The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-01-11

ton Of his salary from the gas com
panies of the State. In the act, as
enrolled, the amount of the salary
was not declared, and no evidence
could be obtained OF the Assembly
having iilled the blank in the bill.-l
Under these stances, the In
spector, II appointed, would either
be without a salary for the year, or
would be dependent upon the volun-
tary payment of the companies,
whose business he would supervise
The latter arrangement would be
every way contrary to public policy,
and found competent persons in.
disposed to accept the position under
the former. l have, therefore, post.
poned an appointment under the
statute, until you should have an
opportunity of supplying the omis
sion referred TO.
STATE LIBRARY.
When the Library room, In the
present State House. was occupied
the oil bookcases were moved in,
and new ones of q cheap construction
have been added from time to time.
The Librari,n reports two great evils
arising from this. First, that the
Iloor of the room is so encumbered
with separate cases as to be incon-
venient and unsightlc; and second,
what is far more seriour affair, that
il is impossible that he should have
all the cases In view from any one
point in the room, and being without
assistants he cannot properly guard
the books when numbers of persons
are in the library. In this way it
has occurred that books are frequent.
ly stolen, and valuable sets have been
broken and rendered worthless. The
Commissioners agree with him, that
if the library is to be preserved, the
final decision OF the arrangement
and protection of the books cannot
properly be postponed longer. The
original plan of the room comprises
two stories of alcoves around its ex.
terror, which would give space foi
the increase of the library for some
years to come, without encumhering
the centre of it with detached cases
The cases should then be separated
by railing from the rest of the room
or be fitted with glass doors which
could be locked. II is believed that
plans and specifications originally
made are still in existence, and at
tention is called to the subject FOL
the urgent reasons above stated.
The use AMI value of public libra
ries are multiplatcd many fold at tn,
close of n historical period which viii
: always be regarded as most mem
oraDle one. The judieious accumu
: lation of documents Of all sorts, cal
culated to throw light upon the time
, is universally admitted by intelligen
people to be thing upon which NJ
/ money value can he set. 1t is not
, question of the style, dignity or pres
ent value of the book preserved; tn
most trivial pamphlet, the rudest an'
most unfinished story of a soldier
personal experience, may have val
ne for posterily that no elaborat
/ history which could now be writte
would have. TO collect and careful
t ly preserve for Judgment of futur
, times, all the testimony which is no,
, so abundant, appears To me solem,
g duty, In connection therefore, wit
! the subject of increasing the shelf
, room OF the library, l would recon-
5 mend specific appropriation, to b
expended only for publications di
rectly connected with the history o
the great rebellion.
STATE HOUSE.
; Among the subjects reported upo
> by the Superintendent of the Stat
Z House, the alag Room" will doubt
less have the most general interest
, The worn and battle. stained flags O
the Ohio troops have been collecteu
5 and carefully arranged in convenlen
racks, labelled and marked so MS t
f be easily recognized, and are til
center of interest to our fellow citi
h, zcns who visit the Capital. Could
; larger room have been at command
| q more satisfactory effect would hav
V been obtained; but the superintend
/ ent has done the best that is no
b. practicable, to preserve these sacre
relies.
1t is worth while to inquire whetl
er any real advantage will be foun
= in further delay in completing til
cutters, walks and fences around til
Capital square. The lack Of gutter
on the east side Of the square cause
y the street to continue in miry col
: dton during much of the last seasol
: and-was reported by Il City Boar
of Health as nuisance dangerous
the health of the vicinity. In pre-
viding for the enforcement of saI
y itary measures throughout the Stat
it is urgent that an evil for which "
may be directly responsible shoul
n not be overlooked. Estimates of I'll
$ City Engineer of the cost of pave
II cutters, ETC., are herewith transmi
ted. .
J, STATISTICS
In order to make his report MOI
: fully and satisfactory, and MOI
y nearly commensurate with the zei
. Importance OF the subject the Con
. missioner of Statistics needs eithC
to have a clerk allowed him, or
. contingent fund placed at his disp'
sal to enable him to procure fac
hn MI