The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-01-13
VOLUME XT. NO. 9.

CumSlanCoe DOW uO1OEeSoCO, Suah CuhUic
tho canals to sustain at less disadvantage,
the railroad compctitio1 The cost of these
works, however, has doubtless been repaid
20 the State in tho increased value of lands
in the counties through which thoy c1tond.
Aud this consideration may well abatc the
censures which tho debt contracted for thclr
construction is apt to provoke; while it sng-
gests caution and prudence in dealing wIth
Interests so important as are involved I'D
their disposal.
have heretofore expressed tho opinion
that they should not be retained under State
management, if sale can bo effected at
reasonable price, and under such restrictions
and guarantees as will secure to tho people
tho benefits Of transportation originally con.
templated. That opinion now remains un.
changed With economical management in
private hands, tho canals can probably be
made sufficiently productive to warrant the
investment of a considerable sum in their
purchase. The reduction Of tho debt by
tho same amount and rolicf from taxation
for interest, recommend tho sale 70 tho poo
pie at large; while the suggested restrictions
aud guarantees will prevent any loss or III.
convenience to tho Inhabitants OF the canal
counties.
The State stocks in turnpikes and rail.
roads should not be incldled in any sales.
unless the interest on the price will equal
the revenue now derived from them. l
recommend that authority be given to
the Governor to appoint an agent with
ample powers to ascertain the condition
of all companies in which the State holds
stock. The productiveness Of these in.
vcstmeuts would, / have no doub., be
greatly enhanced by such an investiga-
ton.
Should you regard sale Of the Canals
as inexpedient, and, IN any case, SO long
rs they remain under State management
the propricty OF strict compliance, in their
administration, with The directions Of the
Constitution, will not be questioned.-
The separation OF them into several d.Yis-
ions and the assignment Of each division
to the control Of single member OF the
Board Of Public Works, independent, in
most important respects, Of the Board
itself, seems to be not only incXpedlent
but of more than doubtful constitution
atty. l recommend, therefore, such
modification OF the act Of the last General
Assembly on this subject, as will secure
to the whole BoaiL the control Of the
Public Works which the Constitution
commits to its upcIintendcnCe. | aIso
recommend the restoration Of that pro-
vision of the act Of 1914, by which the
Governor, with the advice and consent oi
the Senate, is authorized to appoint col.
lectors and inspectors and | renew The
recommendation addressed TO your pred"
cessors, OF more stringent provisions Tor
the settlement Of accounts icr repairs and
other expenses OF the canals. Under the
law, as it now stands, there is zoo much
room for abuse, 10 the serious prejudice o
the public interests.
During tho year 1858. as was fully cz
plauei to your predecessors, tho sum o
1888 was advanced by tho Trcasuror o
State, upon my advice concurring with tina
of tho other Executive Officers, for repairs
of tho Hooking Canal, greatly injured an'
seriously endangered by recent Hoods. Ih'
emergency did not permit delay, and q
the Legislature bad mado no provision 10
extraordinary emergencies, an occnsio!
seemed to have arison in which public ON
Gers ought TO take tho responsibility of pro
viding tho means necessary to protect tn
State from great loss, and tho citizcns dc
pondcnt on tho canal for transportation
from great injury. Tho responsibility wn
takon tho means wero provided for by Il
advance from tho Treasury, uCQuC5tIOnGbl
the most economical mode; larger amour
than the sum advanced was saved TO IL
Treasury in tolls, and tho benefits OF iii
navigation woro secured to the people Of I!
locality. am still Of opinion that this none
was prudontly and properly advanced.
public officer who, in times of oYcrrnlir
emergencies, will not tako Responsibilities
clearly necessary to the public good,
little deserves con fidoncc as ho who rash
assumes them on ordinary occasions ar
without necessity. 1t will be for you
determine whether tho action OF tho Trca
ursr shall receive tho legislative sanCtiC
which tho last General Assembly omitted
give.
1t gives mo great pleasure to say, that
the department. of the public iustructit
cops,an: progress and regular improycmel
have boon conspicuous.
It's burdens, however, press somowh
heavily upon the resources OF tho PEOPLE.
Prior to the adoption OF the prcse
Constitution, the fund annually raised
general taxation, and distributed to Il
counties, was comparatively small. F.
several years the sum for distrbUton W
fixed at 200 900; less than one fourth
which was derived from general taxatio
After time this sum was reduced, for
number Of years, TO 100, 900 but inal
increased to 100000. During this peri,
in the history of our schools. sOmewh
larger sums than that derived from Il
State were anuunl!y raised by local tax
tlon but the aggregates from all source
State and local, did not reach one third
the totals under the existing system.
The tax for School and School Librari
now constitutes somewhat more th
hree.eights Of the entire levies for StC
purposes, and nearly one.fourth of tho
for local purposes. The State and loo
school taxes in 1855, were 2,78I 1924,
nearly one third of the aggregate lev
for all purposes. In 1889 the same lev
amounted to 2 2,792, l75, and bore abe
the same proportion to the whole.
These facts will suggest TO the Legisatr
and to the local authorities the neccss
of prudence and the most careful ect
omy.
Few citizens, trust, are disposed
abridgo the means and opportunities
education, now offered to the youth
the State. They know that the pow