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

Sucn means.
I suggest, also, the expe diency Of
such legislation as will expedite and in
sure the reimbursement to the State of
the unpaid balances of surplus revenue
yet remaining with the coun ties.
When Ohio came into the Union she
relinquished the right to tax the lands
of the United States within her limits,
in consideration, among other things
that not less than three per cent of the
proceeds of all sales, past or future, should
be paid to the State, to be applied in lay
ing out roads. This is the origin OF
what Is. klaeHr as--the. three per cent
fund The General Governhent has
only accounted for the States proper
tions of lands sold since the compact,
and sold for money. In my judgement
the spirit if not the letter ofthe compact
entities the Statv to the same proportion
of the sum which would have been pro-
duced by the sale, at not less than the
minimum rate of dollar and quarter
an acre, of all lands granted for military
services, or granted or reserved to indi-
viduals, companies and corporations, for
their own use and benefit. The guam
tity of such lands, according to the Com
missioner's statement, herewith trans
mitted, is ten million six hundred and
forty two thousand FIVE hundred and for
ty acres. A large sum, therefore, if my
view of the matter is correct, is due to
the State from the General Government,
and it is worthy of your consideration
whether some measure should not be
adopted to secure the recognition and
payment of this claim. Its equity is the
more apparent when it is considered that
of AL the land States, Ohio has been the
least literally dealt with by the Federal
Government. Every other of these
States have received much larger grants
of land in aid of public improvements
than Ohio. Nearly every other, instead
of three per centof the proceeds of sales,
has received five. Minnesota and all
Tx tx. new Territories, instead of one sec
ton In each township for the use of
schools have received two. Ohio does
not complain of it's hberality to other
States and Territories. By her Senators
and Representatives she has sanctioned
it. She only demands justice for her.
self
After your adjournment in Aprillast,
I received from the late State Librarian
a very Interesting report upon the bound
ary between Ohio and Pennsylvania,
made under an appointment by my pre-
decessor, in pursuance of resolution of
a former General Assembly. l now lay
the report before you. 1t will be found
to smbody much valuable information
our eastern boundary, which
is continuation from the Ohio to Lake
Erie of due north line, drawn from
the western termination of Mason & Dix
ons line, between Pennsylvania and
Virginia. 1t will be for the Legislature
what compensation, if any, shall be made
to the late State Librarian for this spe-
cial service.
The Report of the Board of Public
Works will advise you fully in respect
to the management of the important
public concerns committed to their
charge The unusual drouth of the
navigation of the canals, in consequence
If which the gross revenues have been
'educed from $469, ,S31 SO in 1S545, to
1927 7,913 90 in 1866. Much the
greater portion of this diminution ap-
,ears in the receipts of the Miami and
Erie Canal, the reasons of which are
ully stated by the board. The result for
955-6 is as follows:
Net receipts as re-
turned to the ....
Auditor of State S39S, 1853 90
Disbursements for
Repairing, Su-
perintend nee. .&cS4O1 ,49SOO0
Estimated amount
paid. but not
properly charg- ]
able to this year S75, ,933 56 {
Taking currentex- {
penses for 1855 {
e .... 1925, ,664 A
moving a surplus
of Receipts over
Current expen-
ditures of S62,799 IS
1t is the opinion of the Board, that t
Notwithstanding the unfavorable results :
f the past wear, the Canals cannot fail, t
nder a system of energetic and econo-
.ical manage, to yield very considera- '
lie net revenue to the State. 1 respect I