Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-03-11
CANALS
Have a Great Fu-
ture,
If This Dream Comes
True.
To be Used as Pleasure
Resorts,
And Lined With Shades Trees
and BouIevards.

Columbus, March 1.-THE Press.
Post of this city, paints an amusing
picture of the future of the canais
of Ohio, provided the plan of beautify-
ing the waterways and their surround
ings is carried out, as recommended
in the annual report of the State Board
of Public Works The paper says:
The canals of Ohio are to enter up
on Il new career of usefulness. The
State Board of Public Works proposes,
1t is said, to improve and beautify
the ancient highways, border the
canals with boulevards and bicycle
paths, where the people of Ohio may
saunter between double rows of
shade trees and enjoy themselves. If
the pipe dream comes true, there will
be bits of landscape gardening on
either side of the canals at conven'
lent points of access. The laws will
be amended so as to prevent contam-
ination of the ripping waters with
sewage, and Egyptian barques, pro-
PEELED by electric motors, will glide
silently along while the happy crowds
in the parks and on the boulevards
will be entertained and amused with
entrancins strains of music. There
might be platforms, gaily decorated
with banners and native flowers,
where gay throngs trip "the light fan.
tastlc" in the rosy future.
The fish and game commission
might assist in beautifying the ca
nails and stock the waters with gold
(brick) fish. Mountain lions might
be turned loose with the pheasants
and other game in the groves of south
ern Ohio, and in these groves the ar,
dent sportsman might pursue the
painting game--with telegraph offices
handy.
The object Is to cultivate the com,
mon people in a taste for things beau
tiful,,
The r. of r. w. had $4,000 last
| year to spend on the canals. Some
| difficulty was experienced in spending
this amount But carping people are
kicking because the revenue from the
canals, including sale OF land was on
ly 1886, 1895, and the cost of keeping
the canals in repair exceeded the
revenue about 100000.
The people need artistic cultivation
| Art has been neglected for some
time. Only few years ago super
intendent of the State House disfigurct
a fine oil portrait of one of Ohio's Gov
ernors hanging in the smoky rotundG
Of the capitol. With ruthless desir,
to remove the dirt from the defunc
Governors face, he had the painting
washed with soap suds. The portrai
still hangs on the wall, but visitor.
viewing the picture wonder how tn,
Governor ever caught the SMALLPOX
Other arguments might be adducet
In favor of cultivating taste for ar
among the common people. The groul
of "ohio's Jewels" in the capitol squar,
will need bath sometime during tn,
present century.
1t is admitted that the canals ar,
not beautiful at present. In som,
localities the musical bullfrog will
shortly begin his spring plpings. Th
movement of tanbark and hooppole
will be resumed, but there Is a nota
BILE decrease in tonnage. The hooppol
Industry has met with many reverse
since the barrel trust began to us
iron hops.
Colonel Goddard, president of tn
State Board of Public Works, Ina
charge of the southern division of tn
Ohio canals. The scheme to introduc