davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16

and Ireland, in addition to their present pop
ulation' will still be less densly peopled than
those countries now are.
Texas comprises within a small fraction
Of twice the area of Great Britain and Ire.
land.
All Italy contains but 1872 square
miles or very little more than Georgia and
Florida; yet its population numbers 223, lS2
more than that of the whole United States.
1t comprises nine separate political govern.
ments viz: lombard and Venice, Sardinia,
Tuscany aud Lucca, States Of the Church,
Naples, or the Two Sicilies, Parma, Modens
San Marino and MANAGE. , r.. .. !.
Austria, including its Italian possessions,
Lombard and Venice, contains ten millions
more people than tho United States, yet it's
territory is only equal to the five States
OF Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, and Florida.
France contains 323 millions of people,
or - millions more than the United States,
yet its area is bat 2O2, 1875 square miles, or
3,775 more than Virginia, the two Carolinas
and Georgia. Portugal is not as large as
Kentucky, though its population is nearly
three and half million, or eaqual to that
of New York and New Jersey.
The whole of Italy slightly exceeds in
extent New York and the New England
States; yet ss have said its population is
greater than that of the whole republic at
present.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16
on other property, real and


1t is possible that the burthens of local
taxation distributed as above during the past
year, were apportioned equitably. There
are many, however, who think otherwise,
and the subject is well worthy the serious
consideration of all, and especially of per-
sons interested in real estate. But whether
these burthens were equally divided or 9TH
erwise, they are in either case enormous,
and none but city whose population pos
sessed wealth, enterprise, energy and endur.
ance, could successfully maintain itself and
its credit under burthen SO huge already,
and so constantly augmenting.
The rate of taxes levied for State purpo-
ses on the grand duplicate of Ohio for the
year 1854, was three and ffty-fve hund-
redths mills on every dollar of assessed prop
erty. The State Legislature, at its last ses-
sion, provided that the rate of levy for the
year 1866, shodld be reduced to three and
twenty hundredshs mills on the dollar. This
change, although seemingly trivial and un-
important, will effect much greater aggre-
gate reduction than might be supposed, with.
out appealing to the appropriate figures. =
On the assumption that the assessed value
OF property on the grand duplicate of 1866,
will be the same as in 1864, which was
1866, ,929 ,982, the amount of State tax lev
led for each of the two years, will compare
as follows:
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16
classes of property wOs returned for taxa
tion in 1853, and in 1864, is as follows:

1t will be perceived by the above, that the
agricultural interest furnishes to the State,
in the single item of liUe stock, a much larger
basis Of taxation and revenue than is afforded
by merchandise, manufacturing and broker
age combined. II there is inequality and
injustice in this, effective measures should
be adopted by the Legislature at its next
session, to compel a more equal assessment
On the other hand, if these several classes
ofProperty are fully and honestly represen-
ted by the amounts at which they are assess
ed; it is proper that the public shall prepare
itself to repel efforts from any quarter to
give interests which the official figures
prove to be of minor magnitude, more than
their fair proportionate share Of influence O.
yer the legislative policy of the State.
A careful analysis Of the State taxes as.
sessed on the grand duplicate for the year
1854, shows that 65& per cent. Of the aggre-
gate amount was paid by real estate. The
proportion assessed on other classes of prop
ertv was as follour.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16
Balance levied by local autho se,Ol4, ,7s'
.. Year 1854. Year 1852 | Increase.
State taxes, 3,O77, ,6OI Al 3026, 1893 90 81 a77 40
Local taxes 6,0l4735 90 4,797, ,4l IS 1917 256 IA
Total, 9,O92 339 so 1899, ,sO5 27 ], I,26s, ,534 %

OF the increase above exhibited, amount
ing to but little short of one and quarter
millions of dollars in the local taxes in a
single year, comparison Of the assessments
of 1853 and 1854, shows that more than one
half of the addition was imposed by school
district officers and the corporate authorities
Of towns, cities &c.
The various classes of objects for which
the local taxes of 1854 were assessed, and
the gross amount of the levy for each pur-
pose, in all the counties of the State, is
shown in the statement below:
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16

Although the proportion Of the public
burthens which rest on real estase, as ap-
pears by the above, is still large, the amount
has been materially lessened by the opera
tion of that clause in the new Constitution
which forbids the exemption of personal
property beyond a limited sum. OF the
State taxes assessed during a series of sew
enteen years, the proportion paid by real
and personal property, and the excess of the
former over the latter, has been substantial:
ly as shown in the figures below:
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16
s13o,3o4 90 |
sa3s,973 90

To the correct understanding of the term
Merchandise" as above used, It is necessa-
ry to bear in mind, that it includes not only
the ordinary trade in dry goods, groceries,
hardware, de-. but also the stock of cattle
dealers, horse droyers, pork packers, board
merchants, wheat buyers, &c. 4e5sa ais3s3s
4 The valuation at which each Of the above
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16
RAVENNA, SATURDAY, JUNE Is, 1855.

vate bankers, and the refusal of the char
tered, banks to pay the assessment made
against them, The amount OF taxes actually
collected in Cincinnati, falls largely be-
low the amount levied. OF the entire sum
assessed for local purposes, the comparative
amount assessed on the classes of property
named below, were as follows:
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16

g The whole amount Of taxes levedin 1854, for the
was S606, $50 95 This amount oytioned equally q
the whole populationof Ohio less than twenty.ye
cents per head to each mans woman and child within
the limits Of the State. '~e'7' u -'rF-'-''-1
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16


Amount not paid back to counties, = .1.59l AGO az
Deduct District School Library Fund, to be
invested by State Superintendent for ex- -r|
elusive use of counties, sO,54s 54
Balance being net amount oftaxes of 1854
actually paid into and retained by State
Treasury for the payment of principal ..
and interest on Foreign and Domestic
Debt, and defraying the current expense
of the State Government, l,45lI11 80
1t thus appears that of the entire nine mil
lions and ninety-two thousand dollars of
taxes levied on the property of Ohio in the
year 1854, less than one and half mlllions
are paid into and retained by the State
Treasury; and that out of this amount is
paid the interest on the Foreign and Domes-
tic Debt Of Ohio, and Gil the expenses con-
nected with the support Of the State Gov
ernment including the salaries of public Of
ficers, the erection of the New State House,
completion of the two new Lunatic Asy-
lums, &C., &c. aaa zfr.Y4.s .a.n},q
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16

Balance being State tax proper, $I,69O,513 As
Deduct amount for State debt purposes, 1063662 Al
Leaving support State Government, s6O6 9s
Thus it is apparent, that of the nine mil
lions of dollars of taxes levied ia Ohio in
1854, much less than t,oo millions belonged
to the State taxes proper: and that no more
than one dollar in every fifteen dollars levi
ed, was for the purpose of defraying the ex-
penses OF the State government, including
the salaries of State officers, the maintenance
of all the public institutions, erection of the
new State house, new lunatc asylums, &c.
1t is evident, therefore, that had the taxes
for these objects been one-half less, or had
they been wholly omitted, the aggregate
tax burthen resting on the energies of the
people would have been but inconsiderably
lessened.*
AS much Misrepresentation exists in the
minds of persons engagedin certain employ
ments, as to the relative portion of the tax
burthen imposed on the classes of property
in which they are directly interested, it has
been thought desirable to submit in this re-
port the official figures, which show the COM
parative proposition of the State taxes borne
by some of the principal divisions of taxable
property. They are as follows: 4
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16


comprising all the current expenses of
the state government, including bcnev-
oleht Institutions, New State House,
New Lunatic Asylums, &C., &C., 5000 $50 0s
The foregoing furnishes clear and accu,
rate analysis of the State taxes, and the pur-
poses for which they were levied. 1t will
be seen that very large portion of these
taxes, although assessed in the name of the
State, are, In fact, the local Common School
Fund, which, after being accounted for at
Columbus, is aprortioned according to the
enumeration of youth, and placed in the
treasures of the respective counties, and
thence disbursed in all the school districts
ofthe State in the exact proportions to which
they are entitled. This fund, therefore, as
we'll as the School District Library Fund,
which is also apportoned and expended ex-
cltIsiyely for the school districts, may right
fully be deducted from the taxes placed at
the disposal Of the State, and be added to
those which are wholly for local purposes.
By making this change, we obtain the fol-
lowing results:
Total amountof all taxesleyiedi in 1884, so
Taxes levied by local au- .r
thority, S6,OI4738 90
State Common School ard
Library tax, 1,3S7, ,0s3 06
On0n
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16
NEW SERIES VOL. 1, NO. As.

school district officers, acting under and d.
rectly amenable to their immediate constit-
uents, and wholly independent of State con-
troll. The exact amounts levied by State
and local authorities are shown by the fol-
lowing figures.
Total amount all taxes levied in 1854 339 so
Deduct amount levied by the State 3,077,6 ,6Ol Al
Balance levied BY local authorities, s6,O14,75s 90
The amount of taxes for the year 1854, as
above exhibited, shows an increase Of more
than sixteen per cent. over the previous
year. The want of correct information as
to the origin of this large addition to the al
ready heavy burdens resting on the ta4-pay-
ers of Ohio, and an uncertainty as to the
authority by which it was made, have given
rise to many wrong impressions which an
examination of the official figures will serve
to remove. The State and local taxes of
1854, as compared with those Of 1853, were
as follows:
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16
Balance assessed on other property. s2.qsa .2s7 4

The relative amount Of State taxes assess
ed onthe particular classes Of property above
designated, and certain other classes per-
taining to agricultural industry, may be sta
ted thus:
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16

or the above entire six millions of taxes,
constituting nearly taoo-thirds of all the tax
es levied in the State, every dollar except q
small portion of the delinguencies, was for
disbursement within the county in which it
was assessed, and it is under the exclusive
control of local officers. The remaining
one-tatrd of the taxes of 1854, being the tax
es assessed under State authority, we're for
the following purposes
Whole amount of State taxes levied, s3,O77,6Oi Il
For State Common School
Fund, $1,3OO,394 05
For District School Libra
ry Fund, sG,692 %
Total, $l,3s7,O ,O87 g6
For interest and principal
ofState debt, l,0e3G62 AZ
60 1-O -so 40
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16
DISBURSEMENTS

General Revenue expenses being in
payment ofState, Legislature, Judi.
ciat and Executive departments ana
officers, State Benevolent Institu-
tlons at Columbus, New State
House, New Lunatic Asylums, Ohio
j Penitentiary, &c, &c,
Interest on State Debt, foreign, domes-
tic, and irreducible,
Payment on principal of State Debt,
State Common School Fund distribu-
ted to counties,
School Library Fund disbursed for use
L OF counties, - -gHt.
Canal Repairs, supetintendance, & c,
AL other purposes :
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16
RECEIPTS,

Taxes Of 1858 and delinqucncies of
r previous years S2,s5l ,571 80
Sanst S:t tglis hhes, wafer rents, &c 474,264 %
Dividends on railroads and other stocks 39s13 13
Surplus Revenue-principal and interest lO625O 50
hhIoeeeas Oh safes OF school lands, 1918 81 Z
1sns 1shSr ,uIcss, 93,455 3s Q
lS,lsSs. s.'''S' - 7ee 800 81 s
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16

Leaving for General Revenue purposes,
comprising all the current expenses of
the state government, including benev-
oleht Institutions, New State House,
New Lunatic AsyLums. &c. &c.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16
$4,477,934 90 3

Of a5z noano
~1'4'''''4 w >
a..
$664.6s7 s54
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16

Balance being State tax proper, $I,69O,513 4.
Deduct amount for State debt purposes, 1853 662 Al
The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-29


