Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-04-22
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SPEECH OF B0N. BENZ. EAs0N. OF WAYNE
COUNTY ON LEASING TIE PUBLIC
WORKS

When the bill for the leasing Of the Public
Works was under discussion in the Senate, on
Friday, April l9, 1861, Mr.. EAsoN arose and
said: -t,fI.
| Mn. PREsiDENT:--Before the vote IL taken
upon the motion of the Senator from Clinton,
to indefinitely postpone, wish the indulgence
Of the Senate while present my views upon
the merits of this bill. --...
This measure, having already passed the
House, and now depending here upon majority
of the Senate whether it will become a law,
proposes 10 lease the Public Works of the State
to private individuals, for period OF ten years
The works thus proposed TO be let are the Mi
ami and Erie Canal, from Cincinnati to Toledo,
osS miles In length, with 25 miles of navigable
feeders; the Ohio Canal, from Cleveland to
Portsmouth,, distance Of 3O9 miles, with "a
miles of feeders the Walhonding Canal, 25
m les long, from Roscoe, in Coshocton county,
10 Rochester, Knox county; the Hooking Canal,
Sc miles in length, from Carol, Fairfield coun.
ty, to Athens, Athens county; the Sandy and
Beaver Canal, In Tuscarawas county, miles
In length, from Bolivar to sandyville; 81 miles
Of Muskingum River Improvement, from Dres-
den, In Muskingum county, to Marietta, on the
Ohio River; and the Western Reserve and Mau.
NEE Macadamized Road, Az miles long, from
Perrysburg, Wood county, to Bellevue, in Huron
county;-in all, 664 miles of canal, 40 miles of
navigable feeders, 81 miles Of River Improve
ment, and 471 miles of Macadamized turnpike
road, together with all the reservoirs, side
cuts, weigh-locks, leases Of surplus water,
lock. houses, toll.gate houses, tool.houses, and
other property of the State belonging to these
works.
For the purpose Of their original construction,
the State commenced, IL 1925, by borrowing
$4OO, 900, and continued from time to time, in
creasiDg from year to year. until it had borrow
ed over $l4,6OO. 900. The interest on this sum
has already far more than doubled the princi.
pal.
These works have thus fastened q debt upon
the State, which the people for more than thirty
years, have seriously felt, and are grooming un-
der to-day; and before 1t is finally cancelled, the
taxpayers of the State will have paid over
$40, ,0OO. 600 O,-principal and interest on their
account.
In their day, as the Senator from Delaware has
clearly demonstrated, they have greatly benefit.
ted the people Of the State. It cannotb denied
that these canals,-some of them extending, as
they do, through the entire State from Lake
Erie to the Ohio river, and others intersectiug
from different parts Of the state,---have aided
in developing its resources and in improving the
country ,-have served as great public thorough
fares for travel, and have furnished ready la
cilities for transportation of produce ard com
merce Of the country.
These works, some years, have been source
of revenue to the State, and In Others large de
foits have occurred, as will be seen on examiua
tion of q special report of the Board of Public
Works, made pursuant TO resolution Of the
Senate passed March IL, 1861.
In that report Senators will find receipts aud
expenditures Of these canals given for ten
years, closing with the fiscal year ending No
vember Is, 1860.
will read to the Senate part of the report,
exhigiting receipts and expenditures for FIVE
years, ending with the fiscal year, November
Is, 1855. have added column to this table,
showing the full amount of revenue derived
from the Public Works during that time.