The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1894-04-12
THE CANAL SCHEME.

THE CANAL SCHEME.
There is bill pending in the leg
islature to sell or lease for ninety
nine years, to a railroad company the
right of way and apurtenances OF the
Hooking canal from Carol, in Fair
field county, to Nelsonville, in
Athens county, for the sum of thirty
thousand dollars cash and an additi-
onal six thousand dollars per year
during the continuance of the term
of the lease.
So far good, we own no boats, pos
sess no water right and hold no posi-
ton of profit under the Board of
Public Works, and don't care straw,
personally. for the continuance of
the canal.
On the other hand we own no
swamps, contiguous to this waterway
of the state, which the tearing out of
locks and dams might possibly drain
and SO we dcaas care a pin if the al
legged canal is continued indefinite
ly. lx
And again we have been offered
no money by either side to advocate
their cause and hence we feel perfect
ly free and without bias in the mat
But seriously what is the PROPOSE
tion?
To pay the state $4,000, within
six m onshs after the bill becomes a
law, and $4,000 per annum for nine
ty nine years, in consideration that
the state turn over to said lessees all
of its rights and interest in and to
to said canal and appurtenances,
granting to said lessees the right to
change the canal into dry ditch and
stagnant pools, to tear out the locks
and dams, and forever destroy the
canal; and all this too must be done
before an active step is taken toward
tho construction of the proposed rail
road.
Now who is to construct the rail-
road and operate it?
Not the men who new are seen in
tho foremost rank of the agitators, for
they are not railroads builders, and
have neither the cash nor inclination
for such an adventure.
Some party with at least So,000,-
900 must be found to build and
equip, the road, independent of the
amount promised to the State.
After the road is constructe d what
will it do? - --.Fy1
It is well known and conceded
fact, that the great bulk of the coal
easily and cheaply attainable from the
line of the proposed road, is owned
by the c. II. VS. 7. Ry. and an
other road would be forced to make
terms with this corporation for the
purpose of hauling the product of
their mines at less rate than the
mine owners could haul it themselves.
1t is another well kno wn fact that
the G. FL. V. & T. is not now work
ed, and for some years has not been
worked to its full capacity, and hence
the necessity for paralleling their
line with another road seems in the
last degree preposterous and non
sensical.
The premise considered, as the
lawyers say, it seems plain that the
people now urging the passage of the
bill are using the railroad project on
ly as means to draw popular support.
tits perhaps safe to say that ninetenths
of the people of Logan are in favor
another railroad, whether built on
the ruins of the canal or not. and yet
but few favor the abandonment if no
railroad is constructed in the stead.
Logan connot spare the canal un-
less something to compensate for the
loss is obtained.
1t would cost our town $4,000 to
construct waterworks that would
supply the want now filed by the can Il /
ana that means $4,000 pr. year to the
the tax payers.
The projectors of the scheme
should be forged to come out of the
woods and make an open fight.
If another railroad is to be con-
structed we want the name and qua
rantee of a responsible company who
is to build it.
If the canal is to be abandoned we
want the guarantee of some responr
sihle party that the old ditch will be
filed and the land restored to its or
iginal condition.