Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-01-04
in the county, viz :

] find that the average cost for cleaning
out bitches s from one half TO two-thrds
of the original cost of construction. Now If
our bitches will last from twice to three
Zines as long when stock is not permitted
To run at large, is it not the best OF evil
dence that stock owners should be made to
keep up their stock and not permit them to
fill up the bitches as they have been doing
ever since the first ditch was dug in Wood
county? Many of our most enierprising
farmers in the county have been obliged to
sell their farms al a sacrifice on account ci
high ditch taxes-and these bitches again
to he filled up in three or four years by
stock running at large-and then turn
around and curse the county on u, count of
high ditcl taxes. Aside from the ditch
tax believe Wood county will compare
favorably with the majority of the counties
in the State with its taxes.
believe we have in the State law
,, prohibiting The running of stock at large
| which, il enforced in this county, wouid
save to the taxpayers tens of thousands Of
dollars annually. The question then arises
why don't our county and township Off
cials see that the law ia enforced? The
law upon our statute books is dead letter
and might as well he repealed if our ser.
wants do not look aft t.r the interest of the
taxpayers of The county.
There may be several good reasons al.
lodged why the law for prohibiting stock
from running at large is rot enforced.
| First. Our offic RS are chosen by the
people and their salaries are from three to
| II 20 ttmau al, L.
earn working at most any other legitimate
business with no more capital invested
than they have, so that on leaving Office
IT they have economized they carry away
will, them as much or more than they
would be able to save during whole life
time.
Secondly. If they he only township or
county officers they consider themselves to
he more than the average citizen, there
fore they carry with them in their own es.
timalions and that of the average citizen
40 much honor and dignity that they are
hardly ever required to give an account of
their stewardship while in Office.
Thirdly If il be their first term oil
Office they do no more than they are COM
PEELED 10 do for fear of incurring the dis
pleasure OF their constituents and not be
reelected.
Fonrthly. The more bitches constructed
and cleared out the more employment and
pay for the county commissioners, engI-
neerr, treasurer, auditor, &c.
The trainers Of the ditch law intended
the law, il properly carried out, would
beneft The general public as we'll as the
single citizen who il benefited by provid-
ing a means whereby lie is enabled to drain
his land and make 1t as productive as his
neighbois whose land has been more fav.
orably blessed by nature. But the induce.
mehts In the laying out, constructing and
accepting of the same are so great that the
people are sometimes led to believe that
Our county officials do not always work in
the taxpayers inlerest. 1t matters not
whether II rains or the snow blows eight
months In the year the shylocks pound OF
hesl' must lie forth coming or the property
VIII he sold 10 pay the tax. There IL no
use Of trying 10 dodge il even If the ditcl,
he liiled up by stock before the first in
Stallment Of taxes are paid. We hone
thai this is not the case in Wood conniy
although we have repeatedly heard sucI,
remarks ficm ssne OF our hest citizens
But we hope and trnst that the spark Of
liberty which did AT the first sound of
war nnrshai IN defence of our flag 80
many oi the yonlls of our country still
lives ~ the hearts Of our citisens an bright
ami lasting IA ever before, and II s,ich be
cease will hnrl iron, power and In high
p"S.''oh oi trust those most engaged in a.
tnhhOly n work. But inr my own part d,
not believe bni what the law prohibiting
stock from rnnnlng NJ large wodld be en-
iorced If our officers could he assured thai
The inieresi Of the county and the people
demanded II. TAXPAYER.
Bowling Green, Jan. /, 1884.