Indiana Republican, Volume 2, Number 88, Madison, Jefferson County, 15 August 1818 — Page 1

It IMiaiia itepmfoMcainu J-L

"where liberty dwells, there is my country."

VOL. H.

MADISON, (INDIANA) -SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1818.

PUBLISHED BT

Win lodge,

VRY SATURDAY..oltuCK' will delivered

x.f.r two dollars per annum, "KLrrt- if paid within two

Z lance; two dollars and fifty Li toithin twelve or,th iliMars if not paid until the

to rubers, wiUU a year

" r W.U be d'sconttauea unw

Urates are ?a .

tolhtl end of Cm year U'n'to discontinue, or he

M rt.uinSiWJ.or an" -'I'iii'f.

0Br, proportion, and if the .0f insertion desired, are not

, of the aivertiseruntil ordered

Letters to, the Editor must

1st paid.

tmtbe Neiv Tork Columbian.

The Grand Canal.

h this day present to our rea-

an interesting letter from tne

km Dart or me siaie, m t-

to the advancement of our

iNQ NAVIGATION. This

Jr is more gratifying ' to

itenngs, as persons 01 uunuicia other parts of the Union,

recently made enquires or bmen in this city, in relation ie prozress of the GR AND

1 . ..

ML. When we have collect-

sufficient number of well au-

Itbted facts, we shall present

he nation the whole state or

stupendious undertaking, asolitary doubt now remains its complete success. It must

f pleasing reflection to the peo-

Iot the state of New X oris, of themsebes as a state, they

is commenced, and will linisli

'ark that, astonishes and mter- ' the most enlightened characi of Euronc. What are the

Jrcrs of Europe to expect from

merican people, in point or

tonal power and Grandeur,

to a single member or the con-

pacy has the enterprize to emL . . . . .

fin a plan that is sumcient 10 ;ite the wonder and admiration

the old countries on the other

pntinem ? iJnu tlmr nolitical

- m , w vt v - 'knee has subsided, and the pular mind is r.o longer warpnd absorbed in the aggranfcment or overthrow of par3 now that, the nation flour'win the sun-shine of neace and

Huility ; we hope that other Ks will imitate New York, and

rn their attention and apply e'c resources to tliose in'eat nro-

P of internal utility, which

111 tend to advance and confirm

happiness and prosperity of

Pe Amprlr-in nrtmlc. We will

nty hirthcr 'add, that the follow.

ing letter is6m a gentleman of the highest respectability, and the facts it contains can be unequivocally relied upon. Ed. Col. " Canandaigua, 24th June, 1818. ' Dear Sir, I have just come home from the Canal line, on which, before I left it, contracts were executed for the construction of the Canal, so far as relates to grubbing and clearing, excavation, Pand embankment, to within a mile and a half of the Owasco outlet. There now remains, to be let out, but about seven miles of the line between Utica and the Seneca river ; and there is more than eighty-five miles under cont ract ;1iOTsposition to engage in the business seems to become more favorable as the work advances. Many of the best contractors have taken new jobs ; and other men, of various occupations, but chiefly farmers, make proposals and undertake sections, upon terms as good for the state as can be desired. Nothing can t)e more gratifying, to all who wish success to the most useful project thet was ever undertaken by a state, for the promotion of all its essential interests, than to witness the crowd of active, intelligent, wealthy and resectable men who apply for.

contracts, whenever the returns of the engineer toe a few miles of the line, are so far completed as that they may be let out. At the village of Eldridge, having the necessary returns for about 1 5 miles, 1 had more than fifty applicants : and as far as I could learn, if it had been in my power to choose out of the people within twenty miles of that place, those who were most likely to complete, in a satisfactory manner, any engagement which they might enter into, I could not have selected better men. With the exception of three embankments, where a good wall of stone work must be made before thev can be completed, all

the contracts hitherto executed are to be fully performed by the 10th of next December. West of the last contract, the Canal line is now under examination by the engineer, from whom I expect to receive sectional maps and profiles of the route to the Seneca river, within about a fortnight, after which, if I do not, in the mean time, let outpartof it, there Is not the least' doubt but that it will be all immediately taken up. 'Mr. White has explored, with the necessary minuteness, a route for the Canal, on the north side of Lamberton hill, and has furnished me with a map and profile, on which are exhibited the facts and circumstances requisite to a fair comparison of that route with the route previously located on the south side of the hill. The result of the comparison of the two routes, which I have thus

