Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-01-08
GOVERNORS MESSAGE,

=" oSCa III VI NOLlAldNAlh-
ton, that while the people of Ohio
have not been altogether exempt from
misfortune during the year which has
Just Drawn 10 4 close yet no startling
calamity has befailen them. Peace,
health and financial prosperity have
generally prevailed within the limits
OF State; the standard of education
has been steadily advanced; crime
has been diminished ; good order has
been maintained success has attend
ed the ventures of capital, and rich
reward has followed close upon the
footsteps of labor. While, within a
few months past, desolating fires have
laid in ashes two great and beautiful
cities, east and west of us, our homes
have been spared, and all our towns
and cities have been busy with their
multiplied and uninterrupted indus
tries.
You are again assembled, to deter
mine how the welfare of the State
nay be promoted by wise and judi
cious legislation and it becomes the
duty of the executive to offer for your
cOnsiderate action, such suggestions
and recommendations as may seem
pertinent and necessary.
For a detailed statement of the con-
duct of affairs by your State officers
during the last twelve months, you
are respectfully referred to the annual
reports of the heads of departments
herewith transmitted. 1t will, 1
think, be found that no interest has
suffered through the neglect, ineom-
potency, or fraud of those whom the
people have hOnOred with important
trusts.
STATE FINANCES.
Outstanding public debt of Ohio on
| November Is, IS72, was S. ,5S3, 900; To-
cal indebtedness OF the State was as
follows: Net debt of counties, So, 49,
1876 net debt Of townships, Including
debts created by Board of Education
other than for special schools and dis
tricts, S47, 2SS; net debt of debt of ci-
ties first and second class, 81, 405, 591
net debt of incorporated villages, $780,
$50 net debt of school districts, ST.
274, T23. Total, S7,590,547.
The attention of the Legislature has
been so frequently called to the sub
iect of local Indebtedness, that / hest
continues and grows upon us, and is
AOE AhCAN ~ DE AlLllAAGACu AlLll n I
remedy shall be found in positive
prohi5itory legal e~nactments, or in
constitutional provisions, absolutely
prohibiting local public debts. Boards
of officers, not always constituted of
those best qualified TO manage large
pecuniary interests, are, under exist
ing laws, entrusted with with extraor-
binary powers, and with a discretion
which the Legislature itself would
hesitate to exercise directly. Under
the construction which our highest
State court has given the constitution
and under laws passed in conformity
Herewith, the authority of minor po-
litical organizations to create debts, If
not unlimited, is at least very large
and complete.
RAILROADS.
During the past year Two hundred
and seventy miles of railroad have
been constructed and put in operation
the limits of our State. The
rails have been laid upon three humid
red and twenty-five miles in addition:
and charters for the construction of
four thousand more have been grant
ed. This is certainly and indication of
enterprise and a progressive spirit
we hope it will nowhere prove the re-
suit OF reeklessness or the result OF
miscalculation. Railroads should be
built whenever the advantages to be
derived therefrOm o~verbalance the +,
cost. But a caution may be necessary, )
lest some of our cities, towns and viii
may burden themselves with a
debt for which there shall be no ade-
uHnaEn EafumnwN ANan en--aNT..@. nw--. Z
and under excitement, do [
what the sober second thought con- &
Tt is not here intended to dis {
courage, in general terms, the build j
of railroads, or to retard in any s
possible way, the development Of our
resources. j know there are many |
localities in the State where the con- '
venienee, comfort and financial pros '
of the people, absolutely re- {
Juire additional railroad facilities.- l
Wherever wealth a thereby be ere
ated, or our products increased and
brought near to ready markets, rail-
roads should be built but these EN- s
should be prosecuted with '
iiscretion-thoughtfully, soberly, de- I
l~iberately. Without having any par =
ticular instance of mistake in mind, l j
these suggestions ia antlclpa- s
ton of a possible danger, considering
the experiences of the past year.
RAILROAD BRIDGES. {
The investigations already made, !
the necessity for a thor 4,
examination of all the railroad !
and trestlework of the State, !
some having been found in a very !
weak and dilapidated condition. Ire !
commend that the Commissioner of !
Railroads and Telegraphs be author /
led to employ such assistance as may
be needed, and that he be provided
with funds TO pay the expenses there
1f. l
AUDITORS REPORT. ,