The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-02-18
Correspondence OF the Ohio State Journal.
Interesting Account OF Wood County
ROADS,

ROADS.
EpIroHs Ono SrArE JJuRNAL :-Perrys-
burg, our shire town, /. situate upoa the III su-
ineo River, 1t the north western side OF our
county. Now, if the reader will look at u
map Of the county, he will observe that al
our principal roads, nne in number, have one
Of their lermisl in Pcrrysburg. They pre-
sent the appearance Of AN open fan, the ribs
uniting at point in the hand, aud that hand
the county seat. One Of these Is the Mau-
NEE and Western Reserve MrAdsm RJa1,"
and which is said 10 have cost originally So
900 per mile. ani is now in AN excellent state
Of preservation. The " Perry ysburg and Find
Law Plank Road" extends due south from
Perrysburg--s graded throughout the whole
extent Of the county. This road is used more
by the citizens OF our county than any other
in it. All Of the others are mud pixies"
All Of them have been as we'll made rs the
character Of our soil permits, and they have
been constructed, not only to enable our far.
ners TO reach market AMI mill, but also with
direct reference to drainage. The bitches OF
these serve to a grerter or les, extent as out.
let d, aims to the country through which they
PASS. To con ,truct these. many special taxes
have been imposed upon adjoining lands. and
holders have deemed our enormous tax ,iion.
Instead Of looking upon these as portions OF
ths public burthens, they should be consld'
crsd. what they really are. expenditures made
by each TO improve his own property
For every dollar thus expended. Two NJ least
are added to the value OF the land. In many
instances the land without these drains is OF
vsry little value. Many nonresidents. howsv.
or, are not prepared to appreciate this fact.
In wet weather those mud pixies form very
Indifferent wagon roads. but during large
portion of the year they are excellent. These
pixies are being pushed forward in every d''
rection, and in all parts of the county-the
primary object at present being drainage
The roads, we'll ditched upon either side, invite
settiers, and settlers demand lands.
HEALTH
In years past, this pornon OF the State ac'
auired An undesirable reputation in the mat
ter Of health. That the great class Of diseases,
incident TO hillary arrangements were very
common, nay, almost universal, during some
seasons, it would be foily to deny. Tney
were probably no more prevalent or fatal here
than in other portions OF the western country.
Aud il is worthy # remark that uthese diseases
es are generally not 80 fatal in thelrcharacer as
the pulmonary complaints OF older settled re-
pions. We have had more fever, but less
consumption-more cases ot sickness, bu'
fewer deaths. The ultimate cause Of these
diseases, undoubtedly is the long continuance
OF water upon the surface. acting with tue
heat Of summer upon the sxaberanl but do
caying foliage Of the country. Were tn
amount Of vegetable production greatly de-
creased, or its decomposition materially re-
tarded through the absence Of humidi,y, ",
should know but hGtle, II anything, OF agu'
and bilious fevera. Both OF these condluon
to improved health are gradually arising
The Telling Of our forests and the subdulns
Of our praries are lessening the amount o
waste aud decaying vegetable matter, su'
the multiplicity Of drains and dnches serv
10 remove the water more rapidly from sh
suTtace.
Under the combined action Of these. It
we'll known TO all who have resided numbe
of years in this country, that We have not
far less of sickness than formerly. Towns /
which several years since six to doIe
physicians found pleaty of employment, no
iur ish business scarcely sufficient to suppo
ono or Two. During several years past. DE-
d. cling the cholera visitation, our doctors hay
he'd no more TO do than their brethren
other portions Of the State. No class Of OF
citizen. has complained more Of hard tim
and want Of business. A large majority
the number residing and practising in Il
Maumee Valley twelve years since, hs'
turned their attention 10 Other pursuits or u
the valley.
Our reputation for i'll health has undout
edly prevented many from immlgraung too
eounty, who otherwise would have done so
1t cannot be said shat their fears were grOun
less il cannot be said.lhat should they Cor
now they would be entirely exempted frv
tine diseases pee iliar to our locality,or or erj
uninterrupted COOL hralsh. but they m 4
come with lhs full assurance that as go
health would be maintained here rs in q
Statsa of Indiana. Iljnuis or IT,. sJuthe