The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-01-10

lively short time since his office was
created, made thorough investigation
OF the history, cost, construction,
management, DC, Of the various
lines within the State. The collec
tlon and arrangement of these facts,
IN accessible form, is in itself of
very great value, and not only af
fords a reliable basis for legislating
upon this important class of inter
ests, but exhibits TO the world the
most authentic evidence of the ex
tent to which great public improve
ments have been carried in OHIO.
The practical suggestions of the
Commissioner upon the many del
delicate and intricate questions aris-
ing between the people and these
useful corporations, are worthy of
the most careful consideration.
In accordance with the directions
of the statute on that subject, the
lease of the canals and public works
has been renewed and extended for
ten years, 80 that it now runs to
June l, 1881. The Board of Public
Works express great satisfaction
with the energy and promptness
with which the lessees have made the
costly repairs required on the canals
in consequence Of the freshets of
1866, and give good reasons for
believing that the interests of the
State are not suffering by the
conditions and terms of the lease.
The drouth OF the past season has
greatly interfered with water trans
portatioa on the canals and rivers,
but it would seem that everything
has been done which was possible
to overcome the difficulty.
An Inspectorship of Gas and Gas
Metres was established by act of the
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duty is in the hands of one of the
most able and we'll known chemists
of the country. His report details
the steps taken by him to carry out
the provisions of the law, and the
means adopted to make the tests
used for the protection of the public
as nearly exact as may be in their
scientific accuracy. His salary was
by the terms of the statute to be
collected by tho Auditor of State
from the gas companies, and as some
of them have delayed payment or
contested the constitutionslity of the
law, it has resulted that no salary
has been as yet paid to the Commis-
sioner. / would respectfully sug-
gest that in such case the first pay
ment of the salary CT 6 public officer
should be made directly from the
Treasury, and that the State can af-
ford to wait the process of reim-
bursement by collection much bet
ter than the officer who depends up
ON the salary for his living.
The Improvement of the State
Library has progressed satisfactor-
lily, and the new alcoves, with the
gallery above, give room for large
increase of shelving, as the accumu-
lation of books require it. The beau
ty of the design and workmanship
make the room attractive in high
degree. To accommodate the books
packed and stored in the lumber
rooms the second tier of alooves
should be completed, carrying out
the full plan upon which the lower
tier has been constructed.
Although nearly ten years have
elapsed since the State House was
declared finished, rough board fence
still reaches half way round the en-
closure. A good brick walk has
been laid upon the east side of the
square during the past season, but
the north and south sides are equal
ly in need of a pavement. The post
ponement Of those matters, from
year to year, does not seem to make
it easier to reach them, and / would
strongly recommend that this portion
of the necessary work about the
Capitol be completed at once.
The Board of Military Claims,
consisting of the Auditor and Comp
troller of the Treasury and the Sec
retary of State, which is charged
with the duty of exami ming and pay
ing claims OF Ohio citizens for serv-
ices rendered and money expended
in the recruiting, feeding transport
ing and clothing Ohio volunteers
and militia, during the war prior to
the time when such troops were
mustered into the service of the
United States, reports that its work
is substantially completed. 1t has
examined during the last year, claims
amounting to Sl46,SS7 81, of which
a part, amounting to 500, AL 81,
have been allowed, and the remain
der are still under consideration.
The claims allowed exceed the last
made by S21,7I3 AZ,
and this sum, together with such
portions Of the claims still under
examination as may be found Just,
will need to be provided for. ]
The Federal Government, under
an act of Congress, appointed a |
Board, of which Gen. Casey was
president, to examine and pass upon
the claims of the State for expendi- |
lures made on behalf of the United
States during the invasion of 1868,
known as the "Morgan Raid" Their |
authority did not cover any claims |
for damages to private property, but
only the legitimate expenditures for
putting on foot and sustaining in the |
field the State troops. Claims of
these items were laid before the Board
by the Adjutant General, amount.
ing to S274 1924 A of which all but
sS,622 73 were allowed, and are |
now awaiting the action of the |
United States Treasury Department
upon the report of the Commits.
sion.
Besides the two classes of claims
against the General Government
above described, the State has &C.
count for material furnished and ex-
penditures made during the war. In
addition to instalments previously
allowed and paid we have this year
received the sum of Sl59,027 90,
which has been duly certified into
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