The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-01-11

expect TO receive proper assistance from
the General Assembly, aud in that ex-
pectation trust they will not be disap
pointed.
The total number ofpersons ofschool
age in the State in 1869, was officially re-
ported at l 1,02S,675; an increase of H.
los over the previous year. The total
number enrolled in the public schools in
1869 was 740,SS2, an increase of $3.50
over the year 1868. The average daily
attendance in the public school in 1869
was 434, ,S65, an increase over 1865 of
,24,14l.
The tota. taxes for schools, school
buildings, and all other purposes, the
present fiscal year, is S6,57S, 1876 SO, an
increase of taxation of the previous fis-
cal year of S616,795 6S. Of this in
crease of taxation, the sum of ST.
S33 sc is in the State taxation for school
purposes, and the sum of S59S,961 50
is the increase of local school taxation.
The State Commissioner of Common
Schools, in his report, will recommend
the adoption of county superintendency,
the substitution of township boards of
education for the present system of town
ship and sub district boards, codifica-
ton Of school laws and other important
measures, to which your attention is re-
spectfully called.
Prior to the organization of the Board
of State Charities in 1867, there was no
provision for systematic examination
of the benevolent and correctional insti-
tutions under the control of the State
and local authorities. The members of
the Board serve without pecuniary COM
pensation. 1t is simple justice to them
to say that they have faithfully perform
ed the thaDkless task of investigating
and reporting the defects of the system
and in the administration of our charit
able and penal laws, and have furnished
in their reports information and sugges-
tions of great value. If it is true that
an abuse exposed is half corrected, it
would be difficult to overestimate their
work. They have, their reports show,
discovered abuses and cruelties practiced,
under color of law, in the midst of CON-
munities noted for intelligence and vir-
tue, which would disgrace any age. Let
the Board be granted increased powers
and facilities for the discharge of their
duties, and it will afford sccurity-per-
haps the best attainable-to the people
of the State, that the muniicent provis-
ion which the laws make for the poor
and unfortunate, will not be wasted or
misapplied by the officials who are char
ged with its distribution.
I During the last year more than nine
hundred persons, classed as incurably
insane, have been lodged in the county
intilmaries, and almost one hundred
been confined in the county jails. Be
sides these large number of the same
class Of unfortunates have been taken
care of by relatives or friends. The
State should no longer postpone making
suitable provision for these unfortunate
people. The treatment they receive il
the infirmaries and iails is always, of ne
cessity, unsuited to their condition, and
, is often atrocious. To provide for them
would not recommend an increase O
the number Of asylums for the insane
1t is believed, by those best acquainted
with the subject, that both economy ant
I the welfare of the patients require tha
the chronic insane should be PROVIDED
for by additions to the asylums already
built, or to those which are now build
ing. 1t is probable that in this way sucl
patients can be supported at less expense
to the people Of the State than in infrm
: aries and jails. However this may be
+ their present condition imperatively de
6 mands, and, thrust, will receive, the Sc
: lrious consideration Of the General As
: sembly. Although commonly classed
sas incurable, it Is quite certain that, b.
t proper treatment ID suitable institutions
: the condition oil all of them will be vast
!. ly improved, and, it may well be hoped
e that many of them can be entirely cured
S The -expediency of establishing al
: asylum for the cure of inebriates has no
t been much considered in Ohio. The en-
i couraging results which are reported b
e the officers in charge of the State Inc
], briate Asylum of New York, induce m
!, to recommend that the General Assem-
bly, provide for full investigation of tn
s subject.
4 The Agricultural and Mechanical Co
lege Funtl, created by the sale of lane
9 scrip, issued to Ohio by the Nations
Government, amounted, ON the first il
slant, to s404,911 37d. The State az
Q ceDted the grant, out of which this fun
5 has been created February 10, 1854, an
: is bound, BY the terms of acceptance a
! modified by Congress, to provide s'nc
. less than one college on or before Jul
0 9, 1872, where the leading object sha
. be, without excluding other scientific an
classical studies, and including .nilitar
. tactics, to teach such branches of learI
), ing as are related to agriculture and tn
Q mechanic artsn The manner in whic
d this fund shall be disposed of has been an
S ply considered by preceding General Al
" Esemblies, and in the messages OF m
r predecessors in the Executive Office.
it respectfully urge that such action be ha
!, as will render this fund available for tt
e important purposes for which 1t ws
l. granted. 1t is not probable that furthe
o delay will furnish additional infornatio
e on any OF the important questions il
a volved in its disposition. Much tim
e and attention has been given to the sui
d ject of the location of the College. N
n doubt it will be of great benefit to th
n county in which it shall be established
h but the main object of desire with til
e people of the State can be substantial
# accomplished at any one of the place
Ie which have bsen prominently named ;
IS the site of the college. l, therefore, ,tru'
,r that the friends of education will not a
le low differences upon question of con
s tparatively small Importance to the pei
!, pie at large longer to postpone the estal
H. lishment of the institution in compliant
o with the obligation of the State.
% A large part of the work required
le complete the SOLDIERS Record" in pu
4. suance of an act passed March II, 1S6
r. has already been done at an expense I
o about $4,000, and the propriety of m
f~,r I,