Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-01-16

These facts show that the production of pig
iron has Increased in the last twenty years
fourfold, and that of coal ffteenfold and that
of salt skiold. This Is a far create ratio OF
Iowth than that of population or agricultural
production, and shows that the greatest rela-
tive Increase in industry, at the present time,
is in the department of mining and manu- ac
lures.
Lest year the report of the Commissioner
OF Statistics contains summary of the entire
industry of the State, compi led from the re-
turns of the United States census. The aggrc-
gate value of industry (not agriculuraD was
Sl22 66I 900, showing an increase from 1910
to 1850 of one hundred per cent, and from 1850
to 1860 OF ninety eight per cent-the who lie
increase in twenty years, being just fourfold.
Several particular branches of industry and
the arts, such as the products of coal and salt,
and the m anuiacturc Of clothing and of distil-
led liquors, have increased in much greater
ratio.
In viewing these pleasing results of prodnc-
tive industry, exhibiting the active and remu-
nerated employment Of labor, which confcrs
at once independence upon the man and
wealth upon the State, We should recognize
the great Importance of machinery, and the
new and multiplied fac ites Of commerce, fur
nished by the modern arts of locomotion. Of
these, Ohio has largely availed herself. The
machines for facilitating agriculture have not
only been used, but made in great numbers
within the State The new arts of disillation
of expressing oils, and of sewing by machine
ry, with Others Of minor Importance, have all
been employed with great success. The art,
however, which has aided Ohio more than
any other, is the Improvement in locomotion.
This applies more especially to commerce.
! The first want of State so largely engaged
! in agriculture, is sufficient markets for its pro-
ducts, and the next is cheap and facile modes
of transporting those products. Markets we
have in the increasing want of cities and man
ufacturing towns on the Atlantic, and the in
creasing and now ceaseless demand Of Europe
for food. In the early periods of the State,
these markets were almost inaccessible, and
agriculture was discouraged by the heavy bur-
thens imposed by the cost OF transportation.
But in no department has the State shown
greater eneregy and intelligence, than in sup
plying the improved means oflacomotion, and
thus, giving greatly enhanced value to its
products. Wise legislation invited capital to
our public works, and the people promptly
aid patriotically met the taxes required, and
have been repaid for all their sacrafces. No
State of the same age can produce such an
extent of public improvements, constructed
for the purpose of commerce, and the devel-
opement of agriculture. Some have been
|
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. ............. .3,000
IurnplkeS. 3,4CU
Common Roads. ...... $1,000
These make seventy four thousand five
hundred miles of transit lines, independent
of the coast lines of Lake Erie and the Ohio
river, all of which are accessible to vessels in
navgable waters.
The land surface of the State is 40 600
square miles, SO that there is one mile ofrail-
road to every thirteen square miles, and a
! mile and "a half f-common- -road.- to. eaca
square mile ofsurface. The farmers are with
in easy reach Of road, while the great COM
mcrcial arteries, canals, and railroads pass
through or near the commercial towns.
Situated between the lakes on the north
and the mo ountains on the south, which come
down to the Ohio, this State has admirable
bic advantages for internal trade. The great
streams of trade and migration which pass be-
tween the east and the west, must go through
her territory or along her borders. The con-
| sequence is, that the surface of our State is
covered with network of railroads and ca
nails, which are OF 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 Mis-
sissippi to the railroads of the north west in
its transit to the cities of the Atlantic. And
the frcights derived from abundant harvests;
and the great value of these roads to all the
interests of the country will be appreciated.