The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-06-09
PHENOMENAL
Will Be the Crest Suit to Recover the |
Hooking Canal,

VIII 80 the GreNt suit To KccOvcr the
Hooking Canal.
COIrMBus. o.. June 2.-One of the
greatest legal battles that the state has
witnessed is on the verge of being pre-
cipitated. 1t involves millions of dol
lars worth cf property owned by the
state. which was last month surren-
dcred to railroad corporation.
The property in question IS AZ miles
of the Hooking canal, one Of the semi
abandoned water ways owned by the
state
This was under bill introduced by
Senator Earnhart, of this city. in the
general assembly, leased for 20 years
to the Columbus, Hooking Valley and
Athens railroad, new company organ
lied for the purpose of building COM
petitive line into the rich Hooking val
ley coal fields. 1t was during the pass
age of this measure that charges and
counter-charges of bribery were hurled
back and forth by members of the leg
isiature.
The company that is to operate the
new road has been incorporated and n
bond has been executed. Still there
are vague rumors about a gigantic rail-
road corporation being behind the in
fant project. 1t is openly asserted that
the Baltimore and Ohio is really foster
ing the enterprise, hoping to tie with
the Pennsylvania Co. in the transpor-
tation and selling of black diamonds.
There has been talk of Il legal fight
heretofore, but nothing definite devel-
oped until Friday.
1t is now known that demand will
be made shortly upon Gov. Mckinley
to instruct the attorney general to
bring proceedings in quo warranto be-
fore the supreme court to oust the new
company from it's charter. This petit
tion has already the names of $50 of
the leading business men of Columbus,
who are determined to push the matter
TO an issue. If this fails, and it is sup.
posed that it will, mandamus proceed.
ings will be begun. Atty.-Gen Rich.
ards has not yet been consulted, but il
is natural to suppose that he will not
move without instructions from the
governor. When the issue is finally
made there will be a great display oi
legal talent before the supreme court
and their attendance will disclose the
real parties to the suit.
The stupendous sum involved in it i.
a question purely of millions, anc
makes the case phenomenal one. The
new company has not yet made its de
posit of $4,000 in cash with the state
but it is believed it's turning over vii
be hastened by the news of the actor
of the opposition. Some of the mos
noted attorneys of the state have beer
here within the last week, and emissar
les are flying in every direction prepar
ing material for the trial.
Should the state refuse tsassistanct
then the aid of the United States gov
ernment will be invoked, as it is assert
ed that the surrendering of the con
tract made with the federal powe
when it ceded it's lands in 1924 to assis
in the construction of the water way
justifies this.
The fact that $50 of Columbus citi
zens should take up the fight makes i
all the more interesting to the peopl
OF central Ohio. This suit will also in
volve every abandonment of state ca
nails. of which there have been 13, in
Guiding the part now covered by Eg
, gleston avenue, in Cincinnati. 1t is n
eNaggeration to say that $4,000, 600
involved.