Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-01-16
decm these bonds, and that provision bo made

ucom theo0 DOnuS, nnu tnAt prOv1SfUn DO mndo
for paying tho interest on tho debt. There In
aiS prses @ Is sas e Rrs%%s
COUNTRY ROADS.
The great need in many sections OF Ohio is
good county roads This is q subject Of I'm.
every material interest in the state, and is re-
ceiving very general attention throughout other
the legislature to It with the oblc,.t that sonic
plan be devised, which, with the Concurrence Of
the people; will lead 70 the Improvement of our
public highways, so that they will be servicea-
BILE In winter as well as summer. Many OF our
country roads are almost impassable during
several months OF the year. They should be
good the year round for the safety and conven.
ience Of travel and transportation.
The consideration OF this subject by the legfs-
lature would lead to discussion among the farm.
erS OF the state, which would furnish valuable
suggestions TO the legislature.
:. PRoTEcTIoN TO RAILROAD EMPLOYEES.
Your attention is called to the Importance OF
making every provision possible for the better
protection OF railroad employcswithn the state
| Their service is of the most hazardous charac.
their lines with every improvement calculated
| TO prevent accident.
the railroads within the limits Of Ohio, who
serve the public with great danger TO life and
health and nothing should be withheld from
them which legislation can do to throw around
| them every possible safeguard.
The last report of the interstate commerce
commission. up to June 30 1891, shows that in
| that year 2i5i railroad employees were killed,
and 2, ,39l others were injured. 1t is believed
that large percentage of this fearful sacrifice
of life and limb can be prevented by the enforce
ment OF proper Legislation.
| THE CANALS
What shall be done with the canals' Shall
| they be abandoned or shall they be maintained
aud improved? Every year the question be.
| comes more pressing.
| Each annual controversy over appropriations
! develops stronger opposition than the pre-.
| ceding one Both the friends and opponents of
the canals agree TINT the policy which has pre-
lt firtn
| much longer. The canals have been preyed
upon and allowed TO so to ruin, and now every
succeeding legislature refuses TO appropriate
enough money TO put them in proper condition.
The question does not involve appropriations
alone, but the modernization OF public water
ways Not only experts, but the public at large
have arrived at the conclusion that II the canals
are to be continued, there must be some we'll
matured plan for their improvement in the in.
terest of cheap and better transportation
Throughout the whole country there is ut this
time unusual attention being paid to the general
subject OF waterways. An increased activity in
the building and improvement of canals Is no.
ticeable in some of the most progressive nations
OF the ,world.particularly where commercial
competition iS the keeneSt. OF this, France and
Germany AFFORD conspicuous examples. In En-
gland there are several vast ship canal schemes
under way and in projection. This revival Of
interest in canals is tr''c also as to number of
our sister states So states that have aban.
doned their canals now regret that action and
several are endeavoring to recover the franchise
which had been disposed of to private individ.
uals or TO corporations. Canada is now seeking,
| Dy cTdrBlnp anu tSIeQu1Dg ner Canals 10 secure
large portion Of the grain-carryng trade OF this
continent.
In this connection attention Ia called to q dc.
, monstration in Ohio OF the value of Improvement
OF waterways, viz The Muskngum river,
, navigation ON which will be resumed In the com.
1t should ever be kept In mind that the canal
system of Ohio represents franchises and rights
5 of way and privileges OF enormous value. The
aggregate length of the canals OF Ohio Is 697
. miles. The original cost OF construction was
sl4,3i057259 There are also 5000 acres OF res
4 ervoirs which feed the canals-all public prop
: erty.
l The canal system of Ohio is rich heritage te
I the state which has been largely squandered. II
. | OF the peoples property without adequate com
4 penSation.
= 1t is for the people to say what they will dc
i. with their own. but they should have full in
formation before they forever dispossess them
a selves of two such valuable franchises as those
}. appcrtaining to the Miami and Erie canal ant
/; | the Ohio canal.
. This is q matter OF general interest to every
:. section of the state, and is not limited to thi
a territory through which the canals pass
h Before the people or the legislature ac
T. upon this important question with intelligenc,
and with due regard to interests OF the state
n 1t is manifest that they should be in possession
!. of more Information than is now at hand.
Il 1t is therefore recommended that, in addition
n to making the usual appropriations for TIL
E canals, the legislature create a body, with en-
: gineering, legal and business qualifications u
"a make complete report as to the canals of Ohi
- giving their origin, the rights of the state u
TO title, their COST their earnings in the pas
a and present, their value as franchises for rail
q road or other purposes, as nearly as can be es
a timated, and particularly as to the possibilit
"a and adyisablity of improving them and increas
s ing their usefulness to the people.
a Already there is in existence u body which,
n Is suggested, could with propriety be intruste
= with this important work-the canal commits
e sion
~ THE NEW BALLOT LAW.
% The new ballot law. from my observation an
e Information, meets with very general favor
4, its scope and purpose, although imperfect 1
Cny nf q u n q fAn N "a r. rfnh
g direction and should not be touched excep
d. where it can be improved. 1t can, no doubt, b
i ments which experience has already suggested
electors voted for the candidates for go1
ic ut the head Of the. tickets, believing tina
n they were voting the entire party tickle
This as TO all the party tickets Tn
e registered by the judges, for they were require
II II to count such ballots only for the candidat
a. | before whose name u cross was placed
Ia Would it not be advisable to provide that ther
should be but one method OF marking the ballc
II namely, by requiring the elector TO place cros
.d mark in front OF the name OF every candidate &c
AZ whom he desires to vote:
e. The duties of county and city boards OF ele
~ | tions should be more clearly defined
% u, a deadlock as TO signing the returns an
,s another as to issuing certificate of election
40 one of the senatorial districts and the lack {
remedy in the courts to solve the difficult.
IN show that in other particulars there is imper;
al tive demand for amendments to the law
III The case referred 10 suggests the following:
so When such o dfnculty as that presented
nj the Muskingum county board arises, and I'll
e. county board refuses to send In legal returl
of the count should nevertheless be made Of til
~ returns from the counties regularly made, and
al certificate issued to the person thus appearr
~ to be elected, so that the foundation can be la
he , for contest, and the district not deprived
a. representation, because the law and the cour
in are Intellectual to give relief.
CONGRESSIONAL REDIsTRICTING.
mt You will be required under the new census
O. redistrict the state for representatives In CO..
o. gress. This will afford you an opportunity
arrange the districts with fairness to all. NAL
Id the districts fair in their relation to the p
to litical divisions Of our people that they wi
re stand until new census shall be taken. Mall
o. them SO impartial that no future Legislature wi
p dare disturb them until a new census and u ne
MS congressional apportionment will make chang
he Imperative. Extreme partisanship in their u
is rangement should be avoided. There is u sens
o. of fair play among the people which is prompt
at condemn u fragrant misuse of party advantage
N, the expense of popular suffrage. Partisansh
be is not to be discouraged but encouraged in q
h. things where principle IL ut stake; but par,
IL sanshp which would take from the people the
| iust rpn ant n n c the nj