II was resolved TO send committee investigate the
matter They went last evening, and not hour too
early catering the house they und the stsp-mo.her
home but on inquiry for the children she told them thai
they were asleep and could be disturbed This did
SATISFY me COMMITTEE, and searching the house they
fonnd door 70 one Of the locked Hearing faint
cries within they instantly broke down the door and
tered What sight met their eyes There two
chidren niaa's their es white DEATH and DRAW
tightly ose the bones each feature defined with the sis
dness OF CORPSE, while their eyes almost bursting
from their sockets
~ he gentlemen composing the committee were With
drawing from the house with their precious charge the
female hend informed them that they might well leave
the children, as she had plenty Of food for them.
On arriving at safe quarters with the unfortunate In
anis warrants were Immediately issued for the arrest Of
the woman and nam who calls her wife but the officers
on visiting the spot again found that the birds had flown
neither The man nor female being about the premises
RssAIks or MARTIN VAN BrHKs, JR--The steamship St
Louis brought home the body of Martin Van Buren, jrs
OF the exPgesident The father is in France IL
not expected to return until June
The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-29

frrusTEE,s SALE or A VALUABLE BUILDING oT-Fsf
susns coan ~ sne District o. Co'sn
~. Ia q, couaty MADE cssn csHs
wherein W. JcsepA O. hs~se asa 1sssc
~~ Margaret -tfArge srs eompses~e - .e.e
Robert strange, asssn1nn NJ
.ubcrbsr public sscon, he tsses - esssrsAy
o'rterk ~ dne pses - pAscs
N srund WssAnGsa knowu 80 spos
ssunA plan sad city - Va ~s1ssv~e ssvss VI
nu~Setea ssvsH MO uuetess ~ss ~
- spsusr bs spsur~sasc<s thssesseo bssuNGsnG.
AID day, ~ pseossss - ~
81 ssiA deere al thss piece psscs
ely Ion Wsmk~s<A ssas ts1t sSssse
ssvsu naadred iva, 7s villa sppn~ees "ssss"'s
belonging -. - :, -. d. ~ 80
The Owe thsd a~se - ~ wv" -
SALE eqss pas nsrs@. = !" - -
nsh~r ~ moahs fsc~ - - 49, -
s"v ""'o'' "''" '"" W. W9oe, TS~ssee
Jas. G. ns0UIaR
April - -AwAds
The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-29

HUNDRED mtEs 90 Icr--The Buffalo Commercial Of
saday last says:
pegraphic despatch which reached us from Dun
49,, ny siates that the harhor is open, the propeller
~ taylor having arrived from the West Business
- nov looking with much soiiciude for the move
We great ice field which blockades our harbor and
- pt more than one hundred miles up the lake AL
somevh hat diminished in strength and thickness by
~ IN weather. accompanied by rain and fog with
nave been favored within the last ten days II
@ sufficient sodity and hrmness to resist the in
nj we sun for month at least, unless are bless
'M strong winds ia the mean time
The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-29
Fresh Beef and vegetables ssr the Navy.
NAVY AsxxT's Orvics.
W,~~hssseoa. Asra1 ~. l0SS

kALED PROPOSALS will br secsvsA y ahs o0ce snui Mon
y day Of May is q nooa iof NJ ssvpy -
OF vegetables BE- required ON tas
Washington the Ascs ysar conencsns on me M
a.y Of Juiy NEXT, and esdius the 30h June, ieo6
Vegetables Be Of good qnav sma Ss oss
affords and each article suss - oaeses Ss "s
pound. - -. --
sA4stou wan
We Il each psy.es 70 = asSs - co..
Performance o ne consrec& wesca Ns
or no accoun, BE- paid anti u fully conpiisd wiah
Every las tssscteA In ne 81 Soe
naval service M aP
proved August written guarantees seseS ~ - ~
effect that ne o. sSy
me bidder OF bidders hid - ens'f
i.o IN with GOOD asA ssacsss arr
ties 10 FURNISH proposed .
via bs considered unsss. ~ ~"
xaxssnsee. ALO1As w.
April 9Q-isw<w WV "s'@~
The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-29
February 49, 1885, establishing fees for Judicial officers and
copies OF my circular Of March Is and May ., 1858
Most sincerely yours.
ELISHA WHITrLESEY.
SAMUEL NJ. HAYS, Esq.,
Marshal Of the district OF Arkansas Van Buren,
Arkansas.


