The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-01-15
NO. xXxVI

quarter mills on each dollar Of the grand list Of
that year, to be applied TO the payment Of inter.
est ON the debt and further levy Of one mill
on the grand list of 1855, for the same purpose.
Under these Constitutional and legislative
provisions, the Sinking Fund was created aud
organized; but the revenues appropriated 20 IL,
have not been kept distinct from other moneys
In the Treasury, or reserved from other sppl.
cations. The act of May l. 1854, provided fof
the transfer in contingency then spprehended.
oi the sum Of Sl5O,OOO from the hiking Funi
TO the general Revenue and the oct Of April Ii,
1856. authorized similar transfers 10 the amount
of 1854 ,609 30. Under this late act, transfers
have been made TO the General Revenue and to
the Canal Fund TO the amount Of @l60 00U,
The natural consequence Of his legislation, and
this practice, has been the absorption Of the
Sinking Fund balances in the general expendi.
lures. Thus, according TO the Report Of the
late Auditor, there was on the 15th November,
1885, an appafent balance to the credit Of the
Sinking Fund Of s537, ,4y9.S6. But il must be
observed that this balance constituted part Of
the general balance of sos, 800 0S, said by the
Auditor, TO be "awaiiing legislative appropria.
tion," TO the discharge Of Temporary outs,end.
ing liabilities and ITO the necessary expendi.
lures" of 1886. have already shown that
the payment Of the debts Of 1915, incurred
for current expenses, more than absorbed all
that was available of this rep ted balance
In like manner the present Aulitor reports 4
geneiel balance TO the credit Of the Sinking
Fund, on the 18th Of November. 1886, Of SiSl
649.06; while the same officer reports the toisb
general balance, on the day. including the Sink
ing Fund balance, as 1919 5l7 SO, Of which only
the sum of $500. $50 SO was then availablet
and this sum constituted the only fund fof tho
payment Of current demands of every descrip-
tion upon the Territory.
In view Of these things think II nv dtty 10
recommend the levy oI sufficient rate upon
the grand list TO restore TO the Sinking fund the
sums which have been transferred from il or in
any way devoted to other uses, aud TO increase
it 10 the full extent Of the constitutional ue4Tirc-
| ment. And also recommend such legislation AZ
will ensure the future reservation of the entire
fund from every Use except that Of paying the
interest and principal Of the public debt, and
the safe investment of that part speedily sppli-
cable 10 the reduction Of the principal until
wanted for that purpose.
| The chief sources OF our Public income sfe the
| Grand Levies; Charter Taxes Of Banks; Proeesds
| Of Public Works; Collection Of SIrpns Revenue
loaned to countless Sales Of School and Minister.
al lands held in trust; Sales Of Lands granted 70
the State in aid of Improvements. hud otherwise
\ ace uired, Dividends Of Stocks; Convict Labor;
| Pay n,ent> by the General Government on account
Of the Three per cent. Fund; Licences andAuation
Duties
Some Of these sources Of revenue are nearly ef.
hausted; others were never productive, and the
receipts from o. hers in the nature of loans
rather than of inc"me.
Only about forty thousand acres Of land in Ohio
| yet remain the property of General Goyernthent-
Very little more can be expected therefore. rtofn
the States three per cent proportion Of their sales
| Not much land belonging to the State remaining
unsold. The amount OF the surplus revenue unpaid
by counties is reduced to t2O6, ,349 II. The pro.
ceeds Of convict labor are absorbed in the support
Of Of the Penitentiary, and avail nothing % The
csnvrsi Revenue. And the proceeds Of the
School and .,Inisterial lands as they aecris, be-
come part Of the Irreducibie Debt upon which che
State bound to pay six Per cent iLteiest to the
use for which they were granted .
b.. These facts admonish that for the expenses OK
the Safe Government. Of the public ihstitutiots
aud for the pay ment Of the S shs b, bt. our mlih
reliance must hereafter be upon the contributions
Of the people in the form Of taxes. They reqhite
US to husband every remainin. resour,e, hnd de.
tnand the strctest economy il sTery department 6i
, rxpehdittfe.
: No means exist Of ascertaining the quantity oi
lands remaining unsold, whether belor gng 10 the
State held in trust ! recJih mend theproyisiou
Of such mems. 49,.
suggesi. also, the eIpedisney OF sIch 1egisls
tioh as win expedite and ensure the reimburse
ment to the State Of the trPsid balances u surpls
Z rsvenue yet remaining with the counties.,
n When Ohio came into tn Union, she. relin
J, quished the right to tax tn lands Of the Unite,
= States within her limits. in consideration, stf,on,
J other things. that not less than three pr ceht
a Of the proceeds of oil sales, past or future
should be paid TO the State, 10 br tppted Sh fay
d ing out roads. This is the origin OF what i
a known ss the three per crnt. fund The Gen
lie 'eral Government has only accounted for tn
d States proportion Of lands sold since the com
pact, and sold for money. In my Judgment
y the spirit i no, the letter Of the cohPaeE en-
titles the Slate TO the same proporlidh OF III
c. sum whle would have been ,ProdIced BY III
& sale, at not less than the minimum rsie Of
g dollar and quarter an acre, of all land granite
B for military servic $, or granted or reserved
lie individuals, companies and corporations 70
) their own use and b.neht. The qusntiiy O
IT such lands, accoriin; TO the Commissoner
y statement, herewith transmitted, is 10,ti2, OF
d acres. A large sum, therefore il, my view @
It the matter is correct, Is due 10 the Sttle ftor
e. the General Government, and II is worthy q
Jour consideration whethrr some measure
lie should hot be adopted TO secure The tecosnitio
re and payment Of this claim. Its etuity Is th
l. more apparen, whrn il is considered that Of o
Il the land States Ohio has BEEN tie least fiberall
ID dealt with by the G neral government, Ever
h gther of these States has received much larg,
lie Grants in and of Tublic improvements ths
n Ohio. Nearly every other instead q three pc
Id cent OF the proceeds Of sales, has received iv,
Il Minnesota, md all The new terriloties. instea
Is of one section in each township Tor the use
s schools received two. Ohio does not complai
m of this liberality to other States and Territories
Ne BY her Senators and Representatives she hu
rs sanctioned it. She only demands justice f
oil herself
e. After your adjournment in April last, n
as ceived from The late State Librarian a very il
of teresting report upon the boundary betwee
at Ohio and Pennsylvania, made under an appoin
10 ment by my predecessor, in pursuance of resC
luton OF former General Assembly. no.
ds lay the report before you. Ii will be found
at embody much valuable information con'.ruin
of our Eastern boundary, Which is continuario
III from the Ohio to Lake Erie, OF due north lin
ch drawn from the western termination OF MasO
nj and Dixon's line between Pennsylvania al
d, Virginia 1t will be Tor the Legislature to d.
h. termIns what compensation, II any, shall
ihrnrin,. IL Ihis