Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1874-01-15
inquencies and forfvitures 343,1O6 IS


1t will be observed by reference t.
the above figures, that while the Stat
debt has during the past year been re
duced 1872 ,4S4 27, the local indebted
ness has increased S2,44575 35. AnC
yet the taxes levied for all State Dnr
| poses. (eNclusive of the 81, 500, 600 lev
led tor support of common schools
and which goes directly back to the
| counties to be eXpended), J, amount to
only S3,977, $50 25 This sum includes
all the expenditures for building and
maintaining our public institutions The
payment of interest on the State debt.
the cost Of the Executive, Legislative
and Judicial departments of the State
| government, and all expenses incident
to the management of state affairs
! On the other hand, the levy for coun-
ty and local purposes (including that
for common schOols) amounts to S22,-
1873, 9S. In other words, the levy foI
State purposes is less than one sixth oi
the entire taxation, and that for coun-
ty and local expenses more than five
sixths. There is certainly great dis
parity between these two classes OF
expenditures, and l submit for the
consideration of the General Assembly
whether it would not be wise to re
strict, by legislative enactment, tie
power Of minor political organizations
to create debts and impose taxes. The
people naturally complain of their
burdens when the annual or semi an
nual payments of tax bills are made,
and few stop to inquire or consider
whether the bills are on account of 10
cal affairs, under levies made for coun-
ty city and school district purposes or
for the State at large. I commend
this subject to your attention.
Upon examination it will also be
found that there is a remarkable differ
ence between the expenses of the sew
eral counties, for the very same pur-
poses, where there ought to be
substantial agreement; all of which
could possibly be remedied by legis-
lation.
FISH CULTURE.
When laborers are out of employ
ment, when times are hard and mon
ey scarce, the minds of men naturally
and properly turn to the considera :
ton of matters affecting the price of
substance--the cost of living. Ger
taiDly there is no food more healthful
or more palatable than the best varie
ties of fish which are found in our
lakes and rivers. Yet the supply has
been grow wing less, year by year,
until it can be no diet, but should he
classed with the luxuries, which only
the rich or those in comfortable cir
cumstances can afford. 1t is no long
er a question whether or not it is pos
sible to restock our inland waters with
fish. Experiments III various parts
of the country have been made on so
generous a scale that it is now certain
VIC can repair the waste and consump-
ton which have produced the present
scarcity. And this can be done
with comparatively little cost. The
delicious whitefsh of the lakes, in
stead of costing ten cents por pound,
as they now do when placed upon the
table, ought to he afforded for four
cents at most. But 10 effect this there
must be more plentiful supply.
The General Assembly, at its last
session, authorized the appointment
Of three Fish Commissioners, who
were to act without compensation, but
those actual expenses while prosecut-
their Investigations were provided for
by small appropriation. These Com
missicners were not expected TO under
take the actual work of fish culture,
otherwis Board are now ready to
commence restocking our waters,
Il oil
limited supply of fish can be furnish
ell, within three or four years from the
time when work is entered upon in
earnest In the interest of both com
fort and economy, l recommend
an appropriation of at least 5000 for
the purpose of erecting hatching-
houses on Lake Erie, in our reser-
voirs and rivers, and to pay the ex
pense of propNgating the most desira
'ble kinds of fish.
RAILROADS.
Recognizing ihe fact that railroads
have contributed very largely to the
prosDriety Of the State, that lines
heretofore projected ought to be built,
and that new routes ought to he locat.
ed in order to secure the best develop
mont of our resources and the highest
reward for our industries, it is TN
doubtcdly the duty of the General As
scmbly to encourage legitimate rail
road enterprises. But several abuses
have crept into the management of
some Of these corporations which
ought to be corrected. It is no un-
common thing for the officers of rail
road companies to associate them
selves together, as tie proprietors of
fast freight lines, or in sonIe other
like capacity, whereby they are ena-
hlcd to contract with themselves, so as
to secure unwarranted profits, at the
expense of the stockholders they Of
ficially represent, and Of the people
who transact business with the roads
Another difficulty is that these fast
freight lines, not being organized un-
der the laws OF Ohio, though doing
business within the limits of this State,
pay no taxes whatever. When the of
ficers of the railroad corporations are
asked 10 list the property, they answer
that they do not own it and have moth
ing to do with it. 1t has been impos-
sible to reach these interior organiza-
tions. One fast freight line has here
tofore owned and used four thousand
cars, and all this property es capped
taxation in Ohio, although operated in
this State. 1t is worthy of conSidera-
ton whether or not this evil can be
reached and remedied by State or Ma
tional legislation.
am informed it is the custom for
many of the railroad companies incur-
,,nrntnh LIZ t,n Inws of Ohio 10 knnn