The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-01-18
Governors Message.


porous condition of our State.
Tho United States Census of tho past
year, with tho Report Of tho Commissioner
OF Statistics. furnish much interesting in
formation relative to tho growth o. our
State. To these sources, bu. chiefly to tho
latter, which will be laid before you in o
few days. | nm indebted or tho following
facts, which exhibit, in part, tho gratifying
progress of tho State in its material deyel-
opment, during the past ten years.
We condeuso some of tho statistics of the
Message. The population OF the State by
the laio census is 2,346G00--an incroaso in
the last ten years of 365 GIL. Tho number
of laudholdcrs in tho State is $4,000; tho
average number OF acres per head is Si;-
average price per aero, 50 90.
| Tho Message also gives statistics on tho
subject of Agriculture. Whole amount of
| gram products for 1860, 1873 100 l73 bush
els--an increase since 1850 Of fifty per cent;
also upon Mining Manufactures, Commerce
and Navigation. Under the latter hoad is
shown that tho tonnage of vessels cleared
in 1850 for foreign ports, was 33, 4oI; in '5S,
6l .446; and that in tho interim the increase
has been 100 per cent Under tho hoad of
! Locomotion. il appears there has been no
|
tho State being 900. Railroads in $780, $50
milos-in 1850. 3oSt miles. The estimated
cost of tho 2700 miles of Railroad built
since 1850, is $50 600, 900. Tho Property
and DcJt Of tho State is compared Prop.
ertY in 1850, G5o4 726, 600; in 1860, $751;
3O2 col. Debt in 1850, $l5,52o,7 ,7GS; in 60,
$l6,927,S34 81
Tue entire debt Of the State and Of the
people of Ohio, is considerably loss than the
increase in the value of property in Tho last
ten years. Small as is this dobt compared
with tho resources of the State, ii is yet a
heavy burden on tho industry of the people,
which can only bo essoned, or removed, by
augmented production and increased econ.
| omy.
Tho great increase of mining and manu-.
features exhibited by these condensed state.
ments, is highly encouraging and crafty.
| ing fact. 1t indicates o still further and IN
definite progress OF development of these
important interests. Tho capabilities of
tho State 10 that regard are almost unlimi-
| ted. The duty of the State to foster these
branches of fuse!nludustry By all suitable leg
islation--ns il is the duty of all good govern.
ment TO insure to labor not only full occu-
patton, but tie greatest product.vencss-is
we'll appreciated Aided as wo may hopo
such an obligation will bo by tho general
government, tho future viii find Ohio second
to mono of hnr confcdcratcd sisters in mining
and manufacturing wealth, aud in all tho
accompanying essentials of social indcpcnd.
cnc., which characterize an Industrial peo-
pie O: diversified pursuits.
Important as arc these Interests TO Tho
people of tho State, aud AS deserving as
| they arc of being carefully cherished, We
should bear in mind that il is on agriculture
that wo must depend as the main source of
our welfare. Fully three .fi!!hs of orr pop
ula,ion arc cultivators of tho soil. What.
ever, therefore, will promote the develop.
meni of this branch os our industry should
receive tho aDimhing and invigorating On.
couragemcnt of the State.
| II must bo admitted that agriculture.
either rs q scicuco or an art, is far from
! being pursued with that ardent and SUCCESS
ful slirit due to its importance. The pro-
duc.iyo resources of tho State arc tut i'm
perfectly developed. Tho area actually
cultivated docs not exceed ono fourth Of
the eEtirc territory. This returns. perhaps
as abundant crops as tho natural fertility of
the soil, little aided by science, car produce.
! Othor countries, in consequence Of their
dense ard increasing population, have been
Obliged to appeal 10 science md solicit aid
| from it's treasures not only to restore the
fertility of tho soil, but, by artificial applica-
tions, to increase tho primitive productive.
ness. |. is gratifying to know that tho in.
| toliigcnt efforts of tho Ohio State Board oil
Agriculture. so introduce among our farmers
an improved system of agriculture founded
oa scientific principles, arc being crowned
by tho happicst results.
4 10 tlaI hn ~
agriculture would bo promoted if the ed
vantsges resulting from an experimental
farm could bo conferred upon the farmers
of tho State. To inaugurate so desirable
an instituti n it might bo we'll to place per,
tion of tho Reform School Farm undor the
direction of tho Ohio State Board of Agri.
culture, and to direct the results of export
ments in tho several departments of farm
ing and stock raising. to be communicated
to the farmers of tho State through the nn-
! nual Report Of that Board
Agricultural schools W borrower established,
have been productive OF valuable results,
! Such nu institution in this State, organized
upon principles adapted to the habits OF the
people, DO not doubt. would receive their
approval. invito your favorable consider
alton to this subject
As our civil and political institutions arc
derived from tho wisdom and exist in the
will of tho people-the source Of all righiful
authority and of nil legitimate Sovereignty
it is obvious that it is upon tho education of
the people wo must roy for the purity, the
preservation. and the porpetuatiOn of our
republican form Of government. IN this
sacred cause We cannot exercise too much
! liberali.y. 1t is identified with our best in
terests in this world and with our best des-
tinies in the Sorld to come. 1t is a source
of Just prido to the people of this State that
Ohio has no cause os s0lf.reproach on this
account. Tho wiso provision Of her organic
law, imposing the duty upon the General
Assembly of maintaining thorough and
efficient system of common schools through.
out the State, and the fidelity with which
this obligation has boon discharged. bear
honorable witness of her zeal in behalf OF
popular education.
Our present school law was enacted in
1858. II is much more comprehensive and
effective in its provisions than any preceding
law in Ohio. Being radical in some of itG
features. it is not surprising that it met with
carly opposition. II imposed what seemed
to some an unreasonable taxation, and con
forred authority upon Boards of Education
which was objected to by many. Blu. from
tho first large majority of the people have
approved tho system, and since it has vind
Gated its value by its actual workings little
| ;a arroyad anainef II