The Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1861-1862, 1862-01-11

Ohio 70 any point reaniged, with the utmost
ease and rapiditk. Rpntrasting this almost
marvellous facility Of Movement, with the OBJ
structiops, the delay aud the cost Of such
moVements, IN the early periods of our his
tory, ne cannot but be- astonished, that, such
results could be accomplished within thirty
years, in STATE 50 young, ...-
= Nor has the extension of commerce been
confined to the land Oar tonnage on the
Eiakcsand rivers has Increased threefold in
twenty years., and ON trade with Canada,
which is now very important, fourfold. For
many years Ohio has bRilt more vessels than
the emajority Of the SSltbs, and is now the fifth
IN ship building Thus the commetce deri-
t,yed from our extensive lake andriyer bound
ary contrasts as stfohSi With former periods
rs does The gro 81 Ela8nehes Of indus
I try and enterprise. y ~ z
From this statement 81 the increased pop.
ulation, industy and commerce of Ohio, it fol-
lows that its wealth, which is but the creation
of these elements, must have increased in
equal proportion. At the time we were
about forming our Constitution, sixty years
since, it is doubtful whether the entire State,
considered as property, could be fairly estima-
1910, the assessed value of property was but
$129,353,657, or threeio!d that of 1902. In
1850, under new principle of assessment,
the valuation was $439,9G6,340 or thrcefold
that of 1910. In 1860, the aggregate value
of property was 1887, ,3G2, ,6O1, or double that
of 1850 Tire anual increasement of wealth
from 1902 to 1910, supposing the assessment
to be fair standard OF comparison, was but
two millions; but from 1910 to 1850, it was
thirty millions; and from 1850 to 1860 it was
forty-fou millions. If the next ten years
| should be attended by no more adverse cir
cumstances than those which are past, the
wealth of Ohio will be increased at least foul
| hundred millions at the end of that period
making due allowance for diminished i'm
migration and extent of new lands to be cult
waited.
The present value of property in Ohio, il
we take into view the large amount which
escapes assessment, and the small value placed
upon animals and other species of personal
property, cannot be estimated at less than 6
thousand millions of dollars, or twenty-five
fold that of 1902. That is very nearly cor.
rect, we have another proof in the fact, thai
the value of exported products made from
the materials and labor Of Ohio, amounts tC
sixty millions per annunl. If we consider tina
the people have not only exported that amoun
but have received also nearly all their food
much of their clothing, and comfortable
homes, from lands and labor, which do no
enter as exports, it will not be difficult to see
the capital which, united with labor has pro
duced these results, must be fully equal t
the estimate.
The accumulation of this wealth, as thu
result of the growth and labor of sixty years
is one of the extraordinary facts in the growtl
of the United States. .'--f-,t '~''-
In 1850, but three States exceeded i'll val
uc the State of Ohio, and New York alone
the present value of Ohio. Virginia wa
moro than one hundred and fifty years ode
than Ohio tt hatfone third more sarfac,
had abundant mines of coal ard iron, AM
communicated with the ocean by the fines
rivers and harbors. Yet after assessing on
third of her populution as property, the who'll
value fell one hundred millions short of tina
of Ohio. If the future political economis
shall search for an illustration of the superio
value of free institutions, he will search il
vain for one more effective.
After thus surveying our national growth
we must at least return to social influences
and social results, as the true tests of what on
institutions have accomplished. In the mids
of their material prosperity, arc the people
happy, comfortable and enlightened ? In tht
absence of any positive test of the intsrna
state of society, we must resort to such clc
ments of morals, education and religion as il
all civilized states are admitted to be the out
ward signs of social condition.
The principle of an universal public educa
ton was embraced in all the laws and ortfan
ances organizing the institutions of the State
The United States granted lands, the Sat,
adopted the principle in her Constitution, ant
for half a century various laws have been en-
acted, and taxes laid to carry out fully tn
original Intention, that the whole peopl
could be educated To do this, however
required not merely laws and money, but
social experience, and adaptation of mean
which could only be the growth of time
,, After many difficulties and the lapse of man
years, it has been accomplished, and on
school system, if not perfect, is certainly Civ
: ing an elementary education to the people;
= is not merely the growth of numbers, but tn
. growth of the system, whose comprehenslv
: benefits and influences embrace the who
q people
g The increase in the extent, and applicable
: of public education to the people, may be c.
timated from the following proportions, b.
tween the population at given periods, an
number attending all these places ofeducatior
In 1s3o-254,612. 1e per ct of pop. in schoo
Tn 1910 2S7 6nQ 10