Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-01-09
all attention to the pressing need of additional


prison accommodations.
The pententiary at Columbus now aggregates
to demand relief by the creation of an additional
prison. This new prison should be reformatory
in its character, and should be large enough to
accommodate 800 convicts and should be located
at some accessible point in the northern or
southern half of the State.
All modern experience seems TO indicate that
the best management of conviCts requires such
classification will separate the inoorrigible
from the hopeful, and afford good conduct a
chance Tor receiving proper recogniton. Two
reformatory prisons have been established and
tested in the United States: One at Elmira, N.
| Y, and one for women, at Sherborn, Mass, ana
their superiority over the old system is so appa-
| rent that l have no hcstancy in recommend
| ing their imitation in the erection of any new
prisons in Ohio. In fact if we are TO keep pace
with the best experience of the world in dealing
with the criminal classes, our entire system VIII
need revision, a fact that should be kept clearly
in view in all future legislation in that direction
from penitentiaries down to jails.
OHIO PENrrENTIARY.
desire to ask your special attention to the re-
| port OF the Board of Directors and Warden OF
the Penitentiary. l refer to it with pleasure,
| having confidence that its management has been
grand success, not only financially, but in 9th
| er respects. 1t will be remembered referred in
my last annual message to the fact that the eX-
penditures during the year were ell,05SiO more
Than the receipts. then showed that this de-
| hcit occurred under former management and
previous to its being under the present Board of
directors. may now add that the deficit for
| TINS year has been 13,7l633 thus showing that
from the commencement of the present manage
ment relative increase in the receipts and a re-
| duotlon in the expenditures. Had IL not been
Tor the very low price of labor this excess would
| nave been much greater. Recently, however, the
price of labor has not only largely increased, but
there is very active demand for it at much
| higher prices.
In the report of the Warden to the Board of
Directors, you will perceive a carefully prepared
statement of the expenses per capita the past five
years, showing that in 1874 it cost 5l7654 per cap
| ita while in 1S79-the year Just closed-onlY
$ll2.0S., This reduction is, in some measure at
tributable to n decline in the articles of susie
nance, but is more largely due to the close and
| economical management of it's officers. 1t will
| be observed also that quite large amount of
labor has been done for the State in the various
| improvements which have been made, which,
when computed by the day, amounts to 1885 O,5O
INSANE ASYLUM.
The report of the Board of State Charities last
year presented the fact that over 500 persons en-
titled to State care are excluded, are confined in
our infrmaries and for the most part are in
| very distressing circumstances. The most cur
| sorry examination of these statistics cannot but
| satisfy you of the imperative necessity of imme-
| diate relief. | therefore earnestly recommend
| your early attention to this subject.
The suggestions of the Board of State Chari-
| ties, in which fully concur, are for the cree
| tion of two buildings supplemental to our exist
! ing asylums' with capacity OF 2oO eachi a
| building upon the Central Asylum grounds for
insane criminals, and separate asylum for the
| epileptiC insane. Those buildings can be erected
at cost not exceeding @4O0 per capita of inmates
and, in view of the fact that the present cost of
maintenance would be greatly decreased, this
| expenditure would not only be Just and humane
to these afflicted children of the State, but would
also, in the end, be an actual economy of money.
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.
The report of the Board of Trustees of the
| University is already printed, and will at once
be placed before you. Its condition and prog
ress are most gratifying, and especially so when
| we remember it is one of a great family of col
| leges founded on the hberalitv of tho General
Government, and in an honorable sense, the
rival of every other similar institution in every
State where this grant was accepted.
. From our other State institutions 1T is pecu-
| the one case, and a common sentiment of hui
manity in the other, demand the establishment
and maintenance of our penal and benevolent
| Institutions, but these seldom give back to So
! ciety any element of strength or progress while
| from this comes the valuable contribution of
earnest and strong men, fitted and qualified for
every form of industrial pursuit, looking to the
development and expansion of every resource of
wealth and whatever goes to make up the dignity
and excellence of people.
The fact that tfty-seven counties of this State
| and five States of the Union, as well as two
foreign countries, are represented in its class OF
students, evince an appreciation of its value and
give assurance of most gratifying results to the
State.
INSURANCE.
