and looking after the erection and preservation of the same; and erecting and maintaining county memorial buildings.

PUBLIC WORKS

136. Canals. A considerable part of the state's activity comes under the head of public works, such as canals, public buildings, public lands, public ways, and public parks. The supervision of canals is under the immediate control of the supervisor of public works. Prior to the era of railroad building, water transportation by means of canals was one of the most important enterprises of the nation and state. The completion of the Erie Canal, which was called "Clinton's big ditch," was an event of national significance. Even General Washington distinguished himself in his day as the greatest advocate of inland waterways. It was he who suggested the possibility of connecting the waters of the Ohio with those of the Chesapeake Bay. Ohio did not consider the proposition of canal building until 1825, when a canal was proposed to connect the Lakes with the Ohio River. Two such canals were built, one from Cleveland to Portsmouth, and the other from Toledo to Cincinnati. Besides these, two others were later constructed, the Hocking and the Walhonding. The total mileage under the control of the state amounted at one time to nine hundred miles, constructed at a cost of sixteen million dollars. The great expense of keeping the canals in repair and their almost total supersession by the railroads have made their administration a wasteful enterprise. All the private canals in the state, and many parts of those owned by the state, have been abandoned.

137. Highways. The construction of public highways is an important function of the state. Upon the petition of twenty freeholders of any county the commissioners thereof will view and survey the proposed road, which must not be more than sixty nor less than forty feet wide. Notice of the proposed road must be made through the press for a specified time, in order that officers may be appointed to assess any damage claimed by any person. The parties claiming damage may appeal from the decision of the officers to the probate court. A highway of the state which remains in disuse for ten years is vacated.

138. County Roads. The construction of county roads is under the direction of the county commissioners, who cause to be assessed the damages accruing from establishing the roads. The damages are assessed upon the property abutting, and should be paid in such installments as the county commissioners may determine. The assessments are published in the press of the county, and time is allowed to file objections and have them heard by the equalization board. The steps to be taken for the construction of a county road are as follows: (1) announcement of the notice of the presentation of a petition; (2) the appointment of jurors; (3) notice given to landowners, survey made, record made of the report, and the order given for opening the road ast a public highway. County roads must not be more than sixty nor less than thirty feet wide.

139. Township Roads. Township roads are constructed under the direction of the trustees, with whom a petition is filed by an interested person. This person must enter into bond to pay into the treasury of the township, in case the application fails, the costs and expenses accruing therefrom.

Viewers are appointed, who take with them a surveyor, two chain carriers, and a marker. They open up the road as nearly as possible along the line mentioned in the petition. Township roads must not be more than sixty nor less than sixteen feet wide. If the trustees deem the road of sufficient importance to the public, they will order the cost of its construction paid out of the treasury of the township. They may, however, apportion a part of the cost to the township and require the petitioner to pay the balance. If the petitioner is required to open the road, it must be considered a private way, to be kept in repair by the applicant. The trustees may issue bonds at a value not less than par for the payment of the township roads. The various road supervisors have the care of township roads.

140. Turnpikes. The county commissioners of each county may be empowered by a majority of all landowners in the county, whose lands will be assessed for the construction of the road, to appoint three disinterested freeholders of the county, to construct within the county limits roads not less than forty nor more than sixty feet wide, and with at least twenty feet turnpiked with earth, so as to drain. The earth must be raised with stone, brick, or gravel not less than eight nor more than sixteen feet wide, nor less than twelve inches thick in the center and eight inches thick at the edges, and sufficiently compact to insure a substantial bed. The damages and compensation are assessed by the commissioners if an agreement is not otherwise reached. For the construction of such turnpikes a general election is necessary, in order to levy a general tax. No payments are made for construction except upon the statement of the surveyor or engineer employed

by the commissioners. Roads are built under the enactments known in law as one-mile assessment pikes " and "two-mile assessment pikes," the terms "one-mile" and "two-mile" having reference to the distance to the left and right of the road which the assessments cover. The law assigns the supervision of road construction to the commissioners, who act only when a sufficient number of freeholders file a petition.

QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT

1. Define militia. Distinguish it from the regular army.

2. Who are subject to military duty?

3. Who issues the call to service?

4. Define the naval brigade.

5. How is the Ohio National Guard governed?

6. How is efficiency assured?

7. What is the compensation of members of the Ohio National Guard?

8. In case the militia is not able to quell a riot, what recourse has the state?

9. What is the purpose of the office of soldiers' claims?

10. Contrast water transportation of fifty years ago with to-day.

11. What should be done with the canals of Ohio?

12. Define highway. Describe its construction. 13. Define county road and tell how it is built. 14. Define township road and tell how it is built. 15. What is a turnpike?

702804

CHAPTER IX

PUBLIC ELECTIONS

141. Supervision of Elections. The election machinery of the state is under the supervision of the secretary of state, who acts in the capacity of a state supervisor and inspector of elections and also in the capacity of state supervisor of elections.

In counties having cities where electors are required by law to register, the board which manages such elections is called the board of deputy state supervisors and inspectors. This board consists of four members appointed by the state supervisor and inspector of elections upon the recommendation of the executive committees of the two political parties in the county which cast the highest and next highest number of votes in the state at the last preceding November election for state officers.

It

In all other counties the board which supervises the elections is called the board of deputy state supervisors. consists of four members appointed in the same manner.

These county boards select one of their number as chief deputy, and also another elector, not a member of the board, as clerk. The general duties of these county boards consist in receiving the various nomination papers required to be filed with them, providing for the printing of the ballots and the distribution of the same to the various polling places, receiving and canvassing the vote, and certifying and transmitting the same as provided by law.