46 COLUMBUS, February 29, 1820. SIR: Inclosed you will receive the copy of an act of the legislature respecting a navigable communication between Lake Erie and the Ohio river," and a certificate of your appointment as commissioner to survey and locate the route of a canal between these waters. The act will point out to you the duties and services required of the commissioners. You will observe that a majority of them forms a quorum, competent to the transaction of the business assigned to them. It is presumed that the necessary portion of each member's personal attendance (in exploring, examining, surveying and making estimates, calculations, or causing the same to be done, so as to enable them to make the required report, and meet the intention of the legislature) can be arranged by the board for every mutual convenience consistent with the public service. I hope, therefore, that no circumstance will prevent you from accepting this appointment, especially as there appears no provision for filling vacancies that may happen; and I shall be obliged if you should signify to me your acceptance by letter as soon as convenient. As it will be desirable that no time should be lost after notice of the assent of Congress, if granted, to the propositions of our assembly, it will be necessary for the commissioners to have some previous communication among themselves as early as possible in order to the appointment of an engineer, and to regulate their movements. With great consideration, I am, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) General WILLIAM C. SCHENCK. ETHAN A. BROWN, Residence of Mr. Holmes, Newark, Licking County. 66 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF OHIO, February 25, 1820. We do certify that agreeable to a joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives passed for that purpose, the members of both houses assembled this day in the representative hall, and then and there elected Simeon Perkins, Alexander Holmes and William C. Schenck commissioners to survey and locate the route for a canal between Lake Erie and the Ohio river, agreeably to an act passed for that purpose. (Signed) Attest: JOSEPH RICHARDSON, Speaker of the House of Representatives. ALLEN TRIMBLE, WILLIAM DOHARTY, Clerk H. R. Speaker of the Senate. SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, COLUMBUS, February 29, 1820. I certify that the foregoing is a correct copy of the original certificate remaining on file in this office. (Signed) JOHN MCLENE, To General Schenck's letter of acceptance of this appointment the Governor replied as follows: CINCINNATI, April 25, 1820. DEAR SIR: I received yesterday your letter of the 20th instant; much pleased that you accept the appointment of commissioner for exploring the route of the intended canal. In my last letter to you I apologized for my gratuitous officiousness in endeavoring to promote an early understanding between the commissioners relative to the time, place and manner of commencing their operations Believing the object to be of first rate importance to the State, I naturally became solicitous that it should not fail from any negligence on our part. I have, however, great apprehensions that we shall be prevented from obtaining the contract we proposedfrom what cause, unless it be jealousy, I do not perceive. It is pretty evident that Congress cannot dispose of the land on so good terms for the United States as those offered by Ohio. Discouraging as appearances are in this respect, I conceive it best that we should do all we can while there is a spark of hope, and I shall most freely render every service for your accommodation, either as a medium of communication between the commissioners, or by any information I possess, or advice which a limited knowledge of the subject may enable me to offer. Judge Holmes and General Perkins have accepted. I enclose the duplicate of a letter from the latter-the former has advised me that letters to him are for some time to be directed to Lower Sandusky. I am induced to suppose that the most judicious commencement of your examination will be on the summit level. Sufficient feeders there are among the most important considerations connected with the project. Judge Holmes, who was there last year in the dry season, communicated the most flattering encouragement as to the sufficiency of the upper branches of Sandusky for the purpose, and of the facility with which they can be deviated to the southward. I presume, therefore, that Columbus would be as convenient a place as any other for you to assemble at to concert measures-it is not very remote from the head branches of the streams-probably may afford easier access to some sources of information and means of necessary preparation. In the event that Congress shall see their own interest in promoting ours, I should be much pleased to meet you at the seat of government, or any other place you may agree upon, and to assist in the consultation, when you may of course, command what further light I can throw on the subject. You will observe that General Perkins seems of opinion that it would be convenient for me to point out the time and place; if Columbus please you, that point may be considered to have my preference, and so you can inform the committee when you write to them. The time, you know, depends on a contingency, about the happening of which I remain in an uncertainty rather painful. I have some inquiries on foot relative to procuring a competent engineer, and I shall make further, but cannot consistently hold out encouragements that any can be employed till we know what shall be done at Washington. It may not be necessary to advertise at the first meeting in order to procure an engineer, whose services may not be required in the first place. Mr. Latrobe, with whose character as an engineer you are probably acquainted, was here this spring on his way to New Orleans, where he is engaged in an hydraulic establishment for supplying the city with water. He expects to return by July, or sooner, to avoid the sickly season; and I have no doubt, though he did not say so, that he would like to be employed by you. I did not feel authorized to encourage such an idea, my wish being to assist the commission, not to em barrass them by anticipations. We had several conversations on the subject of the intended canal, and he communicated freely his ideas of the first step. He observed that it is the most usual, cheap, and so far, desirable method, for the commission (so soon as a general nature of the face of the country and of the course of streams is obtained by traveling over that part within whose limits a proposed canal is expected to run) to employ a land surveyor, who, if he be intelligent, can as well measure distances, and take the courses of ridges, valleys and streams, and, in the performance of which, can with sufficient accuracy, for this purpose, note all extraordinary elevations and depressions, a topographical map being sketched upon these premises; and the surveyor's remarks being intelligibly digested, the engineer can proceed without loss of time to trace the exact route of the canal, determine what work will be necessary, and make his estimates. There can, however, be no doubt that the commissioners, in their first exploring, would derive much assistance from the remarks of a scientific engineer, experienced in such work; and should it be agreeable to