Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-01-02

the probable future Of the canals may not be
inappropriate. 41 sa7 at
In the maintenance Of these great arteries,
which con1eci tbe pek Yaliefs1E0biO and
Indiana with the great Lakes, Toledo is
deeply interested. When these obanneis we're
first opened, and for many succeeding years,
they formed the only avaiiabie ottlet for the
vast production OF a region whose richness
and fertility are unsurpassed. Then they
were regarded with universal favor. n no one
sought.their destruction, and rome @evef
dreamed Of the possibility Of their abandon
ment .Esfr7nsE EATlM III NV .f
But a change zane over the public mind.
New aud rival enterprises were started, and
soon the country was awakened b. the snort
Of the iron horse The people. through va
r.ous influences not necessary here TO discuss,
were almost convinced that this ner and
mighty agent vas The only one reaaisite TO
develope the resources Of the country. The
slower, yet certain and safe transportation BY
water was TO be abandoned, and on the glags
Of steam alone everything was 10 DO moved
with such rapidly, certainty and economy, as
10 cast other methods Of transportation entire
ly into the shade. Doors q
This new agency was under the control Of
individuals-actiye, enterprising men-whose
object was, of course, peeuniary gain, while
Tue Chudlb IELuhIAE4 Agf ~ long 0Al6 Ql1tf Tue
control Of the States 10 which they belonged
The agents ofthese States, to whom the ID
rect uaanAeehoentot tie PablicW Works was en
trusted, being the representatives Of political
parties, and therefore frequently changed, had
TOO often less interest in the pecuniary re-
suits Of their charge than 10 the success OF
their respective parties. Under such iniu+
ences the contest was unequal The enter
prise Of railroad management was TOO much
for the Indifferent State agents, and very ma
turally the interests of the canals suffered.
greatly 70 the adYsStage Of tileiE eSnpehf
tors.
This state OF affairs eOntinuedaa atii at last
the canals failed TO be sell-sustainiDg, and be-
came n direct tax upon the State. Saeh q
burden could not be expected long TO be en-
dured, at last the Legislature sdetermined to
permit, for a limited time, the Public Works
to pass under individual control, and they
were leased in the summer of 1850. to. par
ties who sgesed 10 pay an ANIMAL rent OF
twenty thousand dollars.
Here was a new starting point-ibe polit-
cal shackles were stricken OF, and new mo-
tives were henceforth to control the manage
ment OF these great and valuable works
Now was 10 commence, not only a trial Of
skill, but the aetpaleapaGty Of eanslstsGcom-
pete with railroads The lessees we're active.
enterprissng aud exp erieBeed mep. ~ IN the
success Of theiE enterpnse, fEAsSAveltedld4
rect and important peeuniary results. They
were men Of faith ia the ability of the canals
10 maintain this competuon-lAen Of viii,
who resolved, when they put heir hands to
the pillow, not 10 look back unl the fruits Of
their undertaking should have been realized
men with whomt to resolve was 70 DO.
Upon the assumption Of the charge Of the
Public Works by this Organization, new life
was infused into every department Energy
and activity took the place Of the fatal istb-
argy which had stolen upon the old manage
nent No effort has been spared, we are as
sured, 10 put and keep the canals in the best
possible condition. Accidents and detenuoBe
have occurred, but these were soon remedisd,
and boats have not been detained an hour
longer than was absolutely necessary The
people were not slow in pereeiviBg that q
new order Of things had been bfoughi about +
and boatmen have become gradually reas-
sured that the canals viii certainly be, main
tanned, The result is an Interested trsfbc
and an addition 70 the number Of boats. The
increased facilities thus afforded for transpor-
tauon have continued aoseAl, back 20 sbesf
once faYoriJe channel nlahyi who had be
come estrsnged, until the canal business, as
shown ia the table alluded 70, greatly exceeds
that Of any other year. The ,sbshty 20 com
pete successfully for a fair proportion Of the
tonnage TO be transported, has been fully
demonstrated; and they nos occupy . posi-
ton from which nothing but mismansgement
can drive them.
But large as was the rohnske ofkhe past
year, it would have been much larger but for
the following causes LIST q stone iOck unex-
peetedly gave way and the walls fell IL, Bhieh
caused a suspension Of through navigation
on the Miami and Ere Fesnal fOrgmanJ
weeks, next the unprecedented drouth which
prevailed in many parts Of the country for a
long time, and al a period when the utmosi
activity Of every means WIS demanded 80 re
ducad The water upon the summit level thai
BOAT drawing eyeB two feei Of water found i
difficult 70 pass the third cause WAS The ~
AdsqsAGs namber Of boats 70 meet the greatly
increased demands for shippers. The first q
these impedineals Eas renewed e the e~arliesi
possible moment OF the recurrence Of the
second there is believed 70 be no DAGGER, a.
the completion OF the Le~istowh Reservior-
now regarded certain during the present win
ter-wiil furnish al all times a supply Of wa.
ter adequate 10 al bedsDAnds OF -aEigalOn
even though q greater drouth than that Of
1862 shall be experienced The third. il Z
beieved, will be provided Cor b. the e~oustruo.
ton Of 3 considerable Number Of new boat,
during The winter many Of these VIII b,
steamers, and all be ~frstelsss, thus adding
such additional ASSURANCE 70 shippers IS 4
leave them no room 70 doubt that property
entrusted TO- he canals sid be safely and
promptly transported 10 SIS Hesitation. In
addition 10 al thiE, a large nRphIGf Acks
vLs.b h-v.l q laasuto deear ill IL reknfh