Year: 1861

The estimated total cost Of our Pub
lie Works at the time of their compile
ton was S14, ,627,549 10 The average
annual expense, beyond the income for
the last five years, has been fraction
less than one-haif of one per cent. on
this cost We have then this untavor-
able exhibit. We have property that
cost US about fifteen millions Of dollars,
and we find by five consecutive years ez-
periepce that, instead Of its paying the
interest On it's cost, it is actually running
us in debt.


This is one view OF the case. Let us
look at the other. Many Intelligent
citizens urge that the Public Works, by
proper system of management, and
graduation of tolls, can be made not only
self-sustainins, but source of revenue
to the State There are many AID
weighty reasons why this should be
thoroughly tested, before we abandon
these costly and important works
Large investments have been made on
the line Of these works, as is claimed
under an implied pledge on the part Of
the State, that they should be kept in
permanent condition for use. An
abandonment OF the canals, or their sale
without sufficient guarantee for their
maintenance, would be ruinous to the
parties interested. It would depreciate
the value Of property to an amount ex
ceeding the cost of the canals.


In 1928, Congress granted nearly half
million acres Of land, between Dayton
and the mouth of the Auglaize river, for
canal construction. This was upon the
condition expressed ia the deed Of con-
veyance, = that said canals, when COM
pleted, shall forever remain public high
ways for the use Of the Government Of
the United States, free from tolls or
other charge whatever, for any property
of the United States. or persons in their
service, passing through the same. =
These lands were accepted by the State
of Ohio with this condition. They
have been sold, and the proceeds have
been applied to the purpose of the grant
If these canals are sold, or pass out of
the hands of the State, how is this prom
ise to be fulfilled to the General Govern
ment.


On the most of the canals, and especi-
ally ON the Muskingum Improvement,
there are outstanding leases of water
power by the State, for ninety nine
years, renewable forever and in some
instances there are contracts, in lieu of
former grants, in perpetuity. These
contracts impose obligations on the State
that must be met. How shall these
vested rights be protected if thu State
! dispose Of her interest in these works :?


1t is urged that if the canals are sold
! they will be ultimately controlled by the
Railroad Corporations of the State, the
effect of which will be to SO diminish
transportation on the canals as to result
in their virtual abandonment; the effect
Of which, in turn, would be to create
such monopoly in the railroads as to
materially increase the tariff of ftranspor-
tation, and conflict with the we'll estab-
lisned policy of every commercial State
to multiply rather than to lessen the
avenues Of trade. Even if the support
of canals shall impose small tax, it is
worthy of consideration whether the i'll
cidental benefits to the counties not upon
OF adjacent thereto, by reason of lesser
rates Of transportation, might not more
than compensate for the tax.


There are thirty-six counties in Ohio,
on, or contiguous to our Public Works,
leaving ffty-two counties dependent
mainly upon rivers, lakes or railroads
for their avenues to market. The canal
counties are mainly those that were with
out natural outlets to market. 1t is
Instructive to note their present position
in regard to population and wealth. By
the census Of 1860, the thirty canal
counties have population of l, 1,153,286i
while the fifty two other counties have
a population of 1,190,137 The thirty
six canal counties have an aggregate oI
$469, ,253, ,492 On the tax list. The fifty.
two other counties have an aggregate Of
s420,263,767