The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-09

ISGfCIiuc..s-.. COV.OCO 20
Asylum ......1, ,S32, 800 80
Sinking ......1 ,0S9,717 55
School .......1 100000 90
National road 1922 Pa 5,241 ,232 SO
Leaving estimated balance
in the Treasury Novem-
Der Is, 1874 ................ $500, 1872 II
The taxes levied in 1872,
collectibleIin 1873 we're
State taxes. ........S4, ,4I4,557 %
County and local l.....-18,83 ,834, ,422 49
Delinquencies and forfeit'rs 561, 1872 33'
Total ...................S S23. $40, ,971 81
The taxes levied in 1873,
collectible in 1874, were
State taxes ......... d, ,41I ,S0S 70
County and local taxes. 20, ,653, ,493 SO
Delinquenciesa and forfeit'rs 343, 1O6 75
Total .............$26, ,474, ,459 9S
1t will be be observed by reference to
the above figures, that while the State
debt has during the past year been re-
duced S372, ,484 p, the local indeb ted
ness has increased S2,442, ,575 30. And
yet the taxes levied for all State purpo-
ses, exclusive of the one million five
hundred thousand dollars levied for
support of common schools, and which
goes directly back to the counties to be
expended } amount to only s., ,977 ,859 25.
This sum includes all the expenditures
for building and maintaining our public
institutions, the payment of interest on
the State debt, the reduction of the debt,
the cost of the Executive, Legislative
and Judicial departments of the State
government, and all expenses incident
to the management of the State affairs.
On the other hand, the levy for county
and local purposes Including that of
common Schools amounts to p, 153, 493
dollars and 9S cents. In other words,
the levy for State purposes is less than
one sixth of the entire taxation, and
that for county and local expenses more
than fve-sixths. There is certainly a
great disparity between these two classes
of expenditures, and ] submit for the
consideration of the General Assembly
whether it would not be wise to restrict,
by legislative enactment, the power of
minor political organizations to create
debts and impose taxes. The people nat
urally complain of their burdens, when
the annual or semi-annual payments of
tax bills are made, but few stop to en-
quire or consider whether the bills are
on account of local affairs, under levies
made for county, city and school dis
trict purposes, or for the State at large.
I commend this subject to your attention.
Upon examination it will be found
that there is a remarkable difference be-
tween the expenses of the several coun-
ties, for the very same purposes, where
there ought to be substantial agreement;
all of which could possibly be remedied
by legislation.
FISH CULTURE.
When laborers are out of employment,
when times are hard and money scarce,
the minds of men naturally and proper
ly tnrn to the consideration of matters
affecting the price of subsistence-the
cost of living. Certainly there is no
food more healthful or more palatable
than the best varieties of fish which are
found in our lakes and rivers Yet the
supply has been growing less, year by
year, until it can no longer be regarded
as a common and cheap article of diet,
but should be classed with the luxuries,
which only the rich or those in comfort
able circumstances can afford. 1t is no
longer question whether or not it is
possible to restock our inland waters
with fish. Experiments in various parts
of the country have been made on SO
generous a scale that ii is now certain
we can repair the waste and consump-
tion which have produced the present
scarcity. And this can be done with
comparatively little cost. The delicious
whitefsh of the lakes, instead of costing
ten cents per pound, as they now do
when placed upon the tables, ought to
be afforded for four cents at most. But
to effect this there must be more plen-
tiful supply.
The General Assembly at its last ses-
sion, authorized the appointment of
three Fish Commissioners, who were to
act without compensation, but whose ae-
tual expenses while prosecuting their
investigations were provided for by a
small appropriation. These Commits
sioners were not expected to undertake
the actual work of fish culture, other
wise larger appropriation would have
been made. The Board are now ready
to commence restocking our waters, and
are satisfied that an almost unlimited
supply of fish can be furnished, within
three or four years from the time when
work is entered upon in earnest. In the
interest of both comfort and economy,
I recommend an appropriation of at
least 5000 dollars for the purpose of
erecting hatching-houses on Lake Erie,
in our reservoirs and rivers, and to pay
the expense of propagating the most de-
sirable kinds of fish.
RAIL ROADS.
Recognizing the fact that railroads
have contributed very largely to the
property of the State, that lines hereto
fore projected ought TO be built, and
that new routes ought to be located in
order to secure the best development of
our resources and the highest reward
for our industries, it is undoubtedly the
duty of the General Assembly to encour-
age legitimate railroad enterprises. But
several abuses have crept into the man.
agement of some of these corporations
which ought to be corrected. 1t is no
thing for the officers of rail-
road companies to associate themselves
together, as the proprietors offast freight
lines, or in some other like capacity,
they are enabled to contract
with themselves, so as to secure unwar-
Al. e