Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-01-04

isIS ~ a1hl nf nulllsn 4 ,as1TE1d on iha lsss
Of Ne bohdt when Iatutd. Whsthty bends
bsailna sueh sspssyellent ulH aod isksFp, asn
only b dttstminsd hy trial. That they viii
not Il more than probable. and II they Will not.
Il Il certain that the taxation Of State bonds 70
alike impolitic and unjust. tsiaf tafT
recommend, therefore, such legislation As will
give the suggested discretion 10 the CommissIons
eFe, tx beyond liability 10 slteration the rate Of
interest, and secure he control, reduction and
anal payment Of the debt, at the earliest time and
10 the most economical mode.
The Two great lines Of csnai, neuiing the Wa.
bash and Erie, with their fseders, cost SI2 ,lI0,-
l20; the other canals, with the MuskinRum im.
provemoni, and the Western Rerorve and Maumee
Road, cost So .4G7 Jig and the smount subscriboi
70 turnpike and railroad 0ompabiep, was S3,726,
$50, making 40 aggregate cost Of SIS,S03, ,9l2,
| Fora number Of years, the net revenues derived
from these works though never sufficient 10 pay
the cost Of the Investment, were very considerable
The competition Of railroads, however, soon de-
prived them OF great part OF the business on
which reliance had been placed for increase, and
| at length g marked deoins took place. Within
last few years the outlay for repairs aud improve
ments has exceeded the income. The real de-
hci5ney last year. after deduoting tho extraordin~
! ary disbursements directed by the Legislature,
was not large; but there Il little room for hope
that 1t will be less hereafter, while there is much
1
It will eortainly be greater, unless the introduce
tion Of steam navigation, or other eireums,ancts
now unforeseen, stall enable the canals to sustsiD,
| AZ less disadvantage, the Railroad competition.-
| The cost Of these works, however has doubtless
been repaid TO the State In the increa sed yalus Of
lsods ia the couotes through which they extend.
And this consideration may well abats the cen,
sures which the debt contracted for their eonstruo.
tion Is apt TO provoke; while IL suggests caution
and prudence in dealing with interests so impor-
tant are involved in their disposal. ~
have heretofore expressed the opinion
that they should not be retained under State
management, If o sale can be effected at q
reasonable price, and under such restrictions
and guarantees as will secure to the people
the benefits of transportation originally con-
templated. That opinion remains unchanged.
With economical management in private
hands the canals can probably be made suffi-
oently productive 10 warrant the investment
of considerable sum in their purchase. The
reduction Of the debt by the same amount
and relief from taxation for interest recon-
mend the sale to the people at large; while
the suggested restrictions and guarantees will
prevent any loss or Inconvenience to the in
habitants Of the canal counties. -
The State stocks in turnpikes and railroads
should not be iucluded in any sales, unless
the interest on the price will equal the re-
venue now derived from them. 1 recommend
that authority be given TO the Governor to
appoint an agent with ample powers to ascer-
tain the condition Of all companies in which
the State holds stock. The productiveness of
these investments would, have no doubt, be
greatly enhanced by such an investigation.
Should you regard a sa of the Canals as mex
pedient, AMI, in any case, 30 long as they remain
under State management, The pro priety Of strict
compliance 10 their administration with the direc-
tions OF the Constitution will not be questioned -
The separation OF them into several divisions and
the assignment OF each division 10 The control Of q
single member Of the Board Of Public Works, in
dependent In most imp ant respects. the Board
itself, seems tome not only inexpedient but Of more
than doubtful constitutiouality. / recommend.
therefore, such notifications Of the act OF the last
General Assembly on this subject will secure to
the whole Board the control of the Public Works
which the Constitution commits to its superintend-
ence l also recommend the restoration Of that
provision Of the act Of lSf by which the Governor,
with the advice and consent OF the Senate, is an
thorized 10 appoint collectors and Inspectors; and
II renew the recommendation addressed to Your
; predecessors, Of more stringent provisions regua
ting the isettlemtnt Of accounts for repairs and
other expenses 90 The canals. Under the law, as
il now stands, there is too much for abuse. 10
the serious prejudice Of the public interests
During the year 1858, as was fully ex-
planned to your predecessors, the sum of SOL
, 333 was advanced by the Treasury of State,
{ upon my advice, concurring with that of the
other Executive Officers, for repairs of the
/ Hooking Canal, greatly injured and seriously
5 endangered by recent floods. The emergency
, did not permit delay; and as the Legislature
had made no provision for extraordinary con
+ tingencies, an occasion seem TO have arisen il
8 which public officers oughtto fake the respon
: siblity of providing the means necessary tC
d protect the State from great loss, and the citi
zens, dependent on the canal for transporta
Q ton, from great injury. The responsibility
I was taken; the means were provided for by
y an advance from the Treasury, unquestiona
, bly, the most economical mode large
i amount than the sum advanced was saved Il
It the Treasury in tolls, and the benefits of tn,
navigation were secured TO the people of tn,
locality. am still of opinion that tbi
= money was prudently and properly advanced
A public officer who, in times of overrnlinl
: emergencies, will not take responsibilities
VI clearly necessary to the public good, as littl
deserves confidence, as he who rashly assume
them on ordinary occasions and without ne
= cessity. 1t will be for you TO determin
whether the action of the Treasurer shall re
- ceive the legislative sanction which the las
: General Assembly omitted to give. W
Z 1t gives me great pleasure to say, that il
= the department of Public Instruction constan
C progress and regular improvement have beel
conspicuous. -c -H H, .4r r.sa.g
Its burdens. however, now press somewhs
u heavily upon the resources of the people =.
P,ior 10 the adoption Of the present Constitution
r the fund annually raised by general taxation an
Of distributed to the counties was comparatiVel
le small For several years the sum lor distributio
:, was fixed at 100000; less than one fourth
,s which was derived fom general taxation. Afler
time this annual sum was reduced for a numbe
! OF years, to Sl5O,000; bat finally increased |
W 100000 During this period in the history OF OF
OF sehools, someWha: larger sums than that derive
from the State were annually raised by local taXi
ID tion but the aggregates from all sources. Stat
IN and local. did not reach onethirl of the totals
v der the existing system. uTs asaa eHf
Z The tax for Schools and School Libraries no
constitutes somewhat more thau three eighths
the entire Lewis for State purposes, aud nearl
III one fourth Of those for local purposes The Stat
W local school taxes in 1858 were 50, ,7sl 1924, q
J. nearly onethird OF the aggregate evies toI all puI
le poses. In 1859, the same levies amounted to So
IN 1872, l75. and bore about the same proportion {
the whole. These facts will suggest 10 t5e Legis
lature aud to the local authorities the necessity
prudence aud the most careful economy. H
p Few citizens, trust, are disposed to abridg
x the, means and opportunities OF education no'
on ofere 10 the youth OF the State. They know thl
es tt power created bg education aud made avail
yn bic In all forms of labor, 10 all processes of art
.s in every sphere OF useful action, Is worth man
M times its cost They feel however that the cost
to great and care is needed lest by improyidence
" extravaganza disafiectiOn may be excited TOWARD
q system so benefcent .a.
of With view to the increased efficiency Of IL
ne system again direct the attention of the Legsl
Il. ture TO the proprietY OF more effective aid
Ar Teachers Institutes, and OF some provision &
el agents to be appointed By the State Commission,
OF to fulfil those duties OF addressing public meetnI
and comforting personally with local authoritie
he now imposed on that officer, but impossible 10
ar, adeQuateIy performed Without pFeudice TO deman