The act to provide for internal improvements by navigable canals was passed by the General Assembly of Ohio, on February 4, 1825. GRANTS OF LAND. The following statement of lands granted to the State by the General Government, to aid in the construction of navigable canals, was taken from the commissioner's report o the general land office of 1854, and is deemed correct: Miami and Dayton canal, 421,397.72 acres; Wabash and Erie, 292,688.33 acres, and 500,000 acres for general canal purposes to be selected by the Governor. The total number of acres, 1, 214,086.05 excepting about 32,000 acres for reservoir purposes, were sold for about $2,200,000. In addition to these grants by the General Government, the State received material aid from private individuals and corporations along the different canals in donations of land, right of way and money, but just to what amount we are unable to find from the papers and books in the office of the Board of Public Works. OHIO CANAL. The Ohio canal was commenced in 1825, and completed in 1833, extending from Lake Erie, at Cleveland, to the Ohio river at Portsmouth, a distance of 309 mile's, with 25 miles of feeders, or a total of 334 miles and reservoirs, Cost for -construction, $4,695,203.69. The minimum breadth of this canal at water line is 40 feet; at bottom, 26 feet; and the depth, 4 feet. The number of lift-locks on this canal is 152; number of guard-locks, 9. MIAMI AND ERIE CANAL. The main canal, extending from the Ohio river at Cincinnati to Lake Erie at Toledo, 250 miles in length, cost $5,920,200.41; branch from Junction to State line, 18 miles, $450,000; Sidney feeder, from Lockington to Port Jefferson, 14 miles, $391,258.32; a total of 282 miles, and cost $6,762,458.73. The following reservoirs belong to this canal: Grand reservoir, Mercer county, containing about 17,000 acres, cost $528,227.07; Lewiston reservoir, in Logan county, containing about 7,200 acres, cost $600,000 and the Laramie reservoir, in Shelby county, containing about 1,800 acres, cost, exclusive of canal, $22,000, which amount is included in the construction of the canal. Total cost of the Miami and Erie canal, including reservoirs, $8,062,680.80. The minimum breadth of this canal at water line, from Cincinnati to Dayton, is 40 feet; at the bottom, 26 feet, and the depth, 4 feet. From Dayton to Junction, breadth at top water line, 50 feet; at the bottom, 36 feet, and depth, 5 feet. From Junction to Toledo, the width at top water line is 60 feet; at the bottom, 46 feet, and the depth, 6 feet. The number of locks is 105. HOCKING CANAL. Extending from Carroll at the junction with the Ohio canal to Athens, 56 miles. Cost of construction, $975,481.01. The number of lift-locks is 26. The dimensions of this canal are the same as the Ohio canal. Abandoned for canal purposes by the legislature in 1894. See Senate Bill No. 315, passed May 18, 1894. WALHONDING CANAL. Extending from Roscoe to Rochester. 25 miles. Commenced in 1836, completed in 1842. Cost of the construction, $607,268.99. The number of lift-locks is 11; number of guard-locks, 1. The dimensions of this canal are the same as the Ohio canal. All of this canal lying west and north of lock No. 5, a length of 19 miles, was abandoned April 27, 1896. See H. B. No. 508, passed that date. RECAPITULATION. Cost of construction of the canals, including reservoirs and feeders, $14,340,572.59. Number of lift-locks, 294; number of guard-locks, 10. The three tables following show the receipts and expenditures annually, from the opening of canals, 1827, to November 15, 1901. TABLE SHOWING THE EXPENDITURES EACH YEAR FOR SUPERINTENDENCE, REPAIRS AND COST OF COLLECTION ON THE OHIO CANALS, FROM 1827 to 1901, INCLUSIVE. |