In conformity with the provisions of law, I herewith submit the Eighteenth Annual Report of the Board of Public Works. J. BLICKENSDERFER, Jr., President of the Board of Public Works. The Public Works of the State are divided into three divisions as required b law: Division Number One comprises the Miami and Erie Canal, and the Western Reserve and Maumee Road, and is under the charge of Alexander G. Conover, whose term of office will expire February 15th, 1859. Division Number Two comprises the Ohio Canal, from Cleveland to the Licking dam, including the Dresden side-cut and the Walhonding Canal. It is under the charge of J. Blickensderfer, Jr., whose term of office will expire February 15th, 1858. Division Number Three comprises the Ohio Canal, from the Licking dam to Portsmouth, including the Columbus side-cut, the Hocking Canal, and the Muskingum Improvement, and is under the charge of Wayne Griswold, whose term of office will expire February 15th, 1857. DIVISION NUMBER ONE. This Division includes Sections No. 6, 7, and 8, of the Public Works of Ohio. SECTION NO. 6. This section of the Public Works, embracing what was formerly the Northern Division of the Miami and Erie Canal, extending from the Indiana line to Toledo, with the Maumee City and Manhattan side-cuts, and the Six Mile Reservoir, was open for navigation on the 25th of April, but owing to the re-building of some locks in Indiana, the completion of which was delayed by the severity of the winter, little business was done on it before the middle of May. In the month of February a serious breach occurred at Waterville, sweeping away about one hundred feet in length of the towing path bank, ranging in height from ten to eighteen feet. The Canal being of large dimensions, and the level sev eral miles in length, a large quantity of water passed out of the breach, which 00casioned the washing away of so large a portion of the embankment, and the severity of the winter made it extremely difficult to prevent the water in the entire level from escaping, and thereby making the breach still more serious. This breach required nearly three weeks for its repair, taking much longer time by reason of the extreme cold and great depth of the snow. The tumble of the out-let lock to the Maumee City side-cut fell down in the latter part of the season, and is now being re-built. The Independence and Providence dams have required some repairs to retain the water during the dry period of the year. The contractors on this portion of the Canal worked to some disadvantage during the early part of the season, in keeping up the repairs in a proper manner, but the energy and industry of the Engineer in charge, and his assistance in employing men when the repairs demanded an additional force, (the expenses of which were always promptly met by the Contractors,) brought this section into a good state of repair, and it is now in excellent condition. The Maumee City side-cut, during the last season, has been more in use than formerly. Large quantities of saw-logs, ship-timbers, piles, &c., are prepared in Henry, Defiance and Paulding counties, brought down the Canal in large section rafts, and through this side-cut into the Maumee river. Were it not for this improvement, this class of trade could not be accommodated; the outlet of the Canal at Toledo into Swan Creek being insufficient, as experience clearly demon strates. The Manhattan Side-Cut is but little used for purposes of navigation. Boats rarely traverse it, and almost the only service which this channel renders to the State is to supply a flouring mill, situated near the lower end, with water. It would seem to be good policy to abandon the greater portion of this Side-Cut, and remove the fine cut-stone locks at the outlet to some point on the main line. The attention of the General Assembly is again called to the plan for increasing the facilities for business at the city of Toledo by an additional side-cut, connecting Miami and Erie Canal with the Maumee river, through Oak street. A special report on this subject was made by the Board, to the House of Representatives, in February last. The increasing commerce at Toledo requires something to be done to increase the facilities for business, by an additional outlet to the river, to enable the Canal to compete more successfully with railroads now in direct competition with this line. As it now is, when westerly winds prevail, the depth of water in Swan Creek, the present outlet, is so much reduced, that loaded boats can neither go into or out of port; and this has continued for three days at a time. In this way the arrival and departure of boats have been delayed at the expense of forwarders, the inconvenience of boatmen and to the great annoyance of the shipper, inducing him, in almost every instance, to seek another channel by which to get the goods to and from market without delay, regardless of the increased expense. It has been represented by citizens of Toledo that the right of way for the proposed side-cut will be furnished to the State free of expense. The estimated cost of the proposed improvement, exclusive of the right of way, on the plan contemplated, is $69,117. The Six Mile Reservoir, in Paulding county, a necessary appendage to this division of the Miami and Erie Canal, afforded its usual supply of water. In the spring it was filled to within a few inches of its capacity, and although under the necessity of drawing from it much earlier in the season than usual, it has answered the full demand of navigation. The General Assembly at its last session appropniated "for widening the drain around the east side of the Six Mile Reservoir, in Paulding county, one thousand dollars; provided the Board of Public Works shall be of opinion that the same is necessary and ought to be done." In June last an examination of the ditch and grounds on the east side of the Reservoir was made, and it was found that the "widening of the ditch was necessary and ought to be done." In October and November, the work was done at a cost of $631 61. It is believed that it will now fully answer all the purposes for which it was intended. There has been paid on section No. 6, by check of James B. Stedman, Acting Commissioner, on the Auditor of State, for the quarter ending February 15th, 1856: For superintendence and repairs.. $8,875 13 For new work.. For incidental expenses And, by check of A. G. Conover, Acting Commissioner for the three quarters ending November 15, 1856: For superintendence and repairs... For Engineers' salaries, special superintendence and incidentals... For balance on weigh-lock scales at Toledo.... For balances due November 15, 1855, on unsettled accounts for superintendence and repairs... For salaries of appraisers.- For widening drain around east side of Six Mile Reservoir... 563 20-$10,292 52 $22,616 64 1,594 56 36 75 634 61-$25,096 91 Total $35.389 43 SECTION NO. 7, Includes what was termed, in the last Report of the Board, the Middle and Southern Divisions of the Miami and Erie Canal. On this section of the public works there was a very serious break in November, 1855, and the twelve mile level, above Cincinnati, noticed in the last Report of the Board. Since then there have been several breaks at various points on the line. One of considerable magnitude, at the south end of the Big Flat Rock Aqueduct, occurred April 7th, and required eleven days for its repair, with a large force; the others were not of a character to cause much detention, having been speedily and permanently repaired. Twelve feet of a culvert, of thirteen feet span, about eight miles below Dayton, which had become very much dilapidated, was rebuilt in a substantial manner. In July, the water was drawn off at Dayton, and from the six mile level below Dayton; and also from that portion of the canal extending from the State Dam, three miles above Piqua, to Troy, for the purpose of removing bars and other obstructions. It remained off four or five days. On the six mile level, below Dayton, the flow of water was much obstructed by a rank growth of grass, which retarded the passage of boats, and raised the water, so as partially to submerge the wheels of the mills at Dayton. It would scarcely be believed that the flow of water would be so much retarded as it is by this grass, a material of very little substance when cut of the water. It was found, by an accurate instrumental measurement, that the whole fall in the surface of the water, from the upper end of the level to the lower end of the level, a distance of six miles, was two feet. In order to force the water to the lower end of the level, it was kept a foot too high at the upper end; there being two feet fall in the surface, it would be one foot too low at the lower end, making the depth of water only three feet, which is insufficient for navigation; it was often less. This state of affairs made it necessary to draw the water off to remove bars from the sides and |