The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-01-16

WHOSE 1uCoIllSenCo anu Skill we afe
indebted for our large annual increase
in valuable productions of all kinds.
The eagerness with which this report
is sought is the best evidence of the
high appreciation in which it is held.
Eighteen thousand copies in English
and two thousand in German are prin-
ted annually, and the demand is scarce
ly met. 1t is with pain that have to
record the death of the honored Sec
retary of this Department., John n.
Klippart, to whose intelligence, gen.
eral information and untiring assidui-
ty, during period of twenty-one
years, the State largely owes its richest
in agriculture and kim
dred matters.
EDUCATION.
The subject of education is old, yet
always new; often discussed, but new
er void of interest. It is intimately
with materal as well as NOR
al development, and upon it free insti-
tutiOns must rest if they continue to
stand. Its primary law is change ;
and if there is no advance, there is
certain retrogression. Hence, in franz
ing the Constitution of our State, a
plan providing for system of popular
education, in order to train the youth
of our State for successful performance
of the duties of citizenship, they wise
ly laid a foundation whereon genera
tions have built, and are to build. The
plan, as WAS INTENDED, has been inn
proved, and is doubtless susceptible to
still further improvements.
At number of conventions of the
people, called to consider the present
condition of the schools, and their re-
lation to the vital cause of popular ed
ucation, changes in our school law
have been advocated, which shall give
unity to the schools of the townships
by placing them under control OF
Boards of Education, with the same
powers as the Board of Education of q
village district, and shall constitute
the Presidents of the township Boards
into a county Board of Education,
whose duty it shall be to employ a
county Superintendent of Schools.
It is doubtless true that any thing
which tends to the improvement of the
schools of those districts where other
educational agencies are SO few that
shall furnish attractions there, and
aid in stopping the drift of enterpris-
ing men from country to town is worth
our most careful consideration. I in
vite your attention to discussion of
the general topic in the report, soon to
be laid before you, of the State Com
missioners of Common Schools.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.
NV attention has been called by the
Trustees of the Ohio State University
to the fact that the Legislature has, at
different times authorized the payment
of the necessary and reasonable ex-
penses of the Board while in the dis
charge of their official duties, but that
no appropriations have been made fol
this purpose. 1t would also appear
from an estimate of expenses for the
ensuing year, which the Board is re-
quired by law to furnish, that the sum
of $28, $50 is required for additional
buildings, improvements and equip
ments of the mechanical and physio-
logical laboratory.
Allusion is made thereto because,
under the law of congress making the
land grants, no portion of the funds
derived therefrom can be used for such
purposes, and if required for the salts
factory and successful management OF
the University, must, in that case. as
in other State institutions, be suppli-
ed from the Treasury of the State.
Hitherto no appropriations to the Uni.
versity have been made since its or
ganization, excepting the sum of $4,.
500 to equip a school of mines and
mining engineers; and it may be said
in support of what is now asked that,
covering in its broad and liberal in.
structions a necessity deeply felt by
the people at large in their various in
dustrial pursuits, its claims should re.
ceive a Just and considerate action al
your hands.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
The lively interest felt by the phil.
anthropic of our people in the Soldiers
and Sailors Orphans Home, the Re.
form School for Boys. and the Girls
Industrial Home, and the deep sym.
pathy of still larger class in the Blind.
Deaf and Dumb, and the various In
sane Institutions, are grateful indica'
tions of Christian civilization always
to be cherished. It is not, therefore,
without just cause that as a State We
are proud of the number and superb
ority of our State reformatory and be-
nevolent institutions. The ends aim
ed at, as we'll as the large amounts ex
pended by the State in their establish
ment and support, call for wise and
economical management of their af
fairs. From a personal inspection o.
most IF them during the past year ,anG
reliable information from the others,
have reason to thus publicly commend
the efficiency and fidelity of those in
trusted with their management ant
can but hope that your honorable body
will embrace every opportunity of in
quiring into the exact condition ant
wants, not only as represented in thei
individual reports, but through the di
rect Investigation of the several Legis
lative Committees appointed for thl'
purpose. 1t will be seen that the cur
rent expenses of these institution
have been greatly diminished, and
hence q large amount has been savet
the State during the year.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS ORPHANS
HOME.
In reorganizing the Soldiers ant
Sailors Orphans Home, at Xenia, dur
ing the last session your attention wa
doubtless directed to a want of discrim
ination as to the proper beneficiarie
of the institution, which worked injus
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