The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-01-06

.~.,..,, $27.614.729 16
The taxes levied in 1875, collectable in
1875, are:
State taxes, 4,948,995 ~
County and local, a.. 23,003,66 lS
DelinQuencies and forfeitures, 940,2l4 90
$2S,S93, ,1S2 81
The taxable valuations In Ohio, as
shown by the grand duplicate of 1875;
Real estate in cities, towns
and villages, ,,.... $366031, ,72l 90
Real estate not in cities,
towns or villages, 696,8S9,92S 90
Personal property, -. 5S5,66O,SlS w
1888, ,574,S62 90
Which is an increase over the grand
duplicate of 1874 of $l9,196,538 90.
This increase arises as follows:
On real estate in cities, towns and viii
lapes, $l1 1872, ,522 90; on personal prop
erty, 81, $50, ,23O 90. Total increase, $l8,-
722,552 90. Reduction in valuation of
real estate not in cities, towns or villages,
$525,2l5 90. Net increase, $l8, ,l96,538 90.
This is most gratifying exhibit, show
ing an increase in the taxable valua-
tions Of the State of five millions ninety
one thousand nine hundred and three
dollars greater than the increase of last
year. 1t is evidence that the thrift of our
people and the wealth of our soil are
elements of prosperity strong enough to
breast the adverse currents of business
adversely which have been bearing down
upon the country with such force during
the past two years.
On the Goth of November last, Hon.
Isaac Welsh, Treasurer of State, after a
lingering illness, departed this life, leav-
ing vacancy which filled by the APP
pointment of his son, Leroy w. Welsh
Mr.. Welsh was near the expiration of o
second term in this responsible and
honorable office, which he filled with
great efficiency and to the entire salts
| faction of all who had business with the
Department. He was an unassuming
intelligent, and honorable man, and won
the respect and confidence of all who
knew him.
Our State benevolent, reformatory
! and penal institutions, are in the main
in Aourishing condition, and fulfilling
the wise purposes OF their areation.
The penitentiary isunusually crowded
but the reports of the Warden and Di
rectors make a gratifying exhibit re
specting the general health, discipline
and financial management, showing {
surplus of earnings for the year of about
twenty thousand dollars over and abovC
its current expenses. A very consid
erable number of the convicts are serv
ing under sentences for offences which
1t seems to me, might be punished a
we'll in our county jails. Men are serv
ing out sentences for petty burglarie
and forgeries, generally committed un
der the stress Of necessity, in which lit
tie items of clothing or provisions, O.
small sums of money, only, are involv
ed. It's question worthy of considera
ton, whether there should not be grade
in forgery and burglary, as there are il
larceny, so that petty offenders, whC
have not given evidence of being har
dened in, crime, may be imprisoned il
the county jails, instead of the peni
tentiary,
Ny Immediate predecessor called h
attention of the General Assembly t.
the matter of inequality in sentences t
the penitentiary, fully indorse hi
views on that subject, and invite you t.
consider Che great injustice frequentl
done to men and women who are NOR
unfortunate than criminal, by the une
quail sentences pronounced by the courts
The peculiar temperament or condition
of the Judge, or the attendant influence
in community, as frequently mold tn
character of the sentence as the circum
stances of the case, Men are servin
under sentences of thirty years for pre-
cisely the same crimes for which othe
men are serving terms of three years
There should be some mode of amend
ing the errors Of courts in this matter
Of course, the pardoning power can rec
tify the irregularity; but it would be bet
ter to remove, as far as possible, the ne
cessity for the interposition of executiv
clemencyy 1t is matter worthy of you
earnest consideration. .-
The work of construction on the Cen
trail Ohio Hospital for the Insane ha
progressed satisfactorily during the pas
year, and is now so far advanced as t
justify the opinion that the edifce ma
be completed and made ready for tn
reception of patients by the middle c
November next. The Commissioners {
Construction estimate that, in additio
to the unexpended balance on hand c
former appropriations, which, on Novem
ber 10Th, 1875, amounted to the sum c
Sill ,232.95, there will be required to b
appropriated to pay reserves on con
tracts not completed, and to meet tn
demands for work not yet to be place
under contract, the sum of $220,00(
They also estimate the sum of $500
will be required to provide the necessar
furniture for the building, including tn
fixtures aud furniture for the bakery
laundry and other domestic department.
making the gross sum of 100000 t
finish and furnish the building. TIL
actual amount paid out in the construC
} tion of the Hospital building from tn
COluhlCnOCLlCub VI bIlOi WOIk W NOV6II
ber 18th, 1875, is $1,001, ,27605. Ad
the unexpended balance of Sill 1928
! to the $220,000 additional asked for t
complete the edifcc, and the result is tn
sum of 81 ,335500, of the total cost of tn
, structure when completed.
| seriously question the wisdom c
building State institutions of such un
! | uialdu nropOrf;oy,o. o,,J - - -
nous cost. 1t is one of the CROWN
evils of the day which should be curbe
by legislation. Considering its size an
character, this is not an expensive build
ing; but the same money expt nded O.
three or four smaller institutions, pror
erly located, would, in my judgment
have much better subserved the interest
of the insane. In appropriations for fu
ture public buildings, this is a matte
| worthy the conaiderafioY, Of Tho na,aro