil
lions OF dollars and we find by five consecutive years ex
perence that instead of paying the interest Its cost
1t Is actually running SIN debt.
This Is view OF the Let us look at the other
Many intelligent citizens urge that the Public Works. by
proper system OF management and graduation Of tolls
be made not only sefsustsnng, but source Of rev
enue to the State There many and Weghty
why this should be thoroughly tested before abandon
these costly and important works. Large investments
been made on the line Of these works as claimed
under implied pledge the part Of the State that
they should be kept in permanent condition Tor use. An
abandonment Of the canals, or their sale without suf
cent guaranty for their maintenance would be rupous
to the parties Interested 1t would deprecate the value
Of property to amount exceeding the cost Of the canals
In 1872, Congress granted nearly half million Of
OF land between Dayton and the mouth Of the Au
glaze river for canal construction This was upon the
condition expressed In the deed Of conveyance thasd
canals, when completed shail forever remain public
highways for the Of the Government Of the United
States free from tolls or other charge whatever for any
property OF the United states persons In their
Ice passing through the same" These lands were ac-
cepted by the State Of Ohio with this condition. They
have been sold and the proceeds have been applied to
the purposes Of the grant II these canals Sold
pass out of the hands Of the State how is this promise to
be fulfilled to the General Government?
On the most OF the canals and especially the Mus
kingum Improvement the'e outstanding leases Of
water power by the State, for nnety-nne years,
able forever and in instances there contracts
in lieu Of former grants In perpeiuy These contracts
impose obligations on the State that must be met How
shall these vested rights be protected II the State dispose
Of her interest In these worksl
1t 10 urged that If the Canals sold they will ulti.
mstey be controlled by the Railroad Corporations Of
the State the effect Of which will be to diminish trans
poration the canals to result in their virtual
abandonment the effect Of which, In turn, would be to
create such monopoly in the rail roads as to materially
increase the tariff OF and conflict with the
we'll established policy Of every commercial State to null
tipy rather than to lessen the of trade Even
II the support OF the canals shall impose small tax Is
worthy Of consideration whether the incidental benefits
to the counties not upon adjacent thereto by
OF lesser rates OF transportation might not than
| compensate for the tax.
There are thirtysiX counties in Ohio on or contiguous
to Public Works, leaving hftytwo counties depen
dent mainly upon rivers lake or railroads for their ave.
nues to market The caual counties mainly those
that without natural outlets to market 1t Is in
bructve TO note their present position in regard to pop
uaton and wealth. BY the census OF e0O the thirty six
canal counties have population OF $50 while the
aytwo other counties have population of l,l9O l37.
The thirty six canal counties have an aggregate OF S469
,492 the tax list. The'fty-two other counties
have an agg regate of S420,963 767.
As large portion of this value In the canal counties
has arisen from the existence Of tho canals their de-
strucion would seriously depreciae the same, and the
bss Of taxation being dngy lessened, the bur
dens OF the public debt and the ordinary expenses Of
the government would thus be proportonally increased
upon the remaining property OF the State. Whether
sale can be maie on such terms as Will secure to the eo
pie the full use CT these public works Is question
which addresses seto the careful consideration Of the
General Assembly aa- -
The report Of the Board Of Public Works. and the Au
dtor Of State contain many facts ected with this sub
ect that will aid n your Investigations So large inter
est, involving important questions Of public policy
and such vast eeunary results should not be disposed
ofwhout the maurest consideration After giving the
my earnest attention, am constrained to repeat
my former and suggest the passage Of
joint resolution authorizing the commission Of three
r,laapa
duty IL shall beo make detailed examination of the entire
and report to the Governor at the earliest practca
BILE PERIOD such changes and notifications in canal
laws, asin their judgment may be desirable to lessen the
expenses or to augment the income as at least, 10
| make the canals seli-sustaiDg. tAa4
invite your special attention to the Report OF the
Adjutant Ueneral. The subject OF State militia
should not fill place In an Executive Message merely
because the Constitution en- olns upon the General As
sembly the necessary legislation to render II effective
1t demands more confederate attention. The Report
ferred to presents clear and practical outline OF the
system established by law and regulations the burdens
under which II struggles and the necessity Of legislative
action in its behalf,
The organized militia Of the State numbers at present
little less than twelve hundred men, These are uni
formed armed and equipped and for the part in
commeLdable stale of discipline. The unorganEed
militia, sui ec to be drafted for Military duty in the
event Of iDsurTection INVASION amounted in 1859 to
10000 and the entiredisposabe force ofthe State
at the present tme is about 2s5 900 able bodied men.
The Constitution requires the enrolment of all white
citizens residents Of this State being eighteen years Of
age and under IoIts.hve years OF age IN the militia
The Law Of March s1 eo7 provided such enrolment
but so much Of 1t as relates to that cub has been
pealea' irecommetu inc revival o. Inc repealed sec
tons.
the favorable notice Of officers Of the army and military
men oil otner staes Dut no system can work successful
ly unaided by the State The experiment wherever tried
has failed. e af
The citizen soldier is necessarily subject to contin
ual EXPENSE By existing laws the State shares no part
Of the burden IN maintaining our present MALTA Sys
tenn, Tbe b when passed one braech OF the General
Assembly, AZ is last session, proposing an allowance, 10
each well disciplined company OF certain annual sum
Tor the care and keeping OF the public arms Is In the
right direction: But ! submit with great deieIence,
whether the basis Oh that o should not be enlarged both
t regards the sum 10 be appropriated to each company
and the number Of the uniformed militia to be aided
oertnn II Is, mat Two thousand o. mihua-the etti'
mate upon when tne sum IN tnat Dill oased-n num-
Der greatly dsproPorhonedt 10 the extent and population
Of the state
by the lheory OF our government the general defense
enlru.so % 70 ,hs me .ha @ your duty 70 determine
TO what extent that theory shall be practically observed
In Ohio majority Of the States have made liberal pro-
vision ior the support tnelr militia ~
While u would pc unWise 10 burden the people with
taxes for large military appropriations In time Of peace
Would be equally unwise 10 disregard the sacrifices
and burdens o nose VINO nave undertaken the dnties
and o. .ns ana ts pia:ucai pur
one Of the most reliable pledges Of continued peace
The ability Of the STATE TO summon her citizens to sup
port her peace when threatened or her Laws when yo
lated Is SILENT bat impressive guaranty OF thsir per
petuity and supremacy
Itappears that the State has reeeiyed 3D. 0G2 muske
aud Tes and has but about 900 at her present com
mand, or 1852 cavalry pistols, but 722 remain. or
e72 revolyes about ~ are supposed to be recoverable
OF 40 brsss cannon more than three ourhs were usees
dangerous for service from neglect bad usage unit
the Quarter Master General restored them aerVceabe
condition. Tie same proportion Of loss aud deprecia
ton runs high through The whole list Of received
from the United States, the original cost Of which was
so202O3. rrf aaFr
While the present system OF the issue and care Of the
public arms prevents similar result for the future II is