been able to make, has been a de

cided preferance of the south route ; and accordiugly the south route is the one under contract, Though my last passage along the Canal Tine was in part during rainy and unprofitabe weather for the employment of many hands by the contractors, from minutes that I took, it appears that the aggregate number of men engaged is about two thousand, and of cattle and horses not far from 4 hundred. The weather is now good, and the number of hands has, without doubt, been increased, independently of those who are beginiflg on the jobs last taken."

From the Cincinnati Gazette. The project of removing the obstructions at the falls of the Ohio, appears still to engross much of the public attention in this place; and although the sudden revolution in the public mind respecting the practicability, or perhaps morel properly the expense, of a Canal on either side, has put that part of the project at rest for the oresent. it is with no small de

gree of pleasure we observe, that the opening of the falls in some mode or other, is still a matter of -interest with our traders and other capitalists. It is a great misfortune that effect ivc measures had not been taken at an earlier period, to determine the practicability and expense of so important a work ; it might have saved a vast deal of trouble and bickering and delay. If this course had been pursued by the citizens of Cincinnati, the work would probably before this time have been in successful progress .; hut it is useless to indulge in unavailing regrets we have spent more than a year in unsuccessfull experiment, and this solely, because we started wrong. The result of the meeting at the hotel on Wednesday evening shews a determination to get right in this particular. As to our former efforts, they have ended just where common sense would predict. It is not to be expected that men of capital would embark their fortunes in anv enterprize either public or pri

vate without having some calculation submitted to them of the probable amount of funds required. Under all circumstances, therefore, we think the course pursued on Wednesday evening a correct one, and we hope the people of Jcfiersonville will embrace the opportunity afforded by the presence of an able engineer, to have a complete survey and estimate of the contemplated canal. If the engineer should report unfavorable to the opening of the bed of the river, it will be in vain to stir another step until something is done to satisfy the citizens on this point. The public

mind appears to be considerably distracted, and nothing can bring it to a focus but plain and unequivocal demonstration on this important head. We understand it is in contemr plation to have an engineer from the eastward, one who shall be jn every respect qualified for the task, and whose report may with confidence be submitted to thc national and state legislature to solicit their co-operation. To have an engineer of any other description would be useless. Without the aid of the general or state governments it is hardlv probable the bed of the rlv - ji be openedsuch assistance cn never be expected until we show the world that it can not onJy ue ione, but expose the nature of the obstruction, its length, breadth, and the kind of materials of which it is composed, and, tho last, not least,, what it will cost to remove it. Legislative bodies are generally slow to patronize public works unless they add to the immediate revenues of the state. In the distant prospect of advancement in agriculture, commerce, and the arts, there is seldom seen a motive to compensate for the expen-

diture of the people's money, and the consequent risk of popularity if the event should prove abortive. It is therefore of the utmost importance, if we should, want assistance, to be able to shew that our request is reasonable; that the enterprize is not only laudable, but practicable,and that the sum we ask will enable us to accomplish it.

At a meeting of the stockholders of the Jefftrsonville Ohio canal company , held on the evening of the 23d instant, at the Cincinnati Hotel, William Corry, Esq. was elected chairman, David K. Este, secretary. The committee previously appointed by the stockholders of this place, to go the falls of the Ohio, to confer with such persons as might be delegated by the stockholders of the Louisville canal company, and also of the Jefferson ville Ohio canal company, reported the propositions submitted to them. Col. John Paul, one of the commissioners deputed from Jeffersonville, submitted further propositions, both from the board of directors and from the citizens of Jeffersonville ; but as a general sentiment appeared to prevail in favor of making an effort to open the bed of the river, the meeting came to the following resolutions: Kesolved, That the books opened for the subscriptions of stock to the Jeffersonville Ohio cimal company, be withheld for the present. Resolved, That Jacob Burnet, Esq; Thomas SIqo, Jun. and Le: