The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-03-13

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~ suggested that the public would
suffer no loss. II the Ohio river were
converted into sand and gravel bed,
which would Immediately take up the
rainfall, and serve as a roadway dur
ing the dry season.
1t would be good idea for the
reader to figure out the extent OF the
havoc that would be dealt out to
western Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois,
If nature should conclude to make the
metamorphosis.
In the meantime, let us look into
tho condition of the canal Of artificial
waterway system of Ohio, and SIN
cerely consider the question of its
value to the people of the entire state.
Messrs. A. w. Thurman and l.. ID.
Hamlin, with Chas. r. Perkins, chief
engineer of the state board of public
works, constituting the special canal
commission, have, during the past
year been laboriously engaged in in
vestigating the system, with view CT
acauainting the people with the real
value Of the states property and wi h
the earnest hope, II not the reasonable
expectation, that future legislation
will permit and aid 1t to become net
only a great factor in solving the
transportation problem here at home,
but revenue producer for the bene.
fit of the taxpayers in every county
however remote from the canal lines
They are all men of well-known
prcbity and practical business ideas,
reinforced with jealous determine
ton to arrive at the exact facts, and
demonstrate, as by mathematical CAL
culation, all the possibilities of the
system, under practical, intelligent
business-likc management and opera
.ion. They are, as yet, but on the
threshold of the inquiry, but enough
has been ascertained by. them to war
rant the general claim that the state
has for years, with apparent d'libe--
alton, been neg.ecting not only n
great source of revenue, but its m st
valuable adjunct in building up the
interior commerce, and the easily pos
sible development Of the state &c
something like its natural capabiii-
for far more than a score OF years the
state has, by its neglect OF the canal
system, lost $250,000 of revenue az
nually, and missed the opportunity TO
add from $6.000,000 to $10,000.00o to
the general tax duplicate. which is not
i,here because of this neglect of a SIG
900 900 investment, entered upon mora
than three-quarters of century age.
Mr.. Thurman, Of course, Is known
all over the state, not only as STU
dent and a man of broad-guage Id as
of political economy, but an emerge H.
worker, who never stops half way
when he enters upon the investigation
Of any proposition. With him to in
vestigate Is to go forward to a prsc-
tical conclusion, If it be within tn
range OF the proposition itsef. Mr..
Hamlin, although much younger
man, has had, in the railway service,
wide experience in the transport
ticn problem, which. Joined to h'1
scholastic attainments and practical
abilities peculiarly fits him for serv-
ices on the commission. OF him Mr..
Thurman says: II never met young
man of clearer or more practical
ideas, or of more versatile ab,liti:s
Ho fully understands the nature Ct
the work devolving on the commits
sion, and is both ready and compe-
tent to do his full share. He has too,
the highest conception of public
trust and predict for him career
of great usefulness" Mr.. Perk NJ,
the engineer member, ex ofiicio, of the
commission, not only has a thorough
knowledge of the canal system past
and present, but comprehends all the
possibilities of the future Governor
Nash could not have appointed three
men better qualified for their work.
Now. there are few facts and
figures, which are apropos at th;s
point Of future possibilities. The or'g-
inal cost Of the system was about
$1e,000,000, representing the invest
ment Of the state in the only really
valuable property it ever owned.
From the beginning Of the system, up