The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-12-03

sion OF the 6Su6Eal Assembly OCCuE-
ring but sixteen days after the close Of
the fiscal year, It has been impossible
for the various Departments and public
Institutions to complete and submit
their annual reports in time for me to
give them such examination as would
enable me to present my views and
make suggestions herein concerning
them. I must, therefore, refer you to
the reports themselves, when they
shall have been printed and laid before
you.
the working of the penal, refOrmatory
and benevolent Institutions of the
state, having visited them since the
close of your last session. In the main,
they are working well, and are fulfill
ing, in an eminent degree, the design
OF their creation
The recognizing acts of last session
have been productive of good results.
Especially is this true respecting the
Ohio penitentiary and the central Ohio
hospital for the insane.
The penitentiary has been managed
with ability and financial success.
Its report shows that it has netted the
State, during the year, over and above
che salaries Of officers and expenses Of
maintenance, the sum of Sc, 1850
and over all expenses, including man
ufacturesof gas for state buildings, re-
pairs, ETC., the sum Of $7,4l2.02. This
is good showing for year of fnan-
eial distress and diminished demand
for convict labor.
The act abolishing the board Of
Trustees Of the Central Ohio Lunatic
Asylum (now known as the Central
Ohio hospital for the fnsane1 and Gre
atfng board Of commissioners for the
Of fRhA franfTt1ff0n has
produced results hardly anticipated by
the most ardent friends of the measure.
Three gentlemen of eminent worth
and peculiar adaptability, to the wants
Of the situation were appointed and
confirmed. This new board found the
unfinished walls Of the building much
injured by exposure during the preeed-
Ing winter. There was, also, an abb
sence of such working drawings In the
architects ofIice as Were necessary to
Z the progress of the work. This eOndi-
tiunt or Things delayed work on the
Building until after she middleof April.
At the present time the edif1ee Except
5the'water tower In the rear central
wing, which Was taken down and Is
being rebullt) Is not only ready for the
roof but mere than half Of 1t Is now
cOVerede and workmen are engaged in
roofing the remainder of it. An Inn
mense amount Of work has been done
dnflng the season, the numberOf brick
laid In the walls being more than thir-
teen millions, with the material and
labor of other trades corresponding
IL The amount of the estimates for
work done by contractors and for all
other purposes connected with the
building, during the fiscal year ending
November Is, 1874, Is 1884 ,O7S.58. The
retained pefcentage upon the same Is
$28, ,746.04. The expended balance
of former prOpriAtions In the Treas
ury on Nov. Is, 1874, was $69, ,417.7O. In
an appropriation for all purposes for
the current year Of $440, 900.
The act creating the Board of Conn
nnissioners limits their term Of Office to
one year, which will expire on the Ist
day Of April, 1875. 1 respectfully rec
Commend that the provisions of the act
be extended for one year from that
We have reason for congratulation
that cur state institutions have escaped
serious calamity during the year. A
slight fire occurred at the Reform Farm
school, on the 7th day of last month,
which destroyed the large workshop
of the Institution. 1t was necessary
vent idIeness Of the inmates, which
would breed all manner of evil in such
an institution. The Board of Commits
sioners Immediately proceeded with
the work, and they call for small ap-
preparation! to complete 1t, which, L
hope, will be made. q
3 The reorganization of the Board of
Trustees of the Agricultural and Me-
chanfcaI College has been productive
= lfo Htho oil r6 too
unWieIdy for successful management,
while the diminished size of the new
board has enabled it to harmonic ideas
and views, and work with singleness
of purpose that has been beneficial to
the college. L invite you to consider
the fact that this admirable institution
of learning has not received the public
attention that its merits entitle 1t to.
1t is the college of the people, and It
couragement. 1t has an efficient fac
ulty, a handsome endowment, with
the accessories common to the best col
-Ieges IN the country, and should have
q much larger attendance OF students.
/ respectfully suggest that the General
Assem- bly, may devise ways and means
co aid the board Of Trustees in bring
ing about this desirable result.
ds In pursuance oe the act Of February
.18, 1874, creating State Board Of Gem
tenniall Managers, five eminent citi-
zens of Ohio we're appointed to eonsti-
tute the hecommission, They have COM
ipleted their organization, and catered
upon the discharge Of the duties as
signed them. -
In the execution of the several laws
providing for the reorganization of the
various public Institutions, passed at
your last session, the appointments
made by the executive have, in every
Instance, proved to be satisfactory
such appointments having been made
solely with view to promote the pub
lie interest, without regard to other !
the officers appointed |
seeming to be Influenced In action by
the same motives which determined |
their appointment.
During last summer, the irritation |
of feelingain the mining districts aris-
ing out of the disagreement between |
the mine owners and miners, assumed, |
in one instance, q form of intensity |
which, seriously imperiled the public |
peace. AT the critical moment, the |
prompt interpositiOn of the moral au-
thority of the state was found sufficient |
to allay the evaporation of passions, !
and to reassure peace and harmony,
without a resort to the material power !
of the state.
An earnest effort has been made by |
the .Adjutant- General to collect the |
Ohio war elseims against the general |
government. He has succeeded In col |
IectiDg and placing in the State Treas
ury the sum Of SIS, ,7SI.97. A balance
uncollected Of $275, ,9SS. "a, but
little of which will be collected unless
further legislation be had by Congress
For the details respecting these claims
you are referred to the report of the
Atijutant-G General.
q ttIIe cl6se-of the fiscal year 1873, +
there were thirty-twO military compa-
nies in the state of all branches of the
service. are now forty-one COM
battaliOns of three compa-
MES each one battalion of two COM
panies Twenty-Five unattached COM
panies of Infantry one battery of
artillery of four guns, and two batter