TaEAspRy DErARrMESr,
Comptroller's Office, January 80, 1855.
SIN In the from your Office requi
sitoB OF Samuel NJ Hays marshal for the western dis
trct OF Arkansas wherein he asks the Of SIS 3a Is
be RENTED him the purpose dcayng the expenses
Of the United States courts said district opinion
10 the propey Of advancing said there
o respectfully advise that not than $4,000 be sd
xnced this time Said marshal stands charged upon the
books Of the with the SIT 700 The First
Auditor states that he has rendered amounts against said
charge the OF $l4 3o2 10 leaving, IL the
whole amount Of said allowed, $2s37 so yet
TO be accounted for which added to the $4,000
posed TO be will leave him accountable for xia
s97 s0-a which to To be large amount to
stand the debit OF the marshal OF said district lie states
that the commissioner held pretty nearly every
day after the May of the district adjourned
the OF the November term, at which wit
and guards continually in attendance Such
pro acted period OF preliminary examinations would be
traodinary in any Of the judicial districts Of the United
States where the largest OF business done but why
there necessity for il in the western district OF Arkansas
to incomprehensible And do think that money
should be RENTED expenses incurred under such
without: the most full and satisfactory expana
tions.
Yours, respectfully,
ELISHA WHITTLESEY,
Comptroller.
Hon. Robert McCLKLLAsp,
Serra vofth utariar
The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-29
LOCAL NE w 8.

MUNICIPAL ELGcros. Our municipal elections this spring
promise to be contested with unusual spirit On Friday
ming last the anknow nohng Of the Second Ward Of this
city met to the number OF about hundred ia Harmony
Hail. street, and nominated DR.. Thomas Miller for the
board OF aldermen, and Messrs Robert Farnham, William
0rme, and Henry A. Willard for the board Of
council.
CoUar ss.We understand that the councils have,
in spirit Of commendabe lberaty offered the judges Of
the court of claims the grautous OF in the
City Hail. The offer doubt win be thankfully accepted
Centre market presented quite lively appearance yester
day morning Prices told regulated by the Law
supply and demand but when, the yesterday
both buyers and sellers evnce equal to drive bar
GAIN the state of the money market controls the quo
tatons We have marked change notice the prices
of the great staples which largely the thoughts
and calculations OF landlords and landade The figures
still marveousy, ruinousy high but speedy
i'm is confidently predicted all sides, we advise our
housewives be prudent in their purchases
Of the "better mes formally announced Tomatoes
retailing twenty adoxen At stand
berries made their blushing appearance and dis
posed Of at prices which would sound fabulous gentlemen
Of modest incomes They raised the farm of Mr.
Slater, (between Washington and Alexandria, and their
red luscious appearance should eectuay silence the
murmurs Of grumblers relative to the
the season."
The afternoon promenaders the Capitol grounds win be
pleased to learn that the Marine Band will make their
tnclr stanu on ednesday
next the I'd of My. The edic has gone forth, and the
benches have goa ap.
The President / u respponted William Thompson, esq.,
justice of the peace for the District Of Columbia.
ACCIDENT NAvY-yARD.--Ye yesterday morning
portion of the scaoldng around the steam gs Min
nesoa accidentally gave way preciptatng large number
of the workmen with considerable violence the ground
Several of the men severely injured.
, IT,, 7 ~ n.rn A.. 70
Mrs. Maria Williams, wife Of John 8. Williams, esq.,, for
mey chief clerk of the General Post Office Department
Mr. Doughery formerly superintendent of the Washing
Monument has been appointed superintendent of the
marble work in the of the extension of the Post
Office building