The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-01-05

ferred from the Ohio penitentiary to the new
place Subsequent TO that time there have
been received S42 prisoners from the courts,
and 10 from the Ohio penitentiary who were
exchanged for incorrigibles, On November
10, 1877, the total number OF prisoners in the
reformatory was $40. During the period OF oc-
cupancy the prisoners have been employed in
doing necessary work around the buildings and
In preparing the wall The capacity Of the
present structures Is now taxed, and there is
necessity for the compilation OF the east wing
which was commenced some years ago It Is
also necessary that buildings In which the
prisoners can be employed should be erected
Under the present circumstances the outside
work can give employment to but compara-
lively small portion Of the whole number. and
IN the interest OF humanity there should be no
crowded idle house at this institution There
has been an earnest effort to put into effect
such rules for the daily life of the inmates as
will carry out the idea Of the reformatory. The
results so far have been indicative Of future
success In this line, and with the institution
completed and afordlng oil the facilities con-
templated In the original design. there Is no
reason why 1t should not be valuable adjunct
to the states penal work. A large amount OF
money, however, will be necessary to accom-
plish the end desired. It is estimated that the
completed institution will have cost about
u ,5OO.OO0 The management is earnest and
economical The reformatory should be COM
pleted as soon as possible In order that the
lull measure Of the work for the class Of GRIM
~~~N@|
operation.
The next penal establishment which Ohio in
StituteS should be one for the reception Of
female prisoners The female department at
the Ohio penitentiary Is lily adapted for the
purposes and should be either replaced by
new structure on its site, or q modern well
equipped and convenient building should be
erected at some other place. The present
female prison Is almost disgrace to the statea
STATE HOUSE IMPROVEMENTS,
Purauant m the act NJ tha 1anaro1 aosay,nhIu
the state house improvement board, consisting
OF the governor, the lieutenant-governor, the
speaker OF the house OF representatives Of the
Seventy-second general assembly. Judge
Spear, Of the supreme court and the adjutant-
general invited architects to furnish plans for
the changes contemplated in the state capitol
Ten architectural firms submitted designs
and from them that OF Yost & Packard, Of Col
umbus, was chosen. The addition OF north
and south wings, extensive alterations OF the
interior Of the present building. and the con-
struction OF q new dome were proposed under
the plans adopted. In accordance with the act
Messrs- W, G. Deshler, of Columbus; John
Tod. OF Cleveland Paul j. Sorg of
Middletown, and Thomas b. Paxton. of Cincin-
natl as the state house commissioners, whose
duty II was to arrange for and supervise con-
struction. After the death Of the Hon. John
| Tod, Hon. Henry G. Ellison, of Cleveland, was
appointed 10 the vacancy. 1t soon became ap-
| parent that the matter OF proceeding with the
improvement was OF doubtful expediency. The
state house commission, which was charged
with carrying the act into effect, questioned
| their powers. In view Of all the circumstances
| no action has been taken save that OF accept
| ing certain drawings Of the architects, COM
pensation for which iS'yet to be provided The
| state house commission has had several meet
ings, and. as yet have reached no conclusion
| as to the best course OF procedure. / approve
| OF the delay In the matter Although the act
| is Of o mandatory nature, 1t seemed best to go
xutfh tn,va
so great an expenditure Of the public money
! 1t has certainly appeared wise to ask the gen
| eral assembly for construction Of the law,
and II 1t is determined to proceed with the
| work, for q sufficient appropriation to insure
| the completion of the entire improvement
| In this connection permit me to say that In
! my opinion the end deSired-that Of providing
| additional room for the state departments
and especially the supreme court and its con-
| tingent offices-can be reached with the ex-
| penditure Of much less money than the pro-
posed plan would surely involve, and with
| equally as good, II not better results. The
sum of 100000 was appropriated and with
| that amount the state can acquire land suffl-
cient and pay the greater part Of the cost cf a
building entirely suitable as place for such
| state departments as now encroach upon the
| space needed for the constitutional executive
| and legislative departments. There are sew
| eral desirable sites on or near the Capitol
| square which can be acquired at their market
| value, and even with the most liberal allow
ance for the land purchase, the balance OF
| the amount appropriated would cover all, or
| nearly all OF the cost OF construction OF fire.
