278 HISTORY OF OHIO. 



connected with the great Wabash canal, extending to Evans- 

 ville on the Ohio river. 



The importance of this canal, passing through the Miami 

 and Wabash valleys, down the Maumee valley to Manhattan, 

 on lake Erie, is apparent to any one who looks at the maps of 

 Ohio and Indiana. That branch of it, which passes along the 

 Wabash river, will do a vast deal of business for Indiana and Illi- 

 nois states. It passes through the richest soil of both states. 

 Our branch of this canal, passes through the Miami valley, the 

 best cultivated portion of Ohio. The northern end of it, from 

 lake Erie to Indiana line, will be sixty feet wide, six feet deep, 

 with a double set of locks, so as to admit lake vessels, up into 

 the heart of the country. Ohio has in possession, either in land 

 or money, ample funds to complete this splendid canal. The 

 amount of tonnage carried on it will, one day, be great, and 

 exceed, perhaps, that carried on any other, in the western 

 states. Side cut canals auxiliary to this, will be numerous, 

 though but one is now making from the main trunk to Leba- 

 non. 



Other canals, from the Ohio and Erie canal are in contem- 

 plation and will finally be made, connecting lake Erie with 

 it. One from Sandusky city to Lockburn; another from the 

 mouth of Black river to connect the main canal with it, and sev- 

 eral others. 



To make all these additions, we have on hand two millions 

 and a half of dollars; we have a small tax, annually levied on 

 all the personal and real estate of Ohio, we have the industry, 

 the enterprise, energy, and wealth of individuals, the canal 

 tolls and the credit of this state. 



We had forgotten a canal now making from Cincinnati up 

 White water into Indiana. This canal will throw into the 

 Ohio river at an important point, the productions of the richest 

 part of our neighboring state. It will be of great value to Cin- 

 cinnati, and invaluable to a portion of Indiana. It is called, 



