The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-12-04

been projected, and several roads |
that would have been built under !
more favorable circumstances have |
been temporarily abandoned. The
Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Chicago
Company has completed one hund-
red and ten miles Of new track dur
ing the year; the Painesville and
YoungstownCompany has completed
thirty-nine miles Of narrow gauge
track; the Marietta, Pittsburgh and
Cleveland Company have completed
nineteen miles of new track; the
Lake Erie and Louisville Company
has completed eight miles; the To
leGo and Maumee Company has com
pleted seven miles; the Mansfield,
Coldwater and Lake Michigan Com
pany has completed twenty-seven
miles; the Baltimore Short LineCOm-
pany has completed thirty miles;
and the Cincinnati and Whitewater
Valley Company has completed two
miles. This makes q total of nearly
two hundred and forty five miles of
new track.
Railroads are not only of great
utility, but have become a necessity
to the country. They should not be
hampered by vindictive legislation;
but as the servant of the people, en-
joying peculiar franchises, they
should be held strictly amenable to
judicious legislation that will pre-
vent them from becoming the mas
ters sof the people. Their rights
should be fully protected by law,and
the rights of the people should be
protected against such encroach-
ments as tend to make them the vic
tins of monopoly.
At your former session, you per-
formed an act Of justice and mercy
for the men who delye in our mines,
by enacting the law "To regulate
mines and mining, and to provide
for State Inspector of Mines" A
practical man of intelligence and ed
ucation was appointed, who has dis
played great energy in the enforce
ment of the act. He has personally
visited and inspected two-thirds of
the mines Of the State; and the good
effects of the law are recognized al
ready, in improved ventilation and
other changes which have conduced
greatly to the comfort Of the miners.
The General Assembly should follow
up its recent action by such further
Legislation as may be found neces-
sary to the accomplishment of the
beneficial objects sought to be at
tanned.
In the Inaugural Address which
had the honor to deliver before the
General Assembly, 1 strongly urged
a reduction of the expenditures OF
the State Government down to the
very last dollar compatible with the
maintenance Of the public credit and
the efficient working of the several
departments of the Government;
and l insisted that it should not be
that vague and mere verbal economy
which public men are so ready to
profess with regard to public ex-
penditures, but that earnest and in
exorable economy which proclaims
its existence by accompanied facts.
In the midst of the existing financial
distress, with so many of our fellow
citizens out of employment, and wa
ges everywhere reduced, 1 most
earnestly renew the recommendation
1 then made. The State should not
embark in new building enterprises
until the public buildings now in
process of construction shall have
been completed; new offices should
not be created and your present ses-
sion should be brought to a close at
the earliest moment when, in your
judgement, the public business will
allow. The evidence you gave at
your last session of q determination
to retrench, by reducing the tax le-
Wy $474, 900, and by other acts of
legislation, has encouraged the peo-
pie of the State to believe that econ
omy and prudence will govern all
your actions in the matter of public
expenditures.
1t is a question for your serious
consideration, whether the cempen-
sation of our county officers is not
disprOportionate to the salaries of
other public officers, and of persons
in private life. Public servants
should be reasonably compensated e.;
but salaries and fees should not be
so high as to mako the getting ofof-
flee profession, and to enable can
didates and applicants to buy their
way to public places.
l conclude by expressing the hope
that your session may be pleasant
and harmonious, and that it may be
productive Of great good to the
State. w. ALLEN, Governor.
C. F. Barry, aged SO, the oldest