The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-02-04
Cofal Afuirs.
UTThe School Commissioners meet on
Tuesday, next.

UTThe School Commissioners meet on
Tuesday, next
GIVE have heard frequent inquiries
from Jurors on the October panel, as to
whether they should come to the February
term, new panel having been summoned by
the Sheriff! We think it is safest for them
to obey sl,e order of the Court, and re.assem-
bic III February as directed. They will
clearly be entitled to their per diem until
discharged by the Court.
NEW AsSEssMENT.-It has been
| recommended by the Comptroller that new
assessment be made of the taxable property
Of the State. To make fair and impartial
assessment of the county is work requiring
| much care and Judgement, and although many
persons are willing to undertake the Office,
there are very few who are entirely competent
for such task. The great matter to- be
attained is uniformity in valuation, and as the
value and incomes OF property vary according
to location, and other it requires
prudence and nice discrimination to fix the
relative value of one property with another
throughout the county, and which valuation
is probably to remain unchanged for another
ten years. In regard to the county assess
ment, it is not very material whether the val
| uation be high, or low, so it be uniform but
as regards State tax, it ought to be uniform
throughout the State.
If the Legislature order new valuation. it
is hoped they will be careful to select for
assessors, men who are cminently qualified
for such duty, in preference to giving the
appointments merely for partisan scrv ices.
CENsUs.-The tenth year has arrived,
and soon the Deputy Marshals will be abroad
the length and breadth of the land numbering
the people, and arranging important statistics.
In Cecil it will be found that the number of
inhabitants, and wealth of the county have
greatly increased. In one departmcnt--thc
product Of the fisheries, there has been falling
off, This was formerly considered one of the
great interests Of the County, second only to
agriculture. Some fifty or sixty fisheries
were in operation, over one thousand hands,
and furnishing labor besides to large num-
Der of men in making barrels, boats.
and other articles, and to number of females
in knitting seines; and bringing large sums
of money into the county for sales of fish
The shad and herrings seems to have foIsaken
our waters, 50 that fishing is nearly abandoned
Fishing operated against the advancement OF
agriculture, by drawing away from it such
large numbers of men, al so important time
to the farmer as the Spring Of the wear. and
1t Is doubtful on the whole, whether the fish
cries were any real advantage TO the county.
The forest does not now afford as great guam.
tity of timber as formerly, but it is turned to
better advantage, and smaller quantity
produces more money. In the manufacture
Of Iron there has been a great increase in
Cecil within ten years. The value of grain
and stocks has considerably advanced within
that pcriod-whatcvcr may be said Of the
utility of grain, there is no doubt Of the fact
that the use of it has given rise to a spirit Of
Improvement in reclaiming poor lands, and
the raising Of sheep has been greatly cncour-
aged by the dog law.
1t is important that the census be taken
with entire accuracy, which has not always
been the case. The work should be placed
in the hands of a careful and rrliab lie man.
who whould take pride in doing it correctly,
and not merely running over ii for sake Of the
pay.