Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-01-07

oreasine and now ceaseless demand of Europe
for food. In the carly periods OF the state.
these market, were almost inaccessible, and
agriculture was discouraged by the heavy bur
then imposedby the cost OF transportation But
In no Department has the State shown greater
energy and intelligence, than 10 supplying the
improved means Of locomotion, and thus giving
a greatly enhanced value to its products. Wise
legislation invited capital to our public Works,
and the people promptly and patriotically met
the taxes required, aud have been repaid for all
their sacrifices. No State of the same age can
produce such an extent Of ublicimprovements,
constructed for the purposes Of commerce and
the development of agriculture. Some have
been constructed by the State, some by corpora.
tiops, and some by private associations; but all
contributing to the public wealth, and being
commercial facilities within the reach of near
ly every inhabitant.
The aggregate Of roads, railroads and canals
is very nearly as follows:
Canals 900 miles
Railroads .,..'..'.....'..,,'''''' 3,uUU
Turupikes ..............s.s..'i'' J4UO -
Common Roads. ......,..',.....''".'.'s ,OOO
These make seventy -four thousand fve hun
dred miles of transit lines, independent OF the
coast lines of Lake Erie and the Ohio river, all
of which are accessible to vessels in navigable
waters. 81.
The land surface Of the State Is 10000 square
miles, 81 that there is one mile of railroad to
every thirteen miles, and a mile and half Of
common road to each square mile OF surface.
The farmers are within easy reach OF q road,
while the great commercial arteries, canals and
railroads, pass through or near the commercial
towns.
Situated between the lakes on the north, and
the mountains on the south which come down
to the Ohio, this State had admirable advan-
tages for internal trade. The great streams of
trade and migration which pass between the
east and the west, must 60 through her terri
tory or along her borders. The consequence is,
that the surface of our State is covered with q
network Of railroads and canals, which are Of
1.-The greatest service, not only TO commerce, but
| to agriculture, and in time OF war, to military
movements When the internal trade with the
South was cut off, the immediate effect was to
| turn much Of the produce which had before
descended the Mississippi, to the railroads Of
the northwest In its transit to the cities of the
Atlantic. Add tho freights derived from abun-
dant harveAs, and the great value of these
roads to all the interests Of the country, will be
appreciated. Nor we're they of less value to
| the Government. While war ragged on the
Southern border, and immense armies were
gathered, troops of all descriptions were moved
through Ohio to any point required, with the
utmost ease and rapidity. Contrasting this al
most marvellous facility OF movement, with the
distractions, the delay, and the cost Of such
movements, in the early periods of our history,
we cannot but be astoniShed that such results
could have been accomplished within thirty
years, in State 80 young.
Nor has the extension OF commerce been
confined to the land. Our tonnage on the lakes
and rivers has increased threefold in twenty
years, and our trade With Canada, which is now
yery important, fourfold. For many years Ohio
has built more vessels than the majority of
the States, and is now the fifth in ship building.
Thus the commerce derived from our extensive
lake and river boundary contrasts as strongly
with former periods ss does the growth of other
branches OF industry and enterprise.
From this statement Of the increased popula-
ton, production, industry and commerce OF
Ohio, it follows 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
ted at more than forty millions Of dollars. 10
I840, the assessed value Of property was but
$I2S, 1853 657, or threefold that Of 1902 In
1850, under new principle Of assessment, the
valuation was $439, ,966, $40, or threefold that of
1910. In 1860, the aggregate value Of property
Waa S8e6, ,302i60l, or double that of 1850. The
annual increment of wealth from 1902 to 1840,
supposfnR the assessment to be iair standard
of comparison, was but two millions; but from
1910 to 1850, il was thirty millions; and from
1850 to 1860, it was forty.four millions. II the
next ten years should be attended by no more
adverse circumstances than those which are
past, the wealth Of Ohio will be increased at
least four hundred millions OF the end of that
period, making due allowance for diminished
immigration and extent OF new lands to be cul-
tivdted.
The present value Of property in Ohio, if 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 a thousand
millions of dollars, or twenty-five fold that oi
1902 That this is very nearly correct, we
have another proof in the fact, that the value
of exported products made from the materials
and labor of Ohio, amounts to sixty millions
per annum. If we consider that the people
have not only exported that amount, but have
received alec nearly all their food, much Of
their clothing, and comfortable homes, from
lands and labor, which do not enter into exports,
il will not be difficult to see, that the capital
which, united with labor, has produced these
results, must be fully equal to the estimate.
The accumulation of this wealth, as the re-
sult of the growth and labor Of sixty years, is
one OF the most extraordinary facts in the
growth of the United States.
In 1850, but three States exceeded in value
the State of Ohio, and New York alone, the
present value of Ohio. Virginia was more
than one hundred and fifty years older than
Ohio, II had one-third more surface, had
abundant mines Of coal and iron, and commu-
nicated with the ocean by the finest rivers and
harbors. Yet, after assessing one-third of her
as property, the whole value fell
one hundred millions short Of that Of Ohio. II
the future political economist sball search for
an illustration Of the superior value Of free in
he will search in vain for one more
effective. - ei. 49,.
After tins surveying our national growth, we
must at last return TO social influences and
social results, as the true tests Of what our In
sttutions have accomplished. In the midst Of
heir material prosperity, are tho people happy,
,om Portable and enlightened7 In the absence
# any positive test Of the internal state of
oeiety, we must resort to such elements of