The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-03-22
COLUMBUS CORRESPONDENTS
COLUMBUS. ONO. March IA.

College question, all l have to say on
that subject this time is, that it has as
sumed definite shape and is likely to
be settled. A bill has passed the House
that authorizes the appointment of one
Commissioner from each Congressional
District to fix upon location before the
first of August, 1871. This bill is made
the special order for tomorrow in the
Senate. There being so many conflicting
opinions in the Legislature this is the
only way the question can ever be set
tled
The bill of Mr.. BABER protecting the
purity of primary elections has also
passed the House, but is in q fair way to
be killed in the Senate. The object of
this bill is to allow the Central Commit
tee Of either political party, in counties
where candidates are nominated by pop
ular vote, to direct that the judges and
clerks of said elections be sworn in, and
to punish fraudulent voting the same as
in general elections No doubt this
would work some good in many locali-
ties. 1t however gives powers to Cen
tral Committees that many are disposed
to question. The Committee may direct
the primary elections to be held under it
or not, just as they please. 1t is avol-
untary action of few men which would
control the action for whole party in a
county. 1t has been tried in California
and is said to work well.
The House has passed bill Preferred
to in some Of my former letters to al
low cities, counties, townships and villa
ges to levy tax to build railroads. This
/ is kind of wholesale railroad business
The railroads of this country have
already too much power, and this is cal
culated not to divest them of anything
already gained, but on the other hand to
increase their monopoly. Railroads are
useful for travel and transportation, but
should be circumscribed and kept within
due bounds. They are a part OF the
moneyed aristocracy OF our land, and
next to the national banking interests OF
our country, are controlling the desti-
nies of the people. They make and un-
make the ruling parties of some of the
States. They are rapidly absorbing our
Western land; and while they have been
the source of rapid progress and devel-
opnent in the settlement of our Western
country, they have more than kept pace
in their power to advance the interest Of
the wealthy and control the country :
Ohio has felt their power, and there is q
strong necessity to guard the encroach-
ment of that power. Let the people
look well to their own interest, and
should this bill become a law, properly
protect themselves against its enforce
ment.
A bill has been introduced to allow q
part Of the proceeds of the labor of con
victs in the Penitentiary to go to theil
families. This institution being source
of revenue to the State, the application
of part of the proceeds of convict's
labor to the lenefit of his family will nc
doubt be great relief to the suffering
of many poor women and children who
have to suffer from the misdeeds of {
husband and father,
Il A bill has also been introduced to es
tabltsh a house of discipline for convicts
the object of which is to operate more
as a reformatory than the present sys
/. TEN of convict labor. l am not aware
| of what is expected to be accomplished
by this, or what precedents 1t has Il
build upon.
Much of the last two days have bee
spent by the Senate in Committee of th
Whole on the Municipal Corporatioi
!. Bill. This bin proposes to amend an,
modify the act of last winter Th
amendments generally affect local inter
ests of cities. Very little alteration wi
be made in the law that affects towns an
villages.
! The Committee on the Reform Fari
and Industrial School a few days ag
visited the Industrial School for Girl.
This Institution, it will be recollectet
: was purchased by the State last winte
1t commenced operations in Novcmbe
: 1869. 1t is the former watering plac
{ known as the White Sulphur Spring
: and is situated about twenty miles Mort
!, of Columbus. We had to travel frol
I the railroad about six miles across I'll
5 country, which is here nearly level. On
!. very strange thing l noticed on the wa
is stream about as large as Standin!
/ stone Creek that entirely loses itself
L the crcvices Of the rocks over which
|; passes. 1t is supposed to run into
v cave.
On arriving at the Springs we four
the pace very beautiful one; both n
ture and art had contributed to its ador
> ment. The farm contains $50 acres
!, excellent land. There are large nur
il ber of buildings omit, many of which a
6 amply fitted for the use to which it
L now applied. There are three differel
) kinds of springs on the farm: one
4 limestone water, two of sulphate of iro
d one of white Sulphur. The latter is tt
e greatest curiosity. 1t was discoyert
e accidentally while boring for salt. II