Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-03-21

EDITOR JoUREAL:-I am informed that
the special assessments now resting upon
the people of Wood county amount to about
81 100000, and for much, il not most of
which, bonds OF the county have been is
sued. All of this Indebtedness must be paid
within five years at the farthest. Can our
people do it? Doubtful. To this must be
added usual taxes, nggreGating, annually,
about $500, ,0Qe--eHn Tire accumulated
burthen be borne? The increased delin-
quent lists and rapid multiplication of real
estate mortgages furnish the answer.
Hundreds of men owning lands in our
county, find themselves unable with the
hardest work and closest economy to sup
port their families and pay their enormous
assessments. They despair of being able to
retain their farms and would at once sell
out, il they could, and migrate to places
where the burthens would be less onorous
A number, indeed, have gone, more are pre-.
pairing to leave, while we are receiving few
il any, new settlers. We still have an abund-
nnce of wild lands in our county and of
the richest soil, but men of limited means,
as actual settlers usually are, will not and
dare not buy because they know not how
soon they would be required to pay the
value of their lands the second time by way
of special assessments.
Scarcely wooded farm has been sold in
oui county, during the past three years
The reason usually assigned, has heen the
stringency Of money matters, but thousands
and tens OF thousands have found means
and passed through our county aud bought
farms in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas
and other western States. Our county has
been stunned by migrants because the pol.
icy pursued by our commissioners has had
the direct effect to repel them, aud not
only so, but to drive away citizens we had,
singly aud by colonies. Can these gentle.
men see that when they seek, 10y the power
OF law, to force everysman to improve his
farm, according to theirnotiOns, whether he
is able 10 do so or not, that they are pur
suing n suicidal course? Is not the wide
spread discOuient thruughout the comfy
sufficient to cause them t0 pause and think
Should not something in the way Of inn
proving farms and lands be left to private
enterprise, instead Of llacing every land
owner upon Procruste ~ he'd and that by
the expensive machinery Of law?
The public mind has hecume so de.
bauched upon the subject Of bitches, that
il party wishes to drain his corn field, ~
ing by the side If neighbours wood loi, h,
will petition the township trustees or coun
~ commissioners for public ditch, aud
have yet to learn the first instance in which
the prayer Of such petition has heen re
iecied. Ii is seldom we now hear OF n town
ship, county or state road, but all highway
are constructed under the law Of 1867 foI
the improvement Of roads. / observed il
the Sentinel not long since, a.notice for ON,
which was only half or three fourihs OF
mile long. This is on par with the corn
field ditch and both outrageous and unen
durable.
But enough for the present. Should
have time | may hereafter present my no
tions as to the origin of the course Of ac
tion pursued by our county officials.
ToSToGAHY.