The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-05-12
THE WABASH AND ERIE.

ITS FINAL PURP0SE-THE PRESENT ARRANGE
MENT FOR ITS USE.
A Lafayette correspondent reviews the
history of the Wabash and Erie canal, and
appends the following sketch of the position
it is now in and how it is to be maintained
for the present: Thanks to the trustees of
of the Wabash and Erie canal, they have de-
termined to avert the falling of so dire ca
lamity upon the people, if possible, or at
least put off the evil day until something
shall "turn up" by which the advantages of
the canal as means of affording cheaper
transportation than can be had from railroad
monopolies, shall be permanently secured.
An arrangement has recently been made by
the trustees through Hon. Thomas Bowling
by which Wilson Smith, of Huntington, is
appointed general superintendent of the en-
tire canal, with instructions TO keep the
institution, if possible, in working condi-
ton during the present season. Mr. Smith
has been connected with the canal in one
capacity or another ever since the passage
of the Butler bill. and is perfectly acquaint-
ed with every foot of the big ditch from
beginning to end, is the right man in the
the right place. and, if possible will secure
the navigation of the raging canawl'' for
the benefit of shippers until the winter Of
1918. The canal is now IN use from Peru
to Perrysville, and is paying a fair revenue
all ofwhch is being used, and will be used
in keeping the work in order. The superin-
tendent is now rebuilding the StiIlary's
aqueduct at Fort Wayne, and will soon
have the northern end of the canal ready
for navigation, when the revenues will be
largely increased, and unless some unlock.
ed for large disaster shall occur 20 banks,
locks, feeders or dams, will be sufficient to
keep the work in boating order. Should
the revenues received from tolls not be
sufficient for the purpose, assistance will be
asked from some of the counties most in.
terested. By this means Mr.. Smith expects
year. Mr.. Smiths principal assistant in
this great enterprise is George T. Ten Eyck,
ESQ.,. of Lafayette, who has sole charge of
the canal south of Delphi. Mr.. Ten Eyck
has been connected with the canal in the
capacity of boatman, collector, and dis
trict superintendent for more than quart
ter of a century. What he don't know
about canaling is not worth knowing. In
his ability, honesty, and trustworthiness
every person has implicit confidence. Under
his supervision several corps of hands to-
gether with the steam dredge are consta nt-
ly employed in deepening. W idening repair
ing. and mending. The principal articles OF
transport, until the north end shall be re-
paired, are wood, coal, rock, lumber. with
occasional loads of grain to towns having
railroad depots. The present arrangement is
but temporary, as it Is expected to appeal to
the Indiana Legislature at its next session
tor further and more permanent relief The
canal is utterly yalueless ito the bond
holders, and they have virtually abandoned
1t to whom it may concern. The Legislature
will be asked that the canal may be sold by
somebody to some other body who is able
and willing to keep it in repair, or that it be
taken back by the state and thereafter be
controlled as state institution. Something
must be done at once, or the canal will be-
come a pestiferous nuisance. The people
cannot afford to permit it to be abandoned.
There are to many interests at stake aside
from that Of cheap transportation. Every
considerable town and city in the Wabash
valley has Touring mill, paper mill, a
wooden factory, or some other like establish
ment depending upon the canal for its power.
Warehouses and elevators have been erected
at great expense along its banks, which
would at once become valueless. 1t is ad-
mitted on all hands that unless the state in
some way takes it into its own hands, it will
be abandoned. In that event the ruiua-
ton to business in both town and country,
will be only approximately equaled by the
levers, agues, and other pestilential diseases
that would be engendered by its stagnant
frog ponds. WIRE