Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-01-15

sembly IN the new State house. @
In simplicity of design, in harmon,
of proportions, and in massive solidit,
of structure, it stands, and may it lony
stand, monument and symbol of tn,
clear faith, the we'll ordered institutions
and the enduring greatness of the peo
pie whose house it is. -
The year which has .iu st closed has
been marked hR the steady advance q
Afhe afeat 8 II. -
present, nave been eonfded to our care
in all the elements of wealth, honor and
power. s y
The returns of agriculture, though
less abundant than in some more favor
ed years, have yet been sufficient to
supply abundantly our wants at home
and to furnish large surplus for ex-
portation. The products of manufactuT-
ing industry have been steadily an6
greatly augmented. The transactions
of commerce hnve multiplied in number
and increased in importance. Vast nu-
neral treasures, hitherto comparatively
inaccessible, have been brought, by the
extension of railroads, within the easy
reach of enterprise and made tributary
to the general progress.
While the development and enlarge
ment of our material resources have been
insured by these and similar agencies,
other instrumentalities have been active
ly employed in the promotion of the
moral and Intellectual welfare of the
people. Public order and private rights
have been maintained by an enlightened
and impartial administration of Justice.
institutions of education have diffused
among the masses the power of knowl-
edge; Institutions of benevolence have
ministered to the children of sorrow
the wise and noble charity of the State !;
Institutions of religion, sustained by the
voluntary contributions and ready sym
pathies of the people, and made efficient
by the self denying labors of the teach
ers and ministers, have lent their pow
erfal support to public virtue and order,
while they have enforced the obligations
of private duty and cherished the aspi-,
rations of Individual faith.
Nor are these the only benefits which
demand our grateful Acknowledgements
Peace is the opportunity of progress;
and peace, unbroken, has prevailed
throughout our borders The pesti-
1cnce which, in former years, invaded
and desolated so many homes. has not
been permitted to approach US. Health
in unusual measure, has checrcd our
homes and animated our labors.
From this pleasing survey, it is my
duty to proceed to more detailed ex-
position of the condition of the State.
The primary interests of Ohio con-
meet, themselves closely with the owner
ship and cultivation of the soil ~
The whole era of the State, according
to the computations of the Federal au-
thorities, contains thirty-nine thousand
nine hundred and sixty four square
miles, or twenty five million five hun
dred and seventy six thousand nine
hundred and sixty acres. A little more
than half century ago, not an acre of
this area had been cleared for cultiva-
ton, or even reduced to private owner
ship.
The Federal Government asserted an
exclusive proprietary title in the whole,
except that portion included in the Con-
necticdt Reservation. The hardy pio-
neers, who pushed forward into the will
derness, were compelled to buy of the
Government, or its grantees, the very
soil which they subdued. The whole
burden of contributions, for the support
of the State and its institutions, was
cast upon the land thus purchased.-l
The land of the Government was Who'll |
ly exempt; and the contributions of the
Government, by grants of land in aid of
public improvements, were insignificant
in comparison with, the enhanced value
of the ungranted lands.
No4u;fbSfoD d;no, fbaSa so,;o,,. J;aol
vantages, the process of purchase and
settlement has gone steadily forward un-
til more than twelve millions of acres, |
occupied for agricultural purposes, and
nearly thirteen millions more, classed as |
nneultiyated, have become private pro-
perty, and contribute to the public rev.
ente.
When, in 1902, Ohio became State
II the American Union, every other of
the sAEsQteen members of the confeder-
acy was more populous and better cul-
tiyated, and six had larger areas. Now,
although the number of States has in
creased to thirty-ene, of which nineteen
are larger than Ohio, not one surpasses
her in the extent and variety of her ag-
ricultural products.
"A general outline of the gradual con-
version of public into private ownership
will reward attention.
81 Prior to 1903 the returns of lands
held by individual proprietors are mea-
gre and unsatisfactory. In 1910,
the number of acres thus owned was
s, ,953, ,1el !; in 1920, this quantity had
increased to 1870 DAB acres; in 1880,
estimating the quantity for two eoun-
ties from which there were no returns,
to 16, 1915, ,682 acres; in 1910, estimating s
for one county, to l9, 40, ,281; in 1850,
to %, ,981, ,350 acres; and in 1855, to
25 ,22a, ,Q83 acres. Fhese quantities are
exclusive of town and city lots. Near {
" all the land in the State, it will be
observed, has thus become private prop {
prty, apd subject to taxation. II
The facts disclosed by these returns