Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-23
OHIO CANALS.

A Bill to Locate tho Sequestered Lands
Granted for Their Construction.
Special Correspondence Il The REGISTER.
COLUMBUS, o, February 22.-Senator
Alexsnder's bill for the appointment Of
commission OF three persons to look after
the Ohio canals and reclaim lands held by
municipalities and individuals which be-
long to the State by virtue Of grants made
by the general government for the con-
stl uction Of the canals, will meet with op-
position. There is land, the value Of
which now amounts TO millions of dollars,
held by individuals. The original bound
ary lines were incomplete and uncertain.
The original grants included, aside from q
well determined line Of survey, all the
land which was occupied by miniature
lakes, runs, brooks, creeks and estuaries.
The settlement Of the country, the disap-
pearance of forests, systems Of drainage
have wrought great change in the topog-
raphy Of the country, and those lands
which were once covered with water, or
were broken, rough, cut by water courses
and indented by estuaries and regarded as
irreclaimable and worthless, now present
level surfaces, fertile fields, and in many
cases, as in Toledo, imposing structures
and blocks Of dwelling houses have been
reared upon the peoples land for which
they have received no equivalent. 1t Is
believed by those who have given some
attention to the canal lands that II the
Legislature has the courage to sink politics
into natural manhood, and enforce all that
is contemplated by Alexauder's bill, that
q fund from the sale and reco very of the
sequesterei lands of the State will be ere.
ated sufficient to rebuild all those portions
of the Ohio canals which can be utilized In
a commercial sense, and make them ever
self-sustaining. Individual and municipal
interests which would be compelled to sur
render or pay for the land they have 50
long occupied, will be arranged against
this eminently wholesome and practical
measure. It will to o great extent settle
the canal question which agitstes each sac
ceedipg General Assembly " thout the
slightest results for good. Indeed the agi-
tation has been hsrmful thus far in the
way Of useless expenditures. II the Gen
eral Assembly ever propose to do anything
to preserve this pstrimony Of the people 1t
is time to take action at once.
NEW STATE BOARD.
Senator Cutler's bill, which was made
the special order for to-day, was postponed
until the first Tuesday in March. Ii pro-
yides for the appointment Of q non parti-
zan State Board of Elections of four MEM
bers. by the Governor, to be selected from
different geographical quarters Of the
State, and TO have its Office ct Columbus,
and to meet annually at the Office Of The
Secretary of State on the inst monday Of
NAV, which latter official shall be its Bee.
retsIy. Compensation 10 be $40 per day
for services. not exceeding 50 days, ex.
eluding all expenses. The Governor
shall also appoint county non
partiss boards Of election In each
county of the State, for the frst time only
therefore the State Board shall make such
appointments. The county boards shall
have full and ample authority 10 conduct
elections IN all details under the super
vision and direction of the State Board
The clerk Of the Court Of Common Plea
shall be clesk Of the county election board