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

suggest question of the correctness o
the Federal estimate of the area of thu
State. The difference between the re
: turn of lands for 1855 and the entir,
, area, as computed at Washington, i.
: only 356, ,S77 acres. It can hardly b,
doubted that larger quantity than thi.
: is included within the limits of the fif
: teen hundred cities and towns cnumera-
ted in the Equalization Report for 1853
, and in the exemptions from taxation al
lowed by law. There remained, more
over, on the Both of June last, accord
ing to the statement of the Commission
er of the Generrl Land Office, which
Z ihereHith transmit and q Rllict s1hl.z
4 1tllle4 s-lttcr nave OCCASION TO refer, IA, ,553
acres of public lands undisposed Of
within the State. These facts render it
highly probable that the true area of the
State exceeds the estimate pitherto re-
ceived as correct.
However this may be, the gratifying
fact is certain, that Federal ownership
in Ohio approaches its termination, and
that the drafts upon her resources for
the purchase of the soil have nearly
ceased Henceforth the unembarrassed
energies of her people may be directed
to the fullest possible development of
all her resources.
The General Assembly will cheerful
ly recognize the duty of extending to
the great agricultural interest of the
State all proper securities and encour-
Iagements. To this end the State Board
of Agriculture was organized in 1916,
and provision was at the same time made
for the better organization and greater
usefulness of county agricultural socie-
ties. The wisdom of this legislation
has been simply vindicated by ITS results.
Through the labors of the State Board
and the county societies, agricultural
Improvement has been bencficially stim-
ulated. Their annual reports embody
valuable contributions to agricultural
knowledge, the effect Of which is becom-
ing more and more visible in the in
creased skill, intelligence and energy
with which the lahors of the farm are
executed, and in the increased produc-
ton with which they they are rewarded.
respectfully submit to your consid-
Grafton the propriety of increasing the
funds set apart for appropriation by the
State Board and county societies to
preniums for excellence of production
and in management aRa--4a-- nl4k ing.
such other provision for the increase
and diffusion of agricultural knowledge
as your own experience and observation
suggest.
The proportion of our population and
of our means engaged in mining, me-
chanical and manufacturing industry is
steadily and largely increasing. These
pursuits of industry supply great mar
ket, constantly becoming greater, for
the productions of agriculture. Care
should be taken that the financial bur-
dens of the State be not permitted to
press in disproportioned measure upon
them.
/ have already referred to the growing
extent and importance of our commerce
No considerable amount of revenue is
collected by the General Government
from duties upon the direct importations
of our merchants from foreign countries.
The Treaty of Reciprocity with Canada
has enlarged the field, and stimulated
the activity of mercantile enterprise,
especially in the northern part of the
State. And thee great interchange OF
commodities with our sister States, and
between different parts of our own
Commonwealth, give continual employ
ment to large resources, and active en-
ergies. Wise legislation is never en-
ployed in arresting the development or |
in eramping the activity of commercial
intercourse.
Among the instrumentalities by means
of which intercourse is carried on be-
tween different parts of the State, and
different sections of the country, rail |
roads may be regarded as the most
The rapidity and ease of I
transit by rail gives to that mode of
decided preference over
every other; and the number who com
NIT their lives and property to the skill
and fidelity of railroad conductors and I
other employees, already vast, becomes
hourly greater. The number of miles /
of railroad in actual operation in this
State, in 1855, according to statement
made by the Secretary of State, was
2,593. The present number is about
:, 800. These railroads have cost about
uOT0 IHdH million OF Ii
passengers are annually carried upon
them; and their gross receipts are not
less than $6,O00,000 year 1t is
doubtless within bounds to estimate the
probable increase for the next ten years
in extent, cost, transportation and in
come, at one quarter the present amount.
This vast interest, affecting vitality so
many other interests, has grown sud
lenly to its present dimensions, without
iystem, without general organization, l
md in some important respects, without {
lue responsibility The benefits of t
ailroads are such, and their safety and s
are so identified with the {
afety and prosperity of the people, that t
10 proper protection or support should t
'e withheld from them; while the dan 9
sers from mismanagement are so great i
hat no reasonable precaution against it r
hould be omitted Ii
respectfully recommend, therefore, t
he organization of a Board of Railroad q
Commissioners, with power to exercise e
general supervision oyer the construc- a