Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-01-16


at the same time made for the better OIL
ganizatiou and greater usefulness of County
Agricultural Societies. The wisdom Of
this legislation has been amply vindicated
bv its results. Through the labors of the
State Board and of tho County Societies,
agricultural improvement has been bene-
fcially stimulated. Their annual Reports
embodv valuable contributions TO agricul-
tural knowledge, the effect of which is be-
coming more and moro visible in the in
creased skin, intelligence and energy with
which the labors Of the farm are executed,
and in the increased production with which
they are rewarded
| respectfully submit to your considera-
ton the propriety Of increasing the funds
set apart for appropriation by the State
Board aud County Societies to Premiums
for excellence in production and in manage
mcnt. and of making such other provision
for the increase and diffusion of agricultur.
al knowledge as your own experience and
observation suggest.
MINES AND MANUFACTURES.
The proportion of our population and Of
our means engaged in Mining, Mecanical
and Manufacturing Industry, is steadily and
largely increasing. These pursuits of In
dustry supply n great market, constantly
becoming greater, for the productions of ag-
riculture. Care should be taken that the
financial burdens of the State be not per
mitted to press, in disproportioned measure
upon them.
COMMERCE.
have already referred to the growing
extent and Importance Of our Commerce.
No inconsderable 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 en-
larged the field and stimulated the activity
of mercantile enterprise, especially in the
northern part of the State. And the great
interchange of commodities with our sister
States and between different parts of our
own Commonwealth, give continual en-
ployment to largo resources and active en-
crgies. Wise legislation is never employed
in arresting the development or in cramping
the activity of commercial intercourse.
RAILROADS.
Among the instrumentalities by means
of which intercourse is carried on between
different parts of the State and different
sections of the country, Railroads may now
be regarded as the most important. The
rapidity and ease of transit by rail gives to
that mode of conveyance decided prefer
cnce over every other; and the number who
commit their lives and property to the skill
and fidelity of Railroad conductors and 9th
or 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 late
Secretary of State, was, 2593. The pres
ent number is about two thousand EIGHT hun
dred. These railroads have cost about ninety
million ofdollars ;more than million ofpass-
engers are annually carried upon them and
their gross receipts are not less than six
millions of dollars year. 1t is doubtless
within bounds to estimate the probable in
crease for the next ten years. in extent, cost,
transportation and income, at one quarter
the present amounts. This vast interest, af-
fccting vitally so many other interests, has
grown suddenly TO its present dimensions,
without general organization, and in some
important respects, without due responsible
ity. The benefits of Railroads are such,
and their safety and prosperity are so iden-
tilted with the safety and prospriety of the
people, that no proper protection or sup
port should be withheld from them; while
the dangers from mismanagement are so
great that no reasonable precaution against
it should be omitted. respectfully recon-
mend, therefore, the organization Of a
Board of Railroad Commissioners, with the
power to exercise a general supervision over
the construction and operation of the seve-
raj roads, and required to report from time
to time to the Governor for the information
of the General Assembly, full statement
of their condition and management. / can
not doubt that the salutary influence of such
legislation would be speedily manifested in
the increased value of the roads, and the
greater socurity of travellers and freighters.
THE cCRRENCY.
A sound currency and secure exchanges
are not less important to the intercourse of
society than safe means Of transportation
In almost all, and perhaps, in all civilized
the currency is composed Of
coin and of circulating notes, convertible in
to coin, supplied either directly by the Gov
vernment, or by Banks, organized under its
In this State the powers, func-
tions, duties and liabilities of Banks have
been defined by law; something by special
laws, under the name of charters, and some
times by general laws, amcndable and re-
pealable at the pleasure of the Legislature.
Whatever difference of opinion may exist
upon the abstract questions relative to n
mixed currency, none, ! apprehcnd, will be
found among practical men in regard to the
certainty that such n currency Will continue,
for an indefinite period, TO constitute the ac-
tual medium of purchase and sale, in this
as well rs in every other State of the Con
federacy. Certainly, no power, less ample
than that of the Federal Government, is
to the ehectuai exclusion of such
notes from circulation as money; and no
present indication suggests any probability
that that power will be exercised for that
purpose.
While opinion upon this point, thus APP
proaches unanimity, the public judgment, in
this State, remaining divided upon the ques-
ton, whether the franchise of banking