The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-01-26
The Capital of the State of Ohio.

Auo CapiVdl VI tuo Stdtc Vi OhAO'
It may be Of interest to the distinguished
visitors, tho Executive officers and members of
the General Assemblies Of tho sister States Of
Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana, now pros
eCuting a visit to the Capital of Ohio, to know
that the first session Of the Legislature was
held in the borough of Columbus in December,
1916, and that the site, four years preceding,
was forest, known and described ss the
"High Bank of the Scioto River" opposite
Franklintou. The city, its Capitol, Benevolent
Institutions, the vast improvements, have
been madein the last forty three years.
The town of Franklinton, which the pas.
senger cars whirl through, was post where
the army rendezvoused in 1872, passing to
Urbsna, Fort Meigs and other points north.
Tho town of Columbus was laid out on the
18th Of June, 1912, the same day, We believe,
that war was declared against Great Britain.
The City House or Tavern was opened by
David s. Broderiok in 1915. In that year the
population of the town was 700 About this
time weekly paper was published in the
place by Ezra Griswold, now Of Delaware, and
Colonel Philo II. Olmsted and Joel Buttles, of
Columbus. Gustavus Swan, We believe, Is the
oldest surviving lawyer.
In 1914 the first Methodist Church was or
ganized, and the same year they erected q
small hewed Lighthouse, with shingle roof.
| Of the teachers in this pioneer school house Of
Franklin County, were Joseph Whitehill, after
ward Treasurer of Stare, Rodolphus Dickinson,
for number Of years member of the Board
Of Public Works, Joseph Old, in Congress, and
Samuel Bigger, afterward, we believe, Gov
ernor Of Indiana.
The first successful attempt to carry mail
to or from Columbus, otherwise than on horse
back, was by Philip Zinn, about the year 1916,
onoe week, between Chillicothe and Colum-
bus. The proprietors OF the town built the
State house and government offices, which
cost ths State but small sum of money. The
proprietors expended 900 therefor, under
@ contract, and the State paid the remainer Of
the bill, which amounted to only $4,000.
For this they got twenty acres Of land, all the
public buildings, including the first peniten-
tiary.
It was not until 1924 that tho town was
house was built in 1910. The Intelligencer and
Gazette, in 1925, was enlarged, and entitled
Ohio State Journal and Columbus Gazette.
Soon afterward the Western Statesman, COM
menced in 1926, was merged In the Journal.
As the Sentinel, Register, Journal and Register,
and Bulletin, the paper has been published,
until it is known now as the Ohio State Journal.
Tho Western Hemisphere commenced In 1882,
and was finally merged into the Ohio States
man. A number Of other newspapers rose and
sunk every few years.
| THE NEW srATH-H0uss.
The legislation for the erection of this
edifee was commenced in 1888. The corner
stone was laid July 4, 1889; but on account Of
some supposed indignity to the Legislature,
by the people of Columbus, the law to erect
the State-house was repealed--say next year.
It was not until 1s46 that it was finally de-
termined to constitute permanently Columbus
as the seat Of government.
The magnificent structure, asit will now ap-
pear to visitors, has been but two years occu-
pied by the State officers.
THE OHIO DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.
Visitors will be profted by visiting the
homo of this class of unfortunates, so provi-
dentially cared for by the State. Tho build
ings were erected in 1S33-'S4. The institu-
ton went into operation in November, 1922
being tho first Of the humane enterprises Of
the State.
| THEBLIND ASYLUM.
This benevolent enterprise commenced ope-
ration on the 4th of July, 1887, with but five
scholars, under tho care Of Mr.. A. W. Penni-
man. The edifce, now the nucleus of subSe-
qusnt improvements, was erected in 1889.
| OHIO LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Since this edi6ce was erected, the increased
number of patients in the State has required
the establishment of branches at Cleveland
Dayton and Cincinnati. This magnificent
structure, in the superiority of its structural
architecture and extont, is only equaled by
tho important services its managers and pa
irons confer upon suffering humanity.
THE OHIO PEaIrENTIARY.
This State prison will be point of interest
to the visitors. Large and convenient, and
we'll managed as it is, its fullest capacity il
over taxed by the number of ih inmates, viz
$40.
The High School and Common School
Buildings, the Startling Medical College
churches, and other public edifceS, as also
the we'll designed private residences about
Columbus, are worthy Of tho attention Of Wis.
itors.