The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-01-08

facilities for commercial traffic, were rendered
useless by low water the care exercised in the
management Of our Public Works enabled them
to go through the season without serious difficult
I.
At the close Of the fiscal year. November 18th,
1875 there was a balance In the treasury TO the
credit OF the Public Works OF SO 64l,66
Gross earnings from tolls, fines, and water rents
for the current year ending Novem beT 10th, II, g.
S2l8 S50,22 maxim a total Of S239 99lSS.
To which add amounts received at State Treas
ury since November 10Th, Of collections during
current year, $3.50 49, makes total Of S245 1872 g.
From which deduct total expenditures for the
year, Sl89,1l6 80.
Balance to credit Of Canal Fund, S5S,666.S5.
To which may be added amount in hands Of
receivers, S23 1856.
Being the real balance to Public Works, $50,
1891.
Since their late abandonment by the late les
sees, over and above all expenses chaIgeable to
them, and giving very clear evidence that under
proper management the Public Works .of the
State are self-susaining, and deserve the foster
ing care Of the General Assembly.
The Public Works are the property Of the State,
built 10 accommodate great necessity at the
time Of their construction, ana for the purpose OF
developing our resources at very early day In
our history. They fully accomplished the object
for which they were created, and, under proper
management, are still capable Of adding largely
to the development Of the material interests of the
State, under which circumstances they are enti
tied to that just consideration at the hands of the
General Assembly which they deserve
Efforts by corporations, or individuals, to dis
member them, or to reduce their capacity for use.
fulness by cutting of portions OF them under the
pretense Of ahOrding greater facilities for COM
merce, are generally vicious In their tendency,
and ought to be discouraged by the Legislature.
Should 1t ever become necessary for the State to
abandon or dispose Of these Works, 1t will be
much better to place them in the hands OF parties
who will preserve them entire, and operate them
NH alu nfn nnNnV aud NJ ng
manufacturing power, than to allow them 10 go
into disuse or be destroyed by dismemberment.
THE MILITIA.
In directing the attention Of the General As
Bembly to the present condition OF the military
service Of the Slate, and for the comments aud
suggestiOeB herein submitted, rely mainly upon
the reports of the Adjutant General for the fiscal
year ending November, 1878 and 1879, Neverthe'
less, have given the subject personal attention,
visited many OF the encampments, attended the
animal reviews musters and inspections, con
versiDg with many of the officers, who are gentle
men of practical experience having served their
country as officers and soldiers through the late
war.
From all of these sources my information is
such as to enable me to say that since the begin
ming of the present administration, under the
management Of the Aojutant General, heartily
supported BY the officers ond soldiers OF the SER
vice and the passage of necessary appropriation
bills by the sixty.third General Assembly, the or
ganization has risen from its almost helpless and
worthless condition to that of the equal OF any
National Guard Of the United States for active
service.
The policy OF gradual reduction Of organiza,
tions, without materially changing the aggre
gate adopted at the beginE ing OF the present ad'
minstratOn, has thus far been successfully con
Quoted. The annual report OF the Department
for 1878 shows a reduction as follows, viz, regl-
ments OF infantry, from Is to 16; batteries Of light
artillery, from II to g. companies Of infantry,
fr0m 149 to 14l; aggregate force from 9,737 to
8603, o loss OF but one hundred and thirty-hVe,
The annual report Of the department for 1879
shows further reduction, as follows Regiments
of infantry, from II to a. troops OF cavalry. from
to q companies of infantry, from 14l TO 126; ag
gregste force, from 8603 TO 374, loss to the ag
gvegste of two hundred and twenty nine men, or
| q total reduction OF four regiments and twenty
| five companies Of infantry, three batteries Of
| light artillery, and one troop OF cavalry, with
loss Of only three hundred and ttty'three men.
| l, therefore, with. good reason, recommend the
| continuance Of this policy until the number Of
organizations OF the several arms OF the service
are brought within satisfactory limits,
believe 1t has never been claimed, even by
those uniriendy to the service, that the present
total force is too large, but is constituted OF too
many separate organizations.
This process remedies this evil by o0nsOlidat-
| ing the weak and dsbanding the inefficient com.
mands. 1t is claimed by the Adjutant General,
In his criticisms on the new code, set forth In his
| huuuhl IbpOIb lul 1900 tuhb bnp uhuuCI VI AO'
ducng the number of Organizations there pre-,
scrtbed will work unnecessarily injury to the
service.
| respectfully call the attention of the General
| Assembly 10 the amendments therein suggested
relating to this as we'll as several other subjects
and recommend the same To your careful consid.
| Grafton. The fact that each moments delay in
| the settlement OF the claims OF the State against
the United States diminithes the possibility OF
making proof OF their validity to the satisfaction
| of the authorities of the General Government,
should be argument sufficient In itself TO urge
| the General Assembly 10 immediate adopt mea'
sures to bring about an adjustment Of the same.
| These claims involve the unsettled accounts of
| the State with the Ordinance Department Of the
United States, and are source OF great inconve.
| nience to our militia, inRSmuCh as the supply Of
ordinance and ordinance stores Is stopped, and
will remaio 80 until the whole matter ls adjusted,
There Is now pending before the Congress of
| the United States bill prepared and submitted
| by the United States Militia Society, minute In
Its details but having for its principal object the
| increase OF the present annual allowance of
| $500 900, for distribution pro rata among the
States and Territories for Militia purposes, to 81
| 100000. When 81 increased the portion thus al.
| lowed to Ohio would be ample for the mainte'
nance OF her National Guard without expense to
| the State. respectfully recommend that the
General Assembly at its earliest convenience,
adopt such resolutions as will bring this matter
to the attention Of the members OF Congress from
Ohio and secure their support to the measure.
Such part Of the AdjutaHt Generals report as
relates to the transactions of the Inspector Gen
| ersl Judge Advocate, General Discussing Officer
Superintendent Of the State House, and other
matters connected with his department are re.
spectfuly committed without comment.
PUBLIC INsTITUrIoNs.
In but few States, ifany, have the people taken
greater interest in or spent more money on the
public or charitable institutions than In Ohio
Here they have provided for their insane, blind
imbeoile, deaf and dumb, the sailors AID col.
diers' orphans, the incorrigible boys and girls
| etc., etc. ........
These institutions, through their superlntend
ents aud trustees have made full reports to me
giving history Of their management and condi
| ton; which reports recommend TO your careful
perusal. They are all IL excellent condition, and
the inmates properly cared for. Many OF the re.
ports show large decrease in their annual ex
penditures, demonstrating that economy and
good administrative ability have prevailed In
their management. have visited all of them
during the year. and, through personal inspec,
ton, know that they arc satisfactorily and sue.
| cegsfullV managed