Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-04-22

Mr. Ddckubs lhto Efebiuenb VI tuo nVhIu VI
Public works,--an able and experienced eugi-
neer Having been connected with these works
more than twenty three years, says, In special
report Ia answer to resolution Of tho Other
branch Of this General ASSEMBLY, that he ID
authorized in saying, without single exception,
that all Of the eHvmembers of the Board ol
Public Works, many os whom are among the
most accomplished and experienced canal eDgi-
neers of the State, who have been connected
with the Public WORKS forthe past twenty-five
years, fully agree With him IN the opinion that
under State management the canals cannot be
maintained and Kept in good repair from their
revenues"
Mr. President, IL 10 useless for me to quote
further from State records in proof OF this prop
osition, for every Senator on this floor, who
has examined for himself, and has otherwise
been an ordinary observer, knows that these
canals, under State management, can never
again be made sell. sustaining large de-
fcits in revenues OF the public works must ac-
cruefrom year to year, and that the people Of
the State will bs heavily taxed to make them
up.
Their present condition also warrants US In
assuming that they are utterly and hopelessly
beyond the reach Of ever being made, under
State control, to yield nett revenue, or even
to sustain themselves.
There are on the Canals and River Improve
ment Of the State, 2S0 stone and AZ wooden
locks, ii extensive dams, beside reservoirs,
aqueducts, culverts, wastewiers and other per.
ishable structures. Some of these structures
have been standing more than thirty years; and
all, some from defective materials and bad
workmanship In their original construction,
are more or less In dilapidated and decaying
condition.
The banks In many places are materially
veal akened and worn away from long continued
use. And for want Of sufficient appropriations,
and proper care in keeping them in good order,
they are, from year to year, gradually filling
with grass, drift, and other obstructions to their
navigable condition. Evidence Of the correct
ness Of what I here assert can be found on al
most every page Of the annual reports of the
Board Of Public Works themselves.
II Is estimated in special report of the Board
ofPublic Works, In answer to a resolution Of the
House of Representatives passed at the present
session, that 80 of the locks on these canals
will have to be rebuilt within the next FIVE
years, at cost of $500, 900. And large amounts
of money are demanded by the Board in their
annual reports for repairs Of almost every kind.
From these facts before US, can any Senator,
in his place on this floor, say that we sIs iusti.
fable in continuing system which all expert.
ence, for more than FIVE years, has convinced the
people Of the State that IL cannot be made bet
ter under present management, and that 90 long
as 1t is continued, We must expect aud prepare
to meet constant drain upon the State Trea-
sury7 -r.t. ..
It is true, the present Board of Public Works
holding on with the tenacity Of the death grip
having seen "the handwriting on the wall, u
ana knowing chat should the present or q kindred
bill pass this General Assembly, the sweets Of
power and the pleasant duty of distributing pat.
ronage along the lines of these canals must In.
evltably PASS from their hands, have undertaken
to brace and bolster up these rotten and dying
concerns. a.f
Mr.. Martin, the present President of the
Board Of Public Works, in his special report Of
the 2lst Of February last, In answer to resolu.
tion Of the other branch OF this General Assem-
bly,, asking the opinion of the Board whether
"the revenues derived from the Public Works
will be sufficient to keep them In good repair du.
ring the present fiscal year''--says, and read
from the lst page Of the report: "The estimates
herewith submitted, as the basis of the opinions
of the Board as to the ability of the canals to be
made self-sustaining for the coming year, have
been carefully matured."
And on tho second page of the same re-
port he says:
"The following tabular statement shows the
amount estimated as necessary for the mainte-
nance of the several divisions of the Public
Works for the fiscal year ending November Is,
1861, including the salaries of members of the
Board, Resident Engineers, Revenue officers
Secretary of the Board, and contingent ex.
penses of the Office" ...aH
The footings of this tabular Istatement are
Estimated receipts. S2o2 753 54''
and Estimated expenditures. S2gl, $50 I0
Excess Of receipts over expenditures. sl,zO3 81
making, according to Mr.. MARTIN's showing in
bis special report, the Public Works self.sus-
tanning, and $l,4O3 81 to spare. This special
report, let Senators bear In mind, was made
since propoaitions to lease, under this bill, were
laid before the present Legislature.
Can Mr.. Martin, as President of the Board oil
Public Works, be presuming upon the credulity
of the Legislature and the people of the State.
when he makes such statements as these in
his official capacityi
will turn to the Sd page of the same report,
and here Mr.. MARTIN says:
"The Board, therefore, confidently estimate
anincrease 10 receipts for the present year (ls6l)
over those Of last, Of from thirty to forty thou
sand dollars" .-..
On page 46 of the last annual report of the
Board, find, over Mr.. Martins, name In tab
,jar alta teme ent the receinta for 1aat WAR In