Lobbying for the Canal Locally
The Canal Act, passed in 1825, authorized
construction of the Miami Canal from Cincinnati, Ohio to Dayton, which was the principal
concern of the businessmen in those areas. Of much less importance to them was extension
of the canal northward through the wilderness to Lake Erie. In fact, as author Michael
Morthorst related in his book, "The Miami & Erie Canal and the Sidney Feeder
Canal", after getting the canal built from Cincinnati to Dayton, Dayton area
legislators backed the idea of constructing a railroad or canal route from Dayton to Sandusky, and not through Shelby County.
William Barbee,
an Ohio legislator, pushed for and obtained funding to survey a canal route through Shelby
County. The survey results were acceptable, but a severe drought in the Mad River basin in
1830 caused many to reconsider this route. It became apparent to the residents of Shelby
County, along with those of other areas in the Miami Valley, that it would be necessary to
lobby the legislators in Columbus in order to convince them to extend the canal north of
Dayton.
A notice appeared in Sidney's first newspaper, "The Western Herald",
on September 22, 1831, inviting the citizens to a meeting at the Courthouse, "to
take into consideration the utility of the extension of the Miami Canal to this
place." The next week's edition of "The Herald" noted that the
"...meeting not being so full as many desired, in order that a powerful voice be
expressed, it was thought proper to adjourn, to assemble again...on the 15th inst. at 1
o'clock P. M."
Dr. William Fielding, one
of Shelby County's first physicians, made the following motion at the meeting of October
15: "RESOLVED, That a committee of five persons be appointed to prepare an
Address to the People and Memorial to the Legislature, expressive of the sense of
this meeting, and report to an adjourned meeting of the citizens, to be held in this
place." Samuel Gamble, George Leckey, John Buckland, and attorney Joel Frankeburger
were appointed along with Dr. Fielding to draft what amounted to a 'manifesto' for
presentation to the General Assembly in Columbus.
This fascinating document was presented to the next meeting of citizens on October 22 and
passed unanimously. It was reprinted in the October 29, 1831, edition of Sidney's "Herald". Legislators were urged in the strongest terms to extend the canal through this region to
Toledo. Authors of the document pointed out that over 500,000 acres of land had been
donated to the state by the federal government in anticipation of the extension of the
canal northward. The citizens also made a powerful economic argument. The authors reasoned
that the completion of the canal would enable Miami Valley residents to purchase salt at
45 cents versus the local price of 70 cents per bushel, "...leaving a neat saving
to the inhabitants of this valley of the sum of $35,800...a sum sufficient to pay more
than one third of the interest annually of the whole sum necessary to be borrowed to
complete this line."
The local citizenry rested their case in the manifesto by stating: "Resting,
therefore, confidently on the justice of our claims, the great and important benefits
which would result to the state by the granting of our request, we submit these few
statements, and ask your Honorable body to grant our request. And, as in duty bound, we
will ever pray, &c." An even stronger and longer statement was sent to
the government in Columbus. It was reprinted in the "Western Herald"on
October 29, 1831.
Local politicians were turning up the heat, but to some that meant only 'home cooking.'
Shelby County's representative in the Ohio legislature was William Barbee, a resident of
Troy. Some suspicious Sidney residents mistrusted Barbee, thinking he would push for the
extension of the canal only as far as Troy. Barbee wrote a letter to an unnamed Sidney
resident in response. "I defy either friend or foe...to produce one sentence...as
being original from me, to stop the canal at Troy. My views extend beyond Troy...and do
not stop even at Sidney." In a stirring conclusion, Barbee finished: "I
do not represent Troy alone;... I trust I prize justice, duty and my honor too
highly to ever sacrifice it on the altar of Troy."
The political machinations subsided. The December 31, 1831, edition of "The Western Herald" carried the good news: "Our canal bill has this day
passed the Senate, and become a Law. This all absorbing question is now put to rest."
Thomas Smith, editor of "The Western Herald", reported the reaction of
Sidney's residents: "Great joy and rejoicing were manifested by our fellow
citizens on that occasion. The court house, the public houses, and many private houses,
were brilliantly illuminated. The roaring of cannon, music, and dancing, seemed to
indicate the joy of all at the bright prospects of the future thus placed before
them." The mistrust of Barbee was quickly forgotten. Thomas Smith commented:
"Our representatives deserve much praise for the zeal and activity with which they
have pushed forward this bill to a successful termination..." Shelby County was
ready to face the dawn of a new era. Construction began on the canal extension in 1833.
'Canal' segment written in
December, 1998 by Rich Wallace
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