The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-02-11
ABOLISH ENTIRE
CANAL SYSTEM
Attorney General Is Drafting a
Bill With This Object
in View.
ARE EXPENSIVE TO THE STATE
Says They Cannot Compete in
Rates or Speed With
Railroads.

COLUMBUS, o., Feb. S-Attorney
General John NJ. Sheets today came out
openly in favor Of sbolishing the entire
canal system. He frankly admitted the
truth OF the statement in the Com
mercial Tribune this morning that he
was drafting the bill, which Repre-
sentative Painter, of Wood county, will
Introduce, and which abolishes the
State Board of Public Works and the
canals at one stroke. The Attorney
General was vehement in stating his
convictions on the canal question.
He said: II am in favor of abandon
ing the canals at once. | will appear be-
fore any committee in the House or
Senate and say so. The operation OF
the canals is colossal fraud. They are
costing 5000. 600 a year, and yet they
can moi compete in freight rates with
the railroads. For instance, the Hook
ing Valley is carrying coal now for six
tenths cent a ton per mile. The canals
can't handle coal at that rate. Nor
could they get it to its destination In
time enough to suit shippers. By Law
a canal boat can only make four mile:
an hour. 1t doesn't make that, for q
mule doesn't go that fast, and, besides
the boat ties up at night.
BURDEN TO THE STATE.
while the canals are costing $500,
600 q year, on top Of that the State
Board of Public Works wants $500, OO(
to help the Fordyce electric mule con
tractors. ~.
"This contract with the State pro
vides the State shall be put to no ex
pense. But the ink was hardly dry OIL
the contract before an appropriation o
500, 600 was secured TO repair the cana
banks 80 the Fordyce people could op
crate. Aud now the State Board o
Public Works wants $500. 600 to dredg,
the canals for the benefit of the con
tractors.
If 1 shall prepare such bill as
want myself, it will provide for th'
abandonment Of all the canals OF tn
State, the drainage of the reservoir
and the sale OF the uncovered land TO
farm purposes, the lease of the cans
beds for railroad traction llnes. pip
lines or any other purpose for whic
they may be used. The State has abou
ftty feet in width along these cant
lines, which will obviously be YER
valuable for the purposes named.
Il SELL RESERVOIR LANDS.
, "The highest courts have held el
!, plicitly that the State has q perfet
title to the lands now occupied by th
, reservoirs belonging to the canal sy
tenn, and, in case Of abandonment, coul
; sell the land and give perfect title.
p that case my idea would be not to Sc
\ all the land at once, but as demar
q came for them from farmers. II the
we're thrown on the market at ono,
\ they would not bring more than So a
!. acre. When well drained they wouI
be worth at least $50 an acre.
"I am decidedly in favor of leasir
the canal beds, and not selling ther
/, for three reasons: First, the State do
not need the money; the last instalmel
of State debt will soon be due, and tt
money Is iu the treasury to pay it. Tt
Isecond, II the money is put In Il
q treasury, it will not be long in gettin
q out. Third, by retaining the fee ar
a leasing the property, the State will
q in position TO take advantage of II
Grease In value. l think all this pro
lerty should be leased at q per cen
valuation, and there should be regul,
= Ireappraisements, say about every twe
IN