Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-01-06
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


Senator'S. and Representatives.:
You are summoned by the suffrage
of tour fellow citizens, to the important
!. Gu-ies of legislation, at a period of pc
culiar interest both in State and National
sffaits.
The year Just closed has been strong
" marked By prcsp rous and adverse
circumstances.
Abundant haryests have fulfilled the
: farmers hopes. almost unbreken health
has blessed our homes and amin lted our
activities; Industry in every vocation,
has successfully pursued lis Legitimate
objecls; Education, with steadily enlarg-
ing aims, and powers constantly aug
meniing, has prepared the youth for the
duties and responsibilities of citizenship;
and Religion. unembarrassed By the in,
reference the State with the domain
OF conscience. has fulfilled its holy mis-
sion of instruction in The duties of the
iife which now is, and Of preparation for
The awards of that which is 10 come
Ia short, 10 year since the organization
.ef The State Government, has been more
conspicuously distinguished by substan-
tial increase in all the elements of real
wealth, permanent power and true great
ness.
And JET, this year, SO Distinguished
By these circumstances of prosperity.
has been marked, hardly less c~onspicu
. ously, by The evils of disordered curren-
ey, PROSTATE credit, and impaired for.
tunes.
The financial ADVERTISEMENTS which
have affected the citizens Of Ohio. in
common with those OF the whole country,
have been augmented in this Slate. by
special and peculiar causes. The erin
iual misconduct of a former State Treas
arer. resulting in a defalc ,iion of over
half a million of dollars, concealed from
The people by The false statements and
reprehensible c~on,rivances. of himself
and his successor in Office. deprived the
Treasury, al, q critical moment, Of the
proper means of paying the interest on
the public debt. and of meeting the or
binary demands of the public service;
while the failure of a great moneyed
corporation, intimately connected with
rihe business interests of the communi-
~, suddenly disclosed the alarming fact
that a vast proportion of AL the imme-
diatety ayailable resources Of very many
of the banks of the State, had been ab
strseted by the fraud OF It's cashier in
New York, and converted into means
for ~postponing, if not avelting its fall.
1t is the most CRAFTY ing fact, and it
we'll illustrates the energetic good fai'h
which go h~onorably distinguishes the
people of Ohio. that. notwithstanding
these embarrassing circumstances. every
obligation IF the State has been punctu-
ally fulfilled. and her banking institutions
with very few temporary exceptions,
have performed their entire duty oil
specie payments. without evasion and
without delay.
The disorleis and embarrassments OF
the present time thus manfully encount-
cred, must soon pass away. They may
check for a moment, but annot arrest
the advancement of the State. Our fer
lie soil. our productive mines, aud orr
varied industry, will soon redress pres
ent Inconvenience, and revive, in full
measure, our financial prosperity.
That you may clearly See the founda-
iians Of this anticipation. permit me to
direct your attention to a brief review
OF our industrial condition, which will
be more fully exhibited BY the reports
~ the Commissioner ef Statistics. and,
of the State Board of Agriculture.
OF the rs. 576 960 acres which con
-s,ilu,e the area of the State according
10 federal computation, To portion worth
consideration, can be classrd as absolute
" iuhcnItivable. Only 10 310. 600 acres.
howeyer. are actually cultivated. and
rs these, only about 5000. 600 acres by
Tie pillow, Will more Than $1,000. 900
sc. remain 10 be brought under con,ri
burion 10 our power AID wcslIh.
This whole area, with s tri1ing excep
lion. is reduced TO individual ownership.
and Is divided among about 270, 600
pIoprietors, excluding the owners Of town
lots. The average quantity OF land
held By each proprietor. is estim at
seout ninety acres. l
This division OF the land inio small
properties. promotes improvement IN
methods Of culture. augments prodnc-
ton, insures individual Independence.
snd contributes largely 10 the security
CT public freedom. Every tendency in
rhe opposite direction should be waieh-
fully observed, aud wisely checked.
The value Of these properties rs as
se,sed for tax ,tioa, is s435.6o2. SIS,