The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1852-12-02
ADDREss.

Ladies' and Genilemen:-But little more
than half a century has elapsed, siace the
territory now included within the limits OF
Fairfield county, became The home OF the
white man. In a state o fnature, It presented
attractions that were rarely combined. us
soil was vuriegated and rich, the face Of the
country beautifully undulating--ramihedan
drained by numerous small streams Of water
and nil dotted over with permanent
~sprinrs. Since the settlement Of our county
commenced, our magnificent forests have
to a great extent disappeared, and the earth.
has yielded 10 the cultivation, and been rem
dered subseryicnt to the wants Of Imam. Our
nonnlation has gradually increased, until we
now number more than 10000 people, whose
intellipence, enterprise and industry are not
surpassed by The people o fany county in the
West.
Our central position upon the map Of the
State, has enabled us to participate largely
in the advantages arising from the construc-
ton Of the public canals. The Ohio canal
passing thrO' the whole length Of our county
on the north, and the Hooking canal pas
sing down the valley Of the river. IN a
southern direction, bring TO almost every
neighborhood in the county, easy access to
4 WdlGT COinllullNuAiO - T
ment Of its surplus products.
The GAINESVILLE e. Maysville Turnpike
Road, which traverses our county east and
west, although it has l%atterly fallen into
disrepute by reason of its misfortunes, ~
nevertheless a monument oil the enterprise
of our people, and is destined, when com
pleted, as there is now reason to hope 1t soon
will be, to be of great utility and in general
favor with the public.
The Cincinnati, Wilmington GAINESVILLE
Rail Road, which is now so rapidly being con
structed, and by which we are to be connect
ed at Wheeling and ut Cincinnati, with al
the Rail Roads of the East and west, WI
have twenty-five miles of its track within
our borders. To this gigantic work, worthy
of the enterprise of any age or country we
have contributed more largely than thu peo'
pie Of any county through which It passes
Already the construction Of other Turnpike
and of other Rail Roads, leading to and
from the heart of the county, have been pro-
iected, and measures tending to their con
struction are in active progress.
Whilst the natural advantages incident tt
our location have been thus partially devel
oped by the art of man, large expenditures
and ample provision have been made for the
education of youth and for the moral and re-
lieious instruction of the people.
Every township in the county under the
benefcent operation Of our State Schoo
Law, is divided into convenient School Dis
tricts, SO that the children Of every family
ure within the reach of good public school
Unless there shall be unwarrantable re
fmissness on the part of the parents in pro
viding competent teachers for these schools
or in emitting to patronize them as the.
should do, the day is at hand, when it vii
be impossible to find a person whose youtl
has been spent in Fairfield county, who is no
well instructed in all the rudiments pertain
] ing to a good business education.
l Could | be INDUCED for a moment in say
ing what may not appear to some to be per
E tinent to the occasion, | would improve tha
moment, by commenting to all OF you VIII
. are fathers, mothers aud guardians, the sui
: iect of educating your children, as worth
o of your increased attention and regard
one in which is involved the bes
hopes of parents, the dearest inter
ests of children and the well being OF on
E country.
1t is such improvements as ! hare men
toned and others of a Kindred nature tb1
:, might be mentioned, the offspring of concen
= trated population, wealth and enterprise
o til It render our county desirable as a HON
G and give increasing value 10 our land and t
: all its products. The Pioneer, who pene
trates the western p%rairies, finds Il countr
ready for the pillow, with a virgin soil. unsui
z passed in fertility and power of production
which he acquires for the small considers
of SI,25 per acrc, whist our lands are read
c sale at from $50 to $;75 per acre, and cor
~tinually advancing in price.
n What is it but the high state of improve
4 ment in our county, connected with gre'
public enterprises in progress or in anticip'
u ton, that causes this great disparity!
In truth, every common road that Is oper
cd, every mile of turnpike or rail road that
q constructed, every telegraph wire that
ruised, every school-house that is built, an
" every church that is erected and dedicated
IS the worship Of the Living God, adds to I'll
t. sum total Of the public improvements OF I'll
I, country and also to the comforts and Col
venience of its people.
From these suggestions, we may learn o,
true interests, in regard to the constructio
of public improvements. At tits tim
there are greater exertions being made thro
out the length and breadth, not only of Obi
It but of all the West, to effect public improve
# ments, than ever have been made befol
since the settlement Of the North-wester
!, territory commenced. If we participate
l. the movement Of the public mind on tn
subject, we shall preserve to ourselves and
our posterity, our relative advantages as
county-if we do not, we shall remain ST
e %tionary, while all around us are energist
Or into action for the advancement OF their r
+ ~spective districts Of country. Tho people
no other county or region of country can
ID expected to come here aud construct publ
Sc improvements for us. If we want them,
- we desire a full Development of our eXten
ed resources, 10 a word, If we desire to pr
press with the Age, we must make them l
ourselves. A union ~ofeffoit and OF streng
can By degrees accomplish all that is desir
BILE.
Suffer me then to commend TO your lave
nc able regard, every effort that is now maxi
81 or that may be hereafter made, to lmpro
~, the condition oryour county and to develo
lDy it's resources, by tdrnpikes or rail roads
Lend to these great highways OF trade n
y" y, commerce, your liberal aid and support; y
,,., will be amply retnunerated for SO doing
'"' the monied income ofyour investments a
doubly repaid by the indirect advantae
y arising from the general Improvement OF
county. .,
Although there is not in the State ofOh
u, outside Of Hamilton county, a better Gu
'N waited or more productive county than ia
field, vet we have much room here Tor