Ohio Canal Era

Chapter 3: Administration of the Enterprise, 1825-1833

CHAPTER 3 ...1dminislration 0 f the Enterprise 1825-1833 SUCCESSFUL canal construction had resulted not only from an infusion of funds from outside Ohio and the availability of a relevant technology: it had also required competent leadership and effective organizatJon. The essential basis of success, Henry Clay had told the canal commission in 1825, must be "good plans weI! executed,"1 In their organization of an enterprise with components located in remote parts of an extensive territory. as well as in the application of engineering plans which they themselves devised, the Ohio canal commissioners fulfilled the terms of Clay's prescription. This they did in large measure by administrative innovations. without the benefit of precedents in the state's own history. Only mobilization of the militia during tbe War of 18u matched the canal enterprise in numbers of mcn or amounts of money involved. Unlike the military effort, however, the canal project was entirely dependent upon Ohio's own ability to raise funds and--through economical construction-to maintain investors' confidence in the enterprise. Had their performance disappointed the high hopes of 1825, the onus of failure would have been borne solely by the state's own administrative officers, The seven men named to the Ohio canal commission in 1825 were all prominent in state politics, and nearly all had extensive business interests as well. An unusually high degree of familiarity with the state's geography and resources had been enhanced by 62 ) OHIO CANAL ERA the service of Kelley, Williams, Minor, Tappan, Worthington, and Beasley On the old canal commission, The only new member was John Johnston of Piqua, and he had long served as a Federal official in western Ohio. Only two of the commissioners, however , could boast of professional expertise in canal engineering: as the acting commissioners during the pre-1825 surveys, Alfred Kelley and Micajah T. Williams had spent long periods in the field with the Erie Calla! engineers used in Ohio. Also, botb men had studied construction techniques on the Eric Canal line; and so they probably had acquired as much on-the-job training as most practicing civil engineers of that day. It was generally assumed that the hoard would appoint Kelley and Williams to continue as the acting commissioners when construction began. This was done only a few days after the 1825 canal bill became law, when the commissioners met at the capital. As the acting commissioners, Kelley and Williams were expected to give nearly ful! time to their official duties, for which they would be paid only three dollars a day-a salary prescribed by law....-and expenses.2 In the same initial meeting at the capital, the board adopted a scheme of organization for its engineering earps, taking the Erie Canal organization as the modeJ.3 A "principal engineer" was to head the corps and advise the commission on pOlicy-level technical questions as well as supervising work itt the Ileid. His salary was set at $2,000 a year plus expenses, or nearly twice what the acting commissioners would receive. As shown in Figure 3,1, "resident engineers" would be appointed as required. They were to be responsible for laying out the actual canal lines, for preparing cost estimates and contraci specifications, and for over~ seeing the work done by contractors. Thc hoard set their salary at three dollars a day while in the field. Other ranks in the hierarchy, in descending order of seniority, were to be "senior assistant engineer" with pay of $45 a month, "junior assistant engineer'; and HsurveyorH at $35 a month, and rod-man, axeman , and common laborer, all paid lower wages on a per diem or hourly basis.' Because completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 had temporarily relieved the national shortage of civil engineers, the Ohio board To!!collectors and Lock- ~enders " ' FJGUKE 3.1 CANAL COMMISSION ORGANIZATION, 1825-33 GANAL COMMISSION (appointed by joint resolution ~~I Boards of appraisers of legislature) I (appointed by Commission) I 1 Acting Commissioner (elected by Commission) Acting Commissioner (elected by Commission) OPERArIONS AND MAINTENANCE STAFF Superintending engineers Superintendents Repair crews --Principal Engineer (office discontinued. 1829) I I I CONSTRUCnON I CONSTRUCnON STAFF STAFF Resident Resident engineers engineers Assistant Assistant enginl!ers . engineers Rodmen and ~,enand axemen axemen .....OPERATIONS TolIAND coUectors MAINTENANCE and STAFF LockSuperintending tenders engineers "~.---Superintendents ~~~crews :.. li" 5' ~' ~ g' ~ ;f ~ ;;; ~ , ~. '" w OHIO CANAl. ERA was able to attract to its staff three...