you, I presume that Mr. Latrobe would like to attend you, and for a moderate compensation, should he return in time. His fears for the health of his family will induce him to leave New Orleans as early as his engagements will permit. I have exerted myself to obtain some statistical information of the productions of different parts of the State; I regret to say very unsuccessfully. The best account I have got is from the little county of Clarke, where the last season produced 240,000 bushels of wheat, and 460,000 bushels of corn. The same county, in the winter before last, sent several thousand hogs to market. I leave you to compare this statement with the apparent productions of other counties in the Miami country, and you will no doubt find the sum total already immense. I leave you further to imagine what would be their increase if those articles, so ponderous for land carriage, in this season of low prices, could receive a cheap, easy, safe and expeditious transportation. But I know I am writing to a person whose policy extends beyond to-morrow, whose calculations for the restoration of credit and for our ultimate relief from the debt that weighs us down embraces objects not considered by many a pretended merchant and banker; whose eye is not of that microscopic construction that can see no further than your township. Let me request to hear from you whenever you find it convenient, and accept the assurance of my great respect. ETHAN A. BROWN. In consequence of the failure of Congress to afford any aid, and on account of the restrictions of the act as applied to these commissioners, they were precluded from accomplishing direct work in the field in the matter of locating the route of the canal, though by the personal exertions of its members, seconded by the earnest efforts of the governor, much valuable information was secured, and made available for the further prosecution of the project before the next legislature, to which General Schenck had been elected as a member from Warren County. On the 31st of January, 1822, another bill was passed by the legislature appointing another commission, who employed the Hon. James Geddes, of Onandaigua County, New York, as engineer, who arrived at Columbus in June of that year. He had been one of the first and most enthusiastic advocates of the Erie canal, and was so full of the scheme that he even made surveys at his own expense; but the war of 1812 began, and he was forced for the time to drop the subject, only, however, to be revived by him as soon as that war terminated. The final act for the construction of the canais was not passed until February, 1825, work being commenced in the following July; Governor Clinton, of New York, being present by invitation at the opening ceremonies on the 4th day of that month. When completed, the canal passed through the town of Franklin, within a few hundred yards of the house of General Schenck. One of the first in the beautiful valley of the Miami to advocate the construction of this great work, he never for a moment doubted its ultimate completion and success, though many then living scouted the idea of its usefulness, or even practicability, and as a singular coincidence, after having made a speech in the legislature in advocacy of the canal project, at the very time of his sudden illness and death, another member of that legislature was engaged in the delivery of a speech in opposition to the canal scheme, and endeavoring to controvert the arguments in its favor made by the General in the morning. After the delivery of the above-mentioned argument, the General had, during a recess, gone to his lodgings, and was there suddenly seized with an acute attack of sickness, which terminated his life during that afternoon, after an illness of only a few hours' duration. The following obituary notice was published at the time in the Ohio State Journal: OBITUARY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 12, 1821. After the reading on the clerk's table were gone through, Mr. Bigger arose and addressed the house as follows: Mr. Speaker, it is with the most painful sensations that I announce to you, and through you to this house, the death of my worthy colleague, General William C. Schenck. He expired last evening about a quarter past ten o'clock, after a short illness of not more than seven hours. He was not only my colleague, but one of my intimate friends. By his death this branch of the legislature has been deprived of a valuable member, our country of a respected citizen, and his family of an affectionate husband and tender parent. The dispensation is deeply afflicting, but it becomes us to bow with reverence. To disengage our thoughts for a time from the subjects which are now before us as a mark of respect for our departed friend, and for the purpose of mingling our sympathies on this mournful occasion, I move the adoption of the following resolutions: Resolved, That as a testimony of our respect for the memory of General William C. Schenck, deceased, a member of this house from the county of Warren, that the members of the house of representatives wear crape on the left arm for 30 days. Resolved, That all legislative business now before it be postponed until Monday morning, nine o'clock, and that five members be appointed to act as a committee of arrangements, whilst the members of both houses attend the departure of the remains of the deceased for the family residence in Warren County, where it is intended they shall be interred. The above resolutions were unanimously agreed to by the house, and Messrs. Bigger, Steele, Vance, McHenry, and Webb were appointed a committee of arrangements agreeable to the latter resolution. The following was the order of the procession: Governor and Executive Officers. Committee of Arrangements. Speaker of the two Houses and Clerks. Music. Masonic Brethren, Members of the two Houses. The procession commenced at one o'clock. The tolling of the State-house bell, the solemnity of the music, added to reflections on the sudden death of the individual, with the high standing of his character, all seemed to produce feelings solemn and impressive. The procession, after conveying the remains of the deceased beyond the limits of the town of Franklinton, returned to Columbus, whilst some few of the members continued on with the remains to Springfield, where the friends of the deceased at that place continued on with the conveyance for the town of Franklin, in Warren County, where the family resides. General Schenck was 48 years of age previous to his death. He was an early adventurer to the western country. He acted as clerk to one of the branches of the territorial legislature, and has since filled several important offices under the State government with that fidelity and independence of sentiment peculiar to himself. He has left behind him an amiable wife, with several sons and one daughter to mourn over this truly afflicting dispensation. Such was the high esteem in which the General was held throughout the entire section of the country, that many of his friends were found along the route to join with the cortege, and escort the remains upon its way to Franklin. Mr. Egbert T. Smith, with a body of citizens from Franklin, met the remains at Springfield, and escorted them to the family residence. The general gloom at his home was great, and his death was esteemed a public calamity, and at his |