The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-01-17
CoLUmBEs CORRESPONDENCE.
CoLumBiUs. o., Jan. II, 1871.

Columns, o., Jan. II, 1871.
Eos SPIRIT: One week has nowspass-
ed since tie Legislature met. and it may
now be said to be fairly at work. Little
worthy of notice has yet been complas|
ted.
The State Board OF Agriculture met
on the 4th inst. This Board IS compos
ed of the officers of the State Agricultu-
raj Society and the Presidents OF the
County Societies OF this State. When
assembled, composcs large amount OF
productive agricultural talent, and their
transactions should. be more read and
better understood by the "bone and sln-
ew'' of the State. In these deliberations
almost all the foolish, needless frivoh-
ties that enter into and make apso great
a part of Agricultural Societies are lett
out; you hear no horse-racing stories,
no absorbing the whole interest In the
fastest horse 20 the neglect of the i'm.
provement of the soil, products and ma
chinery of the State; but discussion OF
the best methods of. improving pur
crops and r.of developing all kinds OF
farm products. -
Iconfess like a fast horse, and ap-
preciate that interest in our county
Fairs a sulficiency of it is useful in our
Agricultural Societies, but we can't live
on the speed of two or three fast horses
| in county. We want the development
of the soil to its greatest extent. We
want the improvement of our crops, all
our farm stock and our domestic produc-
tions, and until Agricultural Societies
become successfully useful in the bring
ling out of these things they do not meet
the purposes for which they are institu-
ted. The questions discussed in the
State Board are calculated to do this,and
are of interest to every one. ~
While on this subject / see that a
large number Of the counties OF this
State have established Farmers Clubs
for the improvement and development
of the agricultural products of the conn
ty where they are located. Why not
have something of this kind in "Old
Monroe ?" We need it; it will cost
nothing to any one; and if properly car
Tried on will be productive of much last
ing good to the county, In it our far
liners could interchange views on on the
best methods Of Improvement, and repor,
the result of experiments which would
| set many persons to investigating and
advancement "who now scarcely make
both ends meet" 81
| Take for instance, how many try it OF
i even know that with two cords of woot
and pan used to make sorghum mo
lasses they can, by boiling the corn fec
to the hogs, save one.half the amount o
feed they now use and make better pork
i The valuation of the real property o.
}, the State as returned by the Land Ap
praisers and egualized by the Commis
!. sioners is about double what it was ter
wears ago. This will increase the taxa
| ton, in the aggregate, on rea. estate an(
!, reduce il on personal property. All wht
have examined this matter are well con
, vinced that although personal propert.
J, has increased in the past ten years ant
will before the next real estate appraise
, ment still increase, yet it has not lncreas
:. ed so as to keep up with the present ap
praisement of real estate. In view o
this fact the State Board of Equalization
have presented memorial, signed b.
!, every member of the Board, 30 the Leg
!, ,lislature asking discretionary power t
| reduce the aggregate sppraiselnent.-
, The memorial is a well prepared paper
+ and have no doubt it will be accede'
t to with some point of limitation.
The Democratic State Central Com
mittee met here yesterday and alter con
, siderable discussion fixed upon Coium
bus as the place, and the. lst Of June q
J the time, of holding the next State Con
: vention. All who were present arc j
for vigorous campaign.
e Last. night large crowd of Demo
: Gratis from all parts of the State met q
: Wagoner's Hall and were addressed b
r Pendleton, Vallandigham, Ewing an
n Ward. It is hardly necessary for me t
. say the speeches were good. All tn
speakers referred brify to the ccrruptio
of the present administration and th
lpreseit disrupture Of the Republica
I party. They were in favor of maxim
e The present an offensive campaign, ,clain
;. ing that we had acted on the defensiy
long enough, and that last fall whereve
the Democratic party had thrown the dt
fabslye on their opponents we were SUI