The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-01-14
Governors Message.


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State and National affairs
The year Just closed has been strongly marked
by prosperous and adverse circumstances.
Abundant harvests have fullfed the farmers
hopes; almost unbroken health has blessed our
homes and animated our activities; Industry, in
every vocation, has successfully pursued its iegit-
innate objects Education, with steadily enarging
aims and powers constantly augmenting, has pre-
pared the youth for the duties ana responsibili-
ties of citizenship; and Religion, unembarrassed
by the interference of the State with the domain
Of conscience has fulfilled its holy mission of in
struction in the duties of the life which now is,
and of preparation for the awards of that
which is to come. In short, no year since the |
organization of the State Government, has been
more conspicuously distinguished by substantial |
increase in all the elements of real wealth, perma
nent power, and true greatness
And yet, this year, so distinguished by these
circumstances Of prosperity, has been marked |
hardly less conspicuously, by the evils of dis |
ordered currency, prostrate credit, and impaired
fortunes.
The financial embarrassments which have affect |
ed the citizens of Ohio, in common with those of
the whole country, have been augmented in this
State, by special and peculiar causes. The Grim
inal misconduct of former State Treasurer, re-
sulting in the dealcaon of over half million of
dollars, concealed from the people by this false
statements and reprehensible contrivance of him
self and his successor IN once, deprived tne lrea-
sury, at critical moment of the proper means
of paying the interest on the public debt, and of
meeting the ordinary demands of the public SER
vice while the failure of n great moneyed cor.
poration intimately connected with the business
interests of the community, suddenly disclosed the
alarming fact, that vast proportion of all the inn
mediately available resources of very many OF
the Banks in the State had been distracted by
the fraud of its cashier in New York, and con-
tad inf maahs for pOStDOninO if not ayprLnU
its fall.
1t is most gratifying fact, and it well illustrates
the energetic good faith which so honorably dis
tinguishes the people of Ohio; that, notwithstand
ing these embarrassing circumstances, every
obligation of the State has been punctually fulfill
ed, and her banking institutions, with.'very few
temporary exceptions, have performed their en-
tire duty of specie payments, without evasion and
without delay
The disorders and embarrassments OF the pre-
sent time, thus manfully encountered, must soon
pass away. They may check for moment, but
cannot arrest the Advancement of the State. Our
fertile soil, our productive mines, and our varied
industry, will soon redress present inconveni-
ences, and revive, in full measure, our financial
prosperity.
That you may clearly See the foundations of this
anticipation, permit me to direct your attention
to brief review of our industrial condition, which
will be more fully exhibited by the reports of the
Commissioner of Statistics, and the State Board
Of Agriculture.
Of the 25,576 $50 acres which constitute the
area of the State, according to federal computa-
ton, no portion worth consideration, can be
elassed as absolutely uncultivaitable. Only TO-
100000 acres, however, are actually cultivated,
and of these, only about 100000 acres, by the
plow, while more than $4,000, 900 yet remain to
be brought under contribution to our power and
wealth.
i'll. :.
reduced TO individual ownership, and is divided
among about 10000! propretors, excluding the
owners of town lots. The average quantity ofland
held by each proprietor, is estimated at about
ninety acres.
The division of the land into small properties,
promotes improvement in methods of culture,
augments production, ,insures indiF plindepend-
ence and contributes largely to the security of
public freedom. Every tendency in the opposite
direction should be watchfully observed, and
wisely checked. bs
The value of these properties as assessed for
taxation, is S435, ,602, ,655, and that of town lots
and chattels is, 4l3, 1926, ,426-making an aggre-
gate of SS49, ,0Sl. The real value largely
exceeds $l,000,oo0,000. f.ej 4tet
The present population of the State, upon the
best attainable data is estimated at 100000
persons, of whom nearly al, except the very young
and the very old, actively engaged in pursuits
which increase or preserve public and private
wealth. .I... . -... ..-.s.-..
The efficiency of this vast human energy is en-
HANGED almost beyond computation by the mach
merry so extensively introduced into every depart
ment of industry. The agraStur machines
put in operation during the last few years, do the
work of more than 100000 agricultural laborers
and do it quicker, better, and cheaper than they
could. 1t is difficult to make any estimate ever
proximately accurate, in respect to machinery
otherwise. employed. 1t is reasonably computed
however, that the steam engines alone, now il
use in Ohio, perform labor equal in quantit,
to that of more than half a million of men
and better in quality, .as well as cheaper il
cost. .#. las,t..Hrg - -u
The forces of nature thus engaged to the service
of man, through the instrumentaty of machine
nv, augment the means of existence comfort
and enjoyment in Ohio, at least four fold Th
results are seen on every hand, in the increas
ed rewards of labor, and in the improved ant
constantly improving condition ofthe people.
Some general statements under few heads
will clearly exhibit the more important element
of this industrial progress
l. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
In 1851 according to the best information,
the value of vegetable products S6T, 1856, so
animals and animal products. sS,9l5,OO
Total value of agricultural products .$151 s67 80
In 1s49, according to the census of
$780, the value ofvegetable pro-
That of animals and animal pro-
ducts Observation-Disclosures. 43 $500
Making the total value of agricultural products
And showing an increase Of annual agricultu-
raj production in eight years S62 s54 s5
The value of live stock In 1857 $73 6S7 As
" {" 1850 was ...,...... A. "a
Increase in seven years 500 565 IA
No single fact connected with the agricultural result
the past year probably of greater Importance tina
the establishment by actual experiment of the prectc;
biity of the profitable culture in Ohio of the Sorghum
Chinese and African Sugar The of these
perments to the public spirited agrculturists by whoi
they made in land labor and machinery, estim
ted less than $1,000 Their results to
agriculture plant the cultivation of which prom
most liberal returns for labor and capital In the fo
Of forage SYRUP and probably sugar The culture of I'll
grape has also been largely extended bringing into
profitable hilsdes too steep for other cultivation
II. MANUFACTURES, MECHANIC AND MINES.
The value Of the products of Manufactures
md ria In Il ot3 M