| proof, handsome and ornate building which
| could be made better adapted for its purpose
than any construction OF, or addition to- the
| present Capitol could ever be. Such a sepa-
rate building could well contain many Of the
recently created departments, and thus leave
ample room In the Capitol for the legislative
and older executive departments / offer this
general plan OF meeting the necessity for more
room in the Capitol, belle wing firmly that 1t Is
| the best solution of q troublesome problem
| THE OHIO CANAL system.
The commission appointed pursuantto House
| Joint Resolution No. 81 have submitted their
report and they say: "The canal system Of
| the state OF Ohio comprises 600 miles of nayi-
gable canals, 81. SOD acres Of reservoir area and
| Ia miles Of artificial feeders besides the rivers
| and stream channels connecting the waters OF
the canals, and which form part Of the cana
system;
the entire canal system OF the state, going over
| almost all OF 1t by boat, including the various
| reservoirs. feeders and dams connected there
with We have interviewed the people along
the lines of the canals at the various cities and
towns through which they pass, and have had
public hearings at Columbus, inviting the pres
| ence of all persons interested in this subject
and have sought by all proper means for in
formation from the citizens OF the state ire
spective OF locality or prejudice.
"We find that the condition Of the canal sys-
tenn. taken as a whole is much dilapidated and
out OF repair, although 1t is navigable its en-
tire length, except that division of the Ohio
canal from Dresden TO Lockbourne.
THE northern division OF the Ohio canal
from Cleveland to Coshocton is in comparative
ly good repair; the boats running over this
portion OF the canal, some ~ in number, being
able to carry about 80 tons OF heavy freight,
which is practically as much as they could
ever carry over this canal To facilitate the
passage OF boats over this division, repairs to
the banks and structures and dredging are nee
eSsary, which can be accomplished at moder-
ate expenditure. The portion OF the canal
from Coshocton to Dresden, while practically
in the same condition OF repair as to banks and
structures Is much shallower and would re-
quire more dredging. The opening OF the cana
70 the Muskinguni river Is closed The division
from Dresden junction to Lockbourne is
not navigable over most OF its course, and is
used mainly to supply water to Newark fol
factory and railroad purposes. and 10 fur
nish feed to the southern division, south o
Lockbourne. The condition OF this part is the
poorest we have found, and 1t would require
considerable expense to make 1t serviceablt
canal The division from Lockbourne to Ports.
mouth, and the Columbus feeder from Colum'
bus to Lockbourne, is only in fair condition
with the exception OF a few miles entering into
Portsmouth and connecting with the Ohio
river This part Is hardly navlgable and the
entrance TO The river is filled up large ex
pendlture would be necessary to make 1t serv'
iceable.
"On the Miami and Erie canal the division
between Cincinnati and Dayton Is in the bes
state OF repair OF any part Of the canal sys
tenn. The banks and structures are in com
paratively good condition, and boats run regu
iarly some 80 In number, carrying full loads
II would require but a small expenditure Il
put this division in good order The. division
from Dayton to Summit level at Lockington Il
In need Of dredging, together with some repairs
to the banks and structures, which would alsI
entail some expense. The boats on this nor
service carrying freight The division from
LoclIington TO Defiance while in need OF les
dredging has mostly wooden structures, which
are badly in need OF rebuilding. There is les
boating over this division though there Is al
abundance OF water), owing to the condition o
the structures.
EAT the northern terminus OF the Miami anS
Erie canal at Toledo, there is portion know
as the Maumee side cut, about 1000 feet II