The last annual report of the Superintendent
| of Insurance shows the amount of insurance t.
be about 500 OOO,O9O. of this amount it is esti.
| mated that
The Ohio Joint Stock Fire Insur-
ance Companies insured. .......-... S95O0O0W
Ohio Mutual Insurance Companies
insured ......:....... 2iO,OOOOU
|
States and Governments insured 225,000OU
Ohio Life Insurance Companies in
sured d....................... 1000 OO
Life insurance Companies of other
States. ,............,.......... IOS,OOOOO
Total i..,....................... ,OlJNh
The amount annually written in Ohio is about
@6OOOQO,OOO, or from ten to fifteen per cent. les
than the amount at risk.
With these statistics before you, argumen
is needed to demonstrate the magnitude and i'm
pOrtance of the insurance business and that thi
interest is Justly deserving the thoughtful con
sideratiOn of the General Assembly.
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
The year 1873 Will be a memorable one in th
history of the industries. Of the State, and es
peclally in those Industries directly connected
with the manufacture of iron. The beginning
of the year found numerous blast furnaces roll
ing mills, foundries and mines closed, and man!
OF those IN operation not running to their full
capacity or on full time; and nearly every othe
industry was affected injuriOusly to greater o
lesser extent. Many men were out of employ
ment, and the so-called " tramps' were nu
merous that the General Assembly, in it's Wis
dom sofgght ot to tie s charge
ment of strong repressive legislation.
The close of the year finds the number of fur
! naces, mills, mines and foundries in operation
largely increased; those in operation worked T.
their full capacity; workmen more steadily EN-
b ployed, and their number increased to such al
G extent that the vast majority of those who fO
five years have been denounced as tTamps'-
a as men who preferred to beg OF steal rather tina
! wOrk-have secured employment, have becOm
: den and willing absorption into the ranks of tn
a workers is the best possible answer to the whole
e sale denunciation made upon the idle men tray
+ cling in search of employment. A demand tO
: their labor has done that which legislation neve
could have accomplished,
The passage of law TO prevent the employ
= ment of persons to run stationary engines VIII
n | are not thoroughly competent by age training
: and experience, might be highly proper, ina
. | much as the large number of wOrkmcn employ
| ed in factories and shops in which steam-p powC
: Is used have their lives in great hazard from th
q cause.
= The railways of Ohio seem to be managed o.
cept in few instances with great care. III
!. number of employees has been largely increase
e in consequence of the miles of new track lal
- and the increased traffic. The passengers ca
r ried largely exceeded that of former years, y,
# the number of accidents to employees and
: passengers is less than last year, showing mo-
cOmmendable care on the part of the railroa
& officers. The outstanding debts of the Oh
~ railroads, floating and bonded, are greatly d
y creased in consequence of the immense trait
y opened up by the late abundant harvest and u
,e improved condition of the finances of the con
Many roads deemed insolvent a few yea
If since are now debt paying and all seem in
prosperous condition. The railroad system
l. Ohio in its general management will taYorab
y compare with that of any other State.
te REVISION OF GENERAL STATUTES.
The revision bs OF the % t5s SEass TaT aVS MN
of appendix thereto, containing all the laws
he general or great local interest not embraced
the revision, nave Dten puDllhLtt pS Iue Qua
in two volumes and distributed according
n law. The importance of this work can hardly
q over-estimated.
A. OHIO RIVER NAVIGATION.
1v briefly called your attention IN my inaugui
- address to the importance of improving the ma
!, igation of the Ohio Rivera subject deservi
~ more attention than is generally supposed.
n is true il is a National work; Nevertheless o
mn State is deeply interested in ITS progress, a.
"l every effort should be made, and influence th
,,o is possible brought TO bear upon our NatioT
,i' CongIess TO induce them TO promptly consid
s- the subject and to cause such Legislation 10
M effected as will speedily accomplish the obit
1s -, contemplated
IN COMMON SCHOOLS
~ The expenditure of s7,7ll,32 for the ma
M tenance of common schools during the Ii
OF Scholastic wear is a fact going To show that I
peonle of Ohio are not losing interest IN
cause of education.
of EXECUTIVE MANSION.
ed Before concluding this communication
in your honorable body, l cannot omit to urge
he propriety of the State making some provision
OF the purchase or erection of an Executive ms
A..N NaWHN NNaa.