Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-07-17
Wants the Canal
Franchise?
It Is So Claimed at
Cincinnati.
Pennsylvania Reported to be
After II.

fact that the Miami and Erie Canal
Transportation Company has secured
hold on the canal that cannot be
shaken off for 80 years, and places
them in a position whereby they may
demand 15-year lease, under
which they may operate any kindl of
a road they may see fit, SO long as they
do not use steam motive power, those
interested in the scheme have tried
to throw cold water on the expose, says
the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Invariably they have merely declared
that the contract and lease, which the
company now has. prevent them oper-
ating any kind Of road except one
on which to run small motor cars for
the propulsion Of canal boats.
So far they have very judiciousIy
refrained from making any mention
of the law passed April 16, 1900,
which allows the State Board of Pub
lie Works to lease the canal banks
for 10 years for any purpose except
the operation of a steam railroad, as
before mentioned.
Thomas N. Fordyce, the father of the
Miami and Erie Canal Transportation
Company, in an interview in Repub-
lican organ yesterday, followed in the
steps of the others and tried to deny
The Enquirer's articles by merely
referring to the present contract and
saying what The Enquirer has already
published. Like the rest, he desires
to make an intelligent public forget
the law passed April 16, 1900, by not
referring TO it.
CALLS IT A RAILROAD.
While the claim has been made all
along by those interested in the Miami
and Erie Canal Transportation Com.
pany that the new electric line Is moi
to be used for railroad purposes, the
specifications for the work, drawn by
Chief Engineer Chas. n. Perkins, OF
the State Board Of Public Works
tend to strengthen the former belief
These specifications designate the
work specifically as railroad" and
provide that "the construction of the
roadbed and the entire equipment shal
be made according to general stan
dard specifications" In fact, the en-
tire specifications are drawn, accordins
to practical railroad men, for the con
struction of u fully equipped rOat
for the hauling of both passenger ant
freight cars. and not what would b,
necessary If simply for the operation
= of small motor cars, TO be used in tn,
I propulsion of canal boats, which, witt
. their heaviest loads. seldom requir,
more than three horsepower each.
For this reason 1t is argued that tn
line is intended for use by the Penn
sylvanla Railrond, as well as tn
Transportation Company. The fac
that the railroad company has beel
: trying to secure the canal for year
Is well known, and coupled with tn
fact that they spent in the neighbor
hood of 100000 to convert Egglestol
avenue into n railroad yard and thou
sands more at the mouth of the cana
for tho same purpose, is considers
y prlma facie evidence that they expect
ed to be able some day to acquire tn
canal bed and thus secure direc
= line into the very heart of the valuabl
- freight district, which includes tn
~ large manufactures at st. Bernard
Ivorydale, Elmwood, Carthage an
y Lockland.
Is JUDGE FERRIS TALKS.
- Probate Judge Howard Ferris, wh
= was prominenr In the efforts of tn
u Canal Association TO have that water
20 way abandoned, when asked what h
70 thought of the present scheme of
~ railroad along the canal bank, said,
ID "rhe only motive / ever had 1
lie seeking to have the canal abandone
H. was 10 get rid of what believed wa
rs "A nuisance. It had ceased to be con
mercial necessity, and had become
disease breeder. i was never in fave
OF giving II to railroad, steam {
is street
t. "The canal cost the state nothing
ly and, II seemed to me, that If the stat
ed abandoned it within the city limits
ot would he but giving back to the elf
ls- that which the city had given 1t.
iix never favored any payment to II
en- state for the canal by the city. B
he TO cede the canal to any private ca
In poratlon, such as the compar
ch Fordyce represents, without any COZ
nd pensation, is manifestly improper. II