Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-26
sreoiuI Report d he B0ard o. Public

special Report Of the Boavd 81 Public
Works.
The Senate called on the Board for an
exhibit Of the canal receipts aud expendi-
lures for tho last ten years and for their
opinion as to the amount required % put
them in as good condition as they were ton
/ years ago. On this the Bosrd show that the
average Of the ten-years' business leaves a
net Iroft of 1856, 495; that is, leaving out
the interest on the debt incurred for the
Public Works.
This average, however, is worry poor con-
ISOLATION for the exhibit that the canal reve-
nues have declined with almost unvarying
regularity, from $s46, Ts5 in 1851, 10 S2sl659
last year, which, in the abundance of its
staple crops, may he regarded as an extra
ordinary season.. There is nothing to show
that this ratio OF decrease is not a fixed fact.
The Board conclude by saying;
"The Board entertain the opinion that the
revenues Of the Public Works for 1861 will
place them in as good condition for travel
and transportation as they were ten years
since" .
1t is gratifying that gentlemen quite new
in the canal business, are able to speak so
confidently as to what would put the canals
in as good condition as they were ten years
ago. We presume the new member of the
Board, who probably has never yet seen his
Division, spoke just as confidently as his
associates.
Perhaps, however, there are some contin-
gencies to be reserved, even in this exact
statement; for instance, extraordinary cas-
u%alties, to which the Board charge an expen-
diture Of $3.50 last year, and which are
rather more regular than the ordinary cas-
u%alties; also extraordinary payments for
new work, which in the past have been quite
as regular as the ordinary repairs, and for
which the Board want rather more for the
present year Than usual.
1t will be remembered, also, that the Board
have already asked of the Legislature ap.
preparations of something like 800, 900
more than the receipts of last year, and for
a revenue fund of $50, 900 in addition, for ex-
traordinary casualties, which shows their
confidence in their opinion that the reve.
nues will put the canals in as good order as
they were ten years age. We suppose thai
what this means, is that rather than have
the public works taken out of their control
the Board will carry them along without
appropriations.
If stone and wood structures which have
stood ten years are as good as new, the
Board might be able to say what would
make them as good as they were ten years
ago; but as it is a fact that even stone struc.
lures wear out, and that the original locks
of the Ohio Canals are in quite an advanced
stage of decay, these important and costly
structures must be excepted from the state.
ment of the Board. So also in regard to all
structures that can be made to stand till
they tumble down. .
So also, if a canal which was originally
foul feet deep, is as good as new when it has
decreased to three feet, and proportionately
in width, the statement Of the Board is good
otherwise this mus be an exception. With
these and some other explanations, the re.
port of the Board is remarkably correct, and
communicates vast amount of intelligence
to the Legislature.