Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-01-25

State Debt. i5,52O,76s 1927 S3l q
The aggregate debt of the State, municipali-
ties, bankers, merchants, and individuals, was
estimated by the Commissioner of Statistics, in
his report OF 1859, at $lS9,592,346 exclusive of
railroads, which is a specific pledge on the roads,
Debt due out of the State, 100000, consis-
ting of debt due by the State, municipalities,
banks and merchants.
Increase in the value of property per cent.
Proportion of debt to value ofproperty ----,.2s
I" due out Of the State to the
whole value OF property
The entire debt of the State and of the people
of Ohio, is considerably less than the increase
in the value of property in the last ten years.
Small as is this debt compared with the resour-
ces of the State, it is yet heavy burden on the
industry of the people, which can only be less
ened, or removed, by augmented production and
increased economy.
MINING AND MANUFACTURES.
The great increase of mining and manufac-
lures exhibited by these condensed statements
is a highly encouraging and gratifying fact 1t
indicates still further and indefinite progress of
developement of these important interests. The
capabilities of the State in that regard are al
most unlimited. The duty of the State to fos-
ter these branches of useful industry by all suit
able legslation-as it is the duty of all good
government to insure to labor not only full oc-
cupation but the greatest productiveness-is
well appreciated Aided as we may hope such
an obligation will be by the general government
the future will find Ohio second to none of hei
confederated sisters in mining and manufacture
ing wealth, aud in all the accompanying essen.
tials of social independence which characterize
an industrious people of diversified pursuits.
AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS.
Important as are these interests to the people
of the State, and as deserving as they are of be-
| NIL oh ehn i'm,
that it is on agriculture that we must depend al
| the main source of our welfare. Fully three
| fifths of our population are cultivatOrs of th'
| soil. Whatever, therefore, will promote the de
velopment of this branch of our Industry shoulC
receive the animating and invigorating encour
agement of the State.
1t must be admitted that agriculture either a
a science or an art, is far from being pursued
with that ardent and successful spirit due TO it
importance. The productive resources of tn
State are but imperfectly developed The are
actually cultivated does not exceed one-fourtl
of the entire territory. This returns, perhap:
as abundant crops as the natural fertility of tn
soil, little aided by science, can produce. Othe
countries, in consequence of their dense and in
ereasing populations, have been obliged to ap
peal to science and solicit aid from its treasure:
not only to restore the fertility to the soil, bu
by artificial applications, to increase the primi
tive productiveness. 1t is gratifying to knON
that the intelligent efforts of the Ohio Stat
Board of Agriculture, to introduce among ou
farmers an improved system of agricultur
founded on scientific principles, are being crown
by the happiest results.
There is no doubt that the progress of agri
culture would be promoted if the advantage
resulting from an experimental farm could b
conferred upon the farmers of the State. Toir
augurate so desirable an institution it might
well TO place a portion of the Reform SchoC
Farm under the direction of the Ohio Stat
Board of Agriculture, and TO direct the result
Of experiments in the several departments
farming and stock raising, TO be communicate
to the farmers of the State through the annui
report of that Board.
Agricultural schools, wherever establishes
have been productive of good results. Such a
institution in this State, organized upon prime
piles adapted to the habits Ofthe people, l do n,
Subt would receive their approval. invi
your favorable consideration to this subject.
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
!, AS our civil and political institutions are d.
e rived from the wisdom, and exist in the will
; the people-the source of all rightful authori;
and of al legitimate sovereignty-it is obviol
that it is upon the education of the people "
5 must rely for the purity the preservation, ar
. the perpetuation of our republican form of go'
/, ernment. In this sacred cause we cannot exc
I else too much liberality. II is identified wit
our best interests in this world, and with o,
best destines in the world to come. 1t is
source of just pride to the people of this Sta
that Ohio has no cause of self-reproach on tn
account. The wise provision of her organ
law, imposing the duty upon the General A
sembly of maintaining thorough and efficie
system of common schools throughout the Stat
. and the fidelity with which this obligation HI
been discharged bear honorable witness to h
zeal in behalf of popular education.
Our present school law was enacted in 1876
It ID much more comprehensive and effective
its provisions than any preceding law in Obi
Being radical In some OF its features, il is m
surprising that it met with early opposition.
d imposed, what seemed to some an unreasonab
taxntinn and conferred authority nnon Roar