The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-01-17

And did not the surrender, December l,
months after the alleged wrongs, and
near the close of the business season,
come rather late? 1t has seemed SO to
me. That the State can not afford to
abandon the canals if the courts shall
decide in favor of the course taken by
the lessees, needs no argument. The
value of mills, manufacturing establish
ments, and other property which depend
| almost solely on the preservation of the
canals, Is SO great-without considering
the question of cheap transportation of
freights that need only mention it to
secure your earnest attention
An examination of the statistics shows
that the counties traversed by the canals,
although numbering about one-third of
the counties of the State, contain a ma
jority of the inhabitants, and largely
| more than one-half of the taxable wealth
of the State, as represented on the grand
| tax duplicate, and also, that these same
counties during the last decade have in
creased more rapidly in population and
wealth than any other portion OF the
! State. The following figures show the
| population of the canal counties, by the
| census of 1870 to be one million three
hundred and thirty eight thousand eight
hundred and ninety-one 1888, ,S91) /;
population of the balance of the State,
one million three hundred and twenty
six thousand one hundred and eleven
q, 1885, ,11D.
The amount of property on the grand
duplicate in these counties, as shown by
the last annual report of the Auditor of
| State, was eight hundred and sixty-two
million twenty six thousand three hun
dred and fiifty-one 1855, ,026, ,351) dollars.
The amount in the balance of the State
was seven hundred and thirty-five mil
lion four hundred and thirty-three thou
sand six hundred and fifteen (735, ,433,
615) dollars.
The amount of taxes paid by these
counties was two million four hundred
and ninety mine thousand eight hundred
and seventy-six dollars and twenty-six
cents ($2, ,499, ,S76 26). Amount of taxes
paid by the balance of the counties, two
million one hundred and twenty-six
thousand seven hundred and forty-four
dollars and twenty eight-cents (S2, l26,
744 29).
1t will also be seen from ali examina-
ton of the statistics presented by the
reports of the various departments of
the. State government, that while the
percentage of increase of the population
of the whole State during the last de-
cade was less than fourteen per cent,
that the increase amounted to twenty
eight (2S) per cent. in the canal coun-
ties, and that the increase of wealth has
steadily kept pace with the increase OF
population.
This whole subject relating to the
public works is commended to your
careful consideration. The lease will ex-
!. pire during the next General Assembly.
What shall be done with this vast
property, costing in its construction
over sixteen millions of dollars, and SC
inseparably connected with affairs Of
vast public and private concern? / dc
not now enter upon the consideration OF
the question, but rest in the hope and
/ expectation that your wisdom will be
| equal to its proper and beneicent solu
: ton.
The Governor recommends additiona
| legislation on the question of drainage
: i'll the northeastern part of the State
{ says the public schools are in prosper
r Gus condition; the Soldiers and Sailors
{ Orphans Home at Xenia is in a flour
, lshing condition; feels a just pride il
| the insane asylums of the State, and thu
: manner in which they are conducted
= recommends attention to the Annua
Report of the Board of State Charities
: and commends to the interest and atten
) ton .of the Legislature the Ohio
9 | Agricultural and Mechanical College
r The Governor desires further legis
D lation for the protection of fish. HI
! | recommends that there should be ap
c propriated sum, not less tnan $500,
: 900, to be known as the Militar.
: Contingent Fund.-" to be drawn from
the Treasury, on the voucher of the Gov
4 ernor, to meet such public exigency a
f threatened the State last summer, dur
ing the railroad riots. He also favors
+ revision of the statutes of the State, ant
/, the increase of the. salary of Suprem
q Judges, regarding them as inadequate, a
! not commanding the best judicial talent
f The salary is but $4,000, while in NeN
: York it is $4,000, in Pennsylvaa;
+ 81 900, and in Massachusetts, Californi
i and every other State which approache
If this in either wealth or importance, iti
double the amount paid in Ohio. Th
salaries of the Judges of the Superio
: Court of Cincinnati. and the Judges {
IS = the Court of Common Pleas in Hamilto
!. County, are much larger, and the salarit
- - of many county officers are much MOI
,o ,o than twice as large as the salaries of tt
" Judges of our Supreme Court: