Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-05-24
THE PUBLIC WORKS.
Survey Commission-Who They Are
Their Total Unfitness for the
Place.
To the Editor Of the Bee.


cation TO Gov. Foraker setting forth the fact
that there was no survey or other authentic
record on file in any of the departments oi
state showing the extent of property appro'
priated by the canal commissioners Oh board
of public works in the construction of hei
canals. basins and reservoirs; and that the
state, in order to secure her rights in the
property thus appropriated, would necessari.
ly have to depend entirely upon the evidence
of the two or three remaining survivors Of
those engineers engaged in the original con.
struction, and urged upon him the impor-
tance of asking the legislature to enact such
law as would accomplish the desired result
rs all living evidence as to the metes and
bounds of her canal possessions should have
been removed by death. urged upon the
governor the great importance of selecting
such commissioners only who were thorough.
ly conversant with the orders of the canal
commissioners or boards of public works as
to the extent of the land originally appropri.
ated, to the end that the state should not be
defrauded. ! also stated to the governor that
the Hon. VIM. j. jackson and myself were
the only two surviving engineers engaged in
original construction, who had also been
identified with the management of the public
works for more than third ofa century after
their final completion. That Mr.. Frazer, a
resident of Clermont county, Ohio, was also
construction who left the service of the state
in 1S41, and that these three were. SO far as
known, the only survivors who were con-
versant with the amount of land originally
appropriated by the state in constructing her
public works. stated further in the letter
referred to, that, under no circumstances,
would I accent, if offered, a position on the
commission, but urged the appointment of
Hon. VIM. j. jackson as the only other sur
xpfxy vim in oil oksf -
discharge the duties. The governor, ac-
knowledging the receipt of my letter. kindly
thanked me for the suggestion, saying that
he would seek to accomplish the object
sought as meeting his views and appreciation.
When in Columbus, some six weeks since, l
called upon the governor in company with
my FRIEND Hon. Eli I. Tappen, state school
commissioner, at which time the governor
rendered me the position on the commission,
as the Democratic representative under the
law, which promptly declined with thanks,
and again urged the appointment of Mr..
jackson.
A decision of the supreme court of Ohio
vests the fee of all lands originally appro-
priated for canal basins or reservoirs, whether
acquired by condemnation under the consti-
tuition of 1902 or by gift or purchase, abso-
lutely in the state. That being so, it becomes
important that the proposed survey covers
all the property so acquired by the state in
construction of her public works.
The state has large and valuable interests
in riparian claims which should be carefully
looked after. The decision of the court as to
her landed estates would doubtless cover
these rights also.
The individual efforts put forth, together
with the legislative enactment to accomplish
the object sought, was as commendable as
praiseworthy.
Gov. Foraker could but have understood
his duty to appoint a competent commission,
such one whose knowledge of the canals
were such that the state would have secure all
her just and equitable rights. Certainly
none will give him credit for having done so.
Having appointed three Republicans, two of
whom may be classed rs extreme partisans,
whilst the other was more conservative, yet
was always loyal since his residence in this
country. first to the old Wing party, and
second to the Republican party.
Let us inquire as to who compose the COM
mission, and also as to their qualifications to
successfully discharge the duties devolving
upon them under the law.
The commission consists of Hon. VIM. III.
Gibson, of Tiffin, Seneca county, by profess
sion lawyer, by practice, mainly politi-
clan. Charles T. Baldwin, esq.,, of Mt.
Vernon, Knox county, by profession
printer. by occupation editor of the Mt.
Vernon Republican. The third member. ex-
Judge Alexander Sanker Latty, of Defiance,
Defiance county, by profession lawyer, who
has since his retirement from the bench,
withdrawn from the practice of the law, and
now not actively engaged in any business
pursuit. Governor Foraker in Appointing
Judge Latty, has done SO in violation of the
law which required that two of the commits
sion should be selected from one of the lead
ing political parties and one from the other
party, Ex-Judge Latty, as am creditably
Informed is not now, nor has he ever been a
Democrat since my knowledge of, and ac-
quaintance with him 48 years ago. He was
elected as Judge of the common pleas court
in the Defiance district as Republican by a
Republican vote and has ever since been
Republican, though taking no very active
part in politics. To-day he is just such Re-
publican as Medill of the Chicago Tribune
fering from straight-outs only in this, favor
ing tariff reform. In other respects he be-
longs to the Republican party.
AS the commission now stands it is an un-
lawful one, and if survey be even completed
by it, will necessarily be of no binding effect
as to the states or individual rights sought to
be fixed under the law.
As to Messrs. Gibson and Baldwin no one
questions but that in their professions and
callings they are gentlemen of high standing
and intelligence. But as to whether they
possess knowledge and experience. success
fully to discharge the duties imposed by their
appointment, is quite another thing. I can
but express the doubt wht ther they can tell
whether themiter sill of lock is at the top or
bottom nor whether they can tell as to the
width of any canal in the state, and generally
they are totally ignorant as to any and all
questions that will confront them in making
their surveys. Both are from non-canal
counties, and is iafe to say that their constit-
uents would almost unanimously vote to
abandon, or give the canals away. That
these gentlemen sympathize with such views,
will scarcely be questioned,
As to the qualifications of the Defiance Re
publican appointed--it may be stated that
the first known Of him was hia employment
by contractor of d small section of canal at
Paulding county as boss over gang of 30
or 40 laborers-late in the fall of 1910. In
that capacity he continued until the section
was completed, during the year 1872 That
constitutes all the knowledge and canal ex
perience he has ever had in this, or any other
state. Any on conversant with the duties
these gentlemen are called upon to discharge
will bear witness that they are totally un-
qualified to discharge them.
There are living to-day many canal Repub-
lican engineers in Ohio who have been identi-
fed in the management of the public works
or as members Of the Board of Public Works
since 1850, whose names, and their qualifica-
tions Governor Foraker could possess him.
self of on inquiry at the Office Of the Board
of Public Works. The only PLAUSIBLE reason
that can be assigned for his not doing so i;
that he wanted this commission for political
uses during the coming campaign, and moi