The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-01-10

ated the Office Of Inspector Of Gas Ne
ters, providing for the collection of hil
salary from the Gas Companies 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 filed the blank
j., the bill. Under these eircumstan.
ces the Inspector, ifappointed, would
either be without salary for the year
or would be dependent upon the vol,
untary payment of Lhe Companies
whose business he would supervise
The latter arrangement would be eve.
ry way contrary to public policy, and
/ found competent persons indisposed
to accept the position under the for,
mer. | have, therefore, postponed
making any appointment under the
statute, until you should have an op-
portunity of supplying the omission
referred to. rte
STATE LIBRARY.
When the Library room, in the pres
ent State House, was occupied the old
book cases were moved in, and new
ones of cheap construction have been
added from time to lime. The Libra
rian reports two great evils arising
from this. First, that the floor OF the
room is so encountered with separate
cases as to be inconvenient and un-
slightly; and second, what is far from
serious affair, that it is impossible
that he should have all the cases in
view from any one point in the room,
and being without assistants he can
not properly guard the books when
nunbers Of persons are in the library.
In this way it has occurred that books
are frequently stolen, and valuable
sets have been broken and rendered
worthless. The Commissioners agree
with him, that il the library is to be
preserved, the final decision of the ar.
rangement and protection of the books
cannot properly be postponed longer.
The original plan CT the room com.
priscs two stories of alcoves around its
exterior, which would give space for
the increase OF the library for some
years to come, without encumbering
the center of it with detached cases ~
The cases should then be separated by
a railing from the rest of the room, or
be fitted with glass doors which could
be locked 1t is believed that plans
and specifications originally made are
still in existence, and attention is call
cd to the subject for the urgent roas-
ons above stated.
The use and value OF public libraries
are multiplied MANIFOLD at the close Of
u historical period which will always
be regarded most memorable one
The judIcious accumulation of docu
menls of all sorts calculated to throw
light upon the time, is universally ad-
mitted by intelligent people TO be a
thing upon which no money value can
be set. " is not a question of the
style, dignity or present value OF the
book preserved; the most trivial pam
phlet, the rudcst and most unfinished
story of a soldiers personal experience,
may have u value for poslerity thatno
elaborate history which could now be
written would have. To collect and
carefully preserve for the judgment OF
future times, all the testimony which
is now 80 abundant, appears TO me u
solemn duty. In connection, there.
fore, with the subject of increasing the
of the library, l would re.
specific appropriation, to
b. expended oniy for puolicaIlons di.
rcctly connected with the history of
the grea. rebellion.
STATE HOUSE.
Among the subjects reported upon
by the Superintendent of the State
House, the Flag Room will doubt.
less have tho most general interest. -.
The worn and battle stained flags of
the Ohio troops have been collected
and carefully arranged in convenient
racks, labelled and marked so as to be
easily recognized, and are the center
oflnterest to- our fellow. citizens who
visit the Capitol Could a larger room
have been at command, more satis-
factory effe,t would have been obtain
sd; but the Superintendent has done
he best that is now practicable, TO pro.
serve these sacred relics,
1t is worth while to inquire whether
my real advantages will be found in
turther delay in completing the cutters,
walks and fences around the Capitol
square. The lack Of cutters on the
,ast sido OF the rquare caused the street
10 continue in a miry condition during
much of last season, and was reported
BY the City Board Of Health as nui.
Iance dangerous to the health of tho
iicinity. In providing for the en-.
orcement Of sanitary measures thro'.
'ut the State, it is urged that an evil
or which We may be directly respon.
ible should not bo overlooked. Esti.
mates of the City Engineer of the cost
IT tho paved cutters, etc, are here.
With transmitted.
STATISTICS.
In order to make his report more
nll and satisfactory, and more nearly
commensurate with the real import. |
nco Of the subject, the Commissioner.
| Statistics needs either to have clerk |
loved him, or q contingent fund
laced at his disposal to enable him to I
rocure facts and Information from the
arious counties Of the State. Ie is