The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-03-17

stone, live stock, agricultural pro-
ducts Of all kinds, scrap. waste cap:-
able OF being converted into mer-
chantable forms, and all other des-
criptions Of raw material that can be
produced in Ohio. II is not nearly so
much a question of the annual pro-
duction Of these articles as 1t Is OF
their transportation to market. Pro-
duction waits for transportation, not
transportation for production.
The full capacity OF the steam rail-
way system of transportation in Ohio
during year is approximately the
equivalent of moving 1000, 100000
tons of freight one mile. Or, as we
may say, 0,000, 900 tons 100 miles, or
about half way across the state both
latitudinally and longtitudinally. Let
us assume, for the sake Of illustra-
ton, that one-half of this, or 65,00o,-
900 tons is raw or unfinished material,
and that 1t nets the producer so cents
a ton and the carrier 25, or even more.
The capacity for production. In
most Of these items, is SO great that II
may be regarded unlimited. II the
facilities for transportation were null
tiplied by two. the production would
double responsively. The result would
be that there would be 110.000,00D
tons of freight moved 100 miles In
stead of 55,000,000; the producer
would net 55,000,00O instead OF $27,-
100000 and the carriers $27,500,000 in
stead OF $15,750,000.
These figures are given, at this
point, merely to set the reader to
thinking upon the subject Of expand
ing our transportation facilities along
all the lines from the common dirt
road. to the fast lines, carrying the
lighter and more compact articles
thousands Of miles.
| AS already stated the canals were
turned back to the state in 1877, not
only minus any actual revenue to the
treasury, but In deplorably crippled
condition, despite the terms Of the
lease, which required the lessees to
return them in as good physical
condition as they received them.
Whatever of net profit accrued during
the II years Of the operation Of the
lease. whether $4,000 per year as
shown by the high average or $780,
600 as shown by the low, went to the
lessees. True that while they were
able to influence the legislature to az
propriate back to them the sum OF
$505,000 to keep up the repairs of the
canals, which, by the terms OF their
lease, they were required to keep uI
themselves.
Instead of the physical condition Ct
the canals, which was good when the
lease began, being maintained and ex
listing when they were turned back
they, with all their fixtures were al.
most entirely destroyed. The bat
business management on the part o.
the state and the derelictions of tht
lessees that made these conditions
possible cannot profitably be discuss
cd now. The discreditable fact is tn,
only thing that conffonts us, almost {
quarter of century later.
The dismantled plant, in which SIG,
100000 was invested, was all that wa.
, left to the real owners, the people o.
Ohio. And yet 1t was, at that, goot
property then, and worth the invest
ment, and it is a good property today
capable of earning from to pc
cent on $4,000 900, with a compare
lively small additional investment t,
J put the canals in reasonably goo(
, condition, with a still greater per cen
! upon larger investment that wou,;
modernize them in width, draft an,
equipment.
Do you imagine for a moment tha
a railway company would abandon
$4,000, 900 plant, capable, with onl.
ordinarily good management, @
earning such dividend. or that
would hesitate to capitalize 1t O
twice the amount upon a showing O
corresponding incurred earnings
Why the greatest railway and com
, mercial enterprises of the age, ar
. willing to capitalize to any extent, up
on an assurance Of per cent or ovel
The canals were thrown back upo
the state in. 1877. rheumatic at ever
joint, and the policy since then seem
D to have been to break the bones be
9 tween the afflicted joints instead c
. applying the embrocation Of commo
: 2 sense and practical business jude
= ment. And who is to blame?
The board OF public works has bee
Z made the convenient scapegoat to cal
n Try away the signs Of omission an
! lcommissioDS mt the cause of it lie
4 Jack of the Board. at lies at III
q door of the legislature, and it wi
! 6tSontinue to he there untila'the peopl
D Ielect one thatAwill remove It by in
tdAigent acts bf Legislation and n
0 store the peoples property to its prs
0 tine vigor, and open up its, great pos
sibilities. The three members of tn
board of public works are the titula
} managers Of this $16,000,00O piece {
property. The state pays them tn
5 munihcent salary of $500 year [
0 manage it and promote its interests
. But men do not make brick will
out straw any more today than the
s did In the days Of the Egyptian pc
& tentate. The statutes are so frame
Q that the board cannot execute any re,
I functions OF management, even wei
{ there sufficient funds at their dispo,
= al to revitalize the canal system. Th
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