Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-03-27


and checks drawn and paid for 1850, of Che
above sum Of $l36,749. 1t is claimed that the
sum of $50 200 should be deducted from the
amount Of expenditures for 1860, II being an
unpaid balance standing over from 1859. But
this would not be fair showing, az about the
like sum was carried from 1858 to 1859. In
fact, the same item is found stated in the re-
ports for the last Ave years; II being found i'm
practicable to balance the accounts of the last
quarter of each year, and IL thus happens that
they are carried over to the first quarter Of the
next fiscal year. In addition to this over-draft
paid from the treasury, contrary to the express
provisions Of the law passed March &c, 1860,
(which provided that the revenues derived from
the canals, and an additional sum of $4,000
appropriated from the general revenue fund.
should be the maximum amount expended on
the Public Works for 1867 there Is now before
this body bill asking an appropriation Of
S100. .333 TO pay contractors and laborers for re-
pairs ard work done during the year ending Nov.
Is, 1860. This sum, added to the Sl36, TAG as
the deficit before shown 10 be paid, increases
the actual deficit for the year 1860 to the enor.
nous sum of $237 ,082. is,2 @g5i is aae.
4 Year after year, the Board Of Public Works
reiterate the statement that the next year the
receipts will be amply sufficient, without any
further appropriation, to keep them in repair;
that they will, with economy, sustain them
selves. But does this prove to be true7 Are
not the trusting Taxpayers duped and deceived,
and greater burden imposed upon them from
year TO yeafi Destructive floods, extreme
drouth, the failure of crops, and commercial
embarrassment are all fortuitous circumstancee,
which the friends Of the policy Of State control
and management ofthe Public Works introduce
into this controversy as an apology for their fail
ure to discharge the people from any further
and to misdirect the public mind from the facts
upon which the'real Issue is based, But when,
Mr.. Speaker, did the earth yield greater
abundance and when was Providence more
lavish Of His gifts to the husbandman, than in
the year 1867 Never In the history Of our
State was there 90 great an abundance OF grain
and other crops produced. Yet, notwithstand-
ing this favorable incident TO prosperous BUSH
ness, there has been greater deficiency In 1860
than ever before known, and the fond hopes
raised In the minds Of q con6ding people BY the
Board of Public Works have been suddenly
dashed 10 the ground and their expectations
destroyed; and confidence no longer exists in
the promises and statements Of those who are
determined TO still maintain these works by the
imposition Of direct taxes. - - tiaa SO .ti'
Nor does the prospects In the future promise
any relief; but desolation and darkness hang
over them 90 apall. Inevitable eabandonmentand
destruction must be the fpal result, nnlees some
other line of policy than the present is adopted.
The State cannot maintaina successful coinpe
tition with private and corporate enterprise for
the carrying trade, as the experience Of the last
FIVE years fully shows. Tue alowef mode Of
Transportation Of freights by the canals, %
compared with railroads, cannot receive the
preference Of the business men Of thia fast age.
Its 10 be presumed that our systen, Of rail-
roads 10 permanent and enduring, and will CON.