Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-07-12
The Harbor improvement Ques-
ton.

NA--N
As will be seen by reference toan adver-
tisement in another column. notice is given
10 the qualified electors of the Village Of
Asbtabula to meet at the usual place Of
holding elections, on Monday the 22nd
inst, to vote for or against the question Of
bonding the town for the purpose of i'm
proving Ashtabnla Harbor. The improve
ment includes the widening, Strengthening
and deepeI;gng Ashtabula river from the
east end Of the Government pier on the
north side of the river. east to the dock oil
the L. s. & NJ. S. R'y Co., distance Of
1900 feet. 1t is proposed to make the
width of the river channel $50 feet, straigh-
ten the channel where found practicable,
and make a uniform depth Of 16 feet at
low water mark.
David Sloan, C. E., has, by order Of the
Council. made an accurate survey Of the
locality where the Improvements are pro-
posed to be made. and submitted map Of
the same to the Council at its last meeting.
From the Soundings made by him it is
shown that no rock bottom will be found
to interfere with the dredging, which will
be great saving in the cost of the pro-
posed work. 1t is estimated by Mr.. Sloan
that Al, 500 yards of earth will have to be
removed to give the necessary width and
depth of the channel, which can be remov-
ed at an expense of from 10 to 10 cents per
cubic yard, which will be an expense of
from 81, $50 to 50, AGO. The additional ex-
pense will be for the right Of way, an esti-
mate for which, at this writing, cannot be
given, and the payment fer the services Of
an engineer. From all present appearan-
ces, the expense Of the work is likely to
fall considerably within the amount first
named-perhaps not exceed the sum of
$1O,OOO
This is q work of a little more magni-
tude than any that has yet fallen in the
way of our village progress. Growth, and
the fostering and enhancement. Of business
naturally lead to and demand enterprises,
which are followed by outlays, and drafts
upon the public purse. They are inevita-
bic. They are, too, liable to be burdensome
and embarrassing. As in the case before
us. there are differences of opinion about
their immediate or more remote emergency,
and also about proper distribution of the
burdens among those who are TO enjoy the
benefits to accrue. Such questions, of
course, call for calm and thoughtful delib-
eration. No one having the welfare of
our locality at heart, and under the control
of his reason, viii offer captious opposi-
lion to necessary enterprise calculated to
confirm that welfare Ifthe measure has
been conceived in fairness and justice, and
is demanded by the necessities of the case,
and the expenditure seems to have due
and rightful distribution of its bearings
upon al, interests, and therefore free from
trickery and plot, it becomes a duty, as
good citizens. TO meet it in the spirit of
fairness, and to give it our hearty support.
There is, as yet, no estimate submitted as
to the cost of the right Of way, and we are
not furnished with basis for getting at
this, and forming an intelligent opinion as
to the amount likely to be called for in
carrying out the project. Some approx
nation Of this may be given before we are
called upon to vote upon its adoption. 1t
may be seen, however, that every owner
of property that will be called upon in
widening and deepening the channel will
derive decided advantage and increase Of
value to his premises, from the appropria-
tion of so much as shall be needed. The
amount of damages, therefore, cannot be
very great-espscially as most of the terri
tory is free from building of any consider
able value, except in single instance.
The removal of such store as that of
O'NielIs and the use of nearly the whole
lot, will of course require something Of an
outlay. In view of the facts that the COM
merce of the lakes is now carried on main
ly by the largest vessels, and that their
great size requires room, and that the lin
its of our present Harbor are hardly sufi-
cient to encourage this kind of shipping,
and that the unoceupied state Of the lots
along the line Of the improvement, is such
as to make the expense now, probably less
than at any future time when docks and
buildings shall be erected, the great ques-
ton is, what Is duty7 Arguments Of this
kind are of some strength in favor of
the present work. So far then, as we are
enabled to take in the scope of the enter
prise, we are of the opinion that the pro-
posed work is such a one as the public well
fare demands, and such as should be look
ed upon with favor by the voters of the
corporation. The thought that in the pro-
gress of the work jobery may creep in, and
that somebody may have chance to gain
personal advantage, is not sufficient ar
gument to oppose it, for we are not very
well qualified to shape our ends further
than for the present. Wetrust, therefore,
that our citizens will go to the polls with
their minds made up to give vote favora-
BILE to the undertaking and carrying out of