The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-03-03

| WI tHS HlHeteeHJn century, DeSdn lue
construction of system of artificial
waterways from the practically mac
cessible interior districts to the deep
channelled rivers and the tide waite, 8,
we would today, to all intents and
purposes, .be living in the eighteenth
instead Of the twentieth century. Our
populations would be fringing
frontiers, instead of building and
crowding great cities on every degree
OF longitude and along every parallel
OF latitude from the lakes to the sea-
board, and from ocean to ocean.
The canal came in obediance to the
wand of the magician-commerce He
called 1t out of the womb of evolution
to become the inspiration of equal
achievements, broader in some re-
spects, but no greater at least and in
conception. When the canal system
of Ohio was opened the tonnage came
In driblets, and the wiseacres thought
they saw In the smallness of the de-
mand the early collapse of the new
tangled idea. But in less than a de-
cade the demand for transportation,
arising from the influx of new popula-
tions and the push and enterprise of
agriculture and mining, fell so far be-
hind the possible supply that the rail-
road evolved as from some great eco
nomic protoplasm.
The canal multiplied Ohio's produc-
tions first by fifty per cent then by
45 per cent Of the resultant, and 80 on
at lesser rate per cent but ever
growing in the aggregate until the
railway naturally evolved as a scien-
tlfc as well as a commercial PROPOSE
tion. And yet transportation has
never been able TO meet the demands
upon IL, save during temporary peri
ods of economic depression. Supply
only gave birth to increased demand.
The proof that the facilities Of travel
and transportation are even now far
behind the demand is seen in the trac-
ticn lines. AS Of yesterday the stelm
railways gridironed the state. Today
the traction lines are covering Ii as
with a cobweb. Yesterday the steam
railways took in the counties, as the
sanals took In the two great sections
OF the state. Today the traction lines
are taking in the Townships; tomo.-
row they will invade the mile square
sections. And every mile of line and
wire multiplies in the various local
tiles, the demand for transportation
by from to so per cent, a demand
that extends to every line of trans
portation, either direct or by transfer
"a demand that cannot be fully and
continuously met as shown by the
inert tonnage on thousand sidines.
Now, is it wise or business-like to
ignore and threat with contempt one
of the great principles of transporta-
ton, that will continue to discharge
its full share of duty, as long as the
rains fall and the waters flow, just
because some one says it is antiquated
and not the vogue?
| This question would probably have
remained unanswered indefinitely,
had not Governor Nash appointed the
special canal commission, consisting
of Hon. Allen w. Thurman and Hon.
l.. ID. Hamlin, to investigate and as
certain what was the matter with the
canal system, whether or not the
present worldwide interest in the re-
vival and restoration of interior and
artificial waterways, might not be ap-
piled wisely in Ohio as well as to
give the public a clear conception Of
the real value of Ohios public works
rs an economic factor
| These energetic and capable gentle
men entered upon the work, and from
the very start their discoveries have
been both valuable and interesting,
and the general purport of them can
not fail to strike the public favorably.
With your permission, Mr.. Editor, l
will. from time to time. Law before
your readers in brief form, the salient
points OF their investigations.