Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-29

EO8a oChChSg
Especial By Telegraph 10 the Timss-stAr.I
COLUMBUS, o., May 23.-Members Of
the State Canal commission are puz-
zled over q somewhat extraordinary let |
ter, making proposition to purchase |
or lease the Miami and Erie canal. |
The letter Is In the nature of q private
declines to permit the pub
lication of the writer's name who gives
his address as 579 West Eight street,
Cincinnati.
1t is stated that an investigation was
made, and there Is reason to believe
that the proposition is submitted In
good faith, and that the writer Is In q
position to carry out his proposal II ac-
cepted. The supposition is that syn
dictate Of capitalists is concerned In the
matter, but for what purpose 1t Is inten-
ded to use the canal Is not clear.
But the canal commission has no
power either to sellor lease any part Of
the canals, this authority being vested
solely in the General Assembly. The
recommendation of the commission
would unquestionably have its influ-
ence and 1t is not improbable that the
letter In question is simply preliminary
to a movement to force bill through
at the next session of the Legislature
to provide for the sale of the public
works of the State. The full text of
the letter is as follows:
"CINcINNATI, May 10, 1890.
"ro the Honorable Canal Commissioners of the
State OF Ohio;
"GENTLEMEN-On or about the 10th
day of February, 1880, / made prop
osition to the State Board of Public
Works to purchase from the State Of
Ohio the Miami and Erie canal, with
franchises, from the Ohio river at Gin
cinnati to the terminus at Toledo, o.,
for which offer $4,000, 900 cash. Or we
would lease it for a. term of fifty years,
renewable for fifty more and pay an in
terest on 81, ,250, 600 At 6 per cent. Or
we will pay the State Of Ohio $500, 900
cash and the balance of $2,250, 600 in
five, seven and fourteen years, with 6
per cent interest on deferred paymen ts,
SIT appears now that / did not make
my proposition to the proper parties OF
the ones should have made it to, and
will now renew it to your honorable
board"
The secrecy with which the scheme
is being worked has up to this date pre-
vented the public from gaining any in
formation as to its object.
That Cincinnati capital was behind
: the scheme there was no doubt, bu
Just who was handling the matter ant
for whom nobody has been able Il
learn until this afternoon q 1smes-Std
reporter met member of the Hamil
ton County House delegation and In al
: interview drew out the following infor
nation: ,'.t.,...s "a w. ,.
itYes," said the representative, I"
! have Just called on w. ii. Adams, o
: 47O West Eight street, who under
stood was negotiations, and in an in
2 terview he said: "i@7J" "@-
/ .MhttThere is q company organized i
:. this city which is willing to either pul
l chase or lease the canal its entiE
7 length
: aisshWho constitutes the company?
"'I can't tell you now.
= "sWhat do you intend doing wit
the canal II you get it?'
"'We intend to supply Cincinna
and all towns along the canal from TX
l. ledo down with water from Lake Erie
Pipe it?' @.tl
? yes: run four-foot pipes along tn
\ bottom and use the canal proper ft
|. navigation IL
s but are not railroads after it?'
THAT might be-
= 'Now don't you intend Transform
= ing it intoa railroad bed?'
al mo. We, Of course shall turn it t
e the most profitable account
9 "sThen YOU would not consent to
+ stipulation in the contract that 4
!, railroad was to occupy any part of II
! Certainly not. We don't inteu
'- to be bound by any such agreement
}, "sWuold your scheme prevent th
J. abandonment OF the canal in the cit
q limits as contemplated at present.
o .t.What necessity is there for
oI abandonment In the city? Hasn't
been here for years without doing al
n particular harm? v
!, "tHow do you know the city "!