The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-01-14

ort o. wholesome influence upon the rates O
the business they do and the localities througi
which they pass.
~ appears that the Canal Commissioners KEEP
n" record OF the quantity or description of land
ap, 'oprinted by the State for the canals
neit. nps any such record been kept by th,
board Q, Public Works. For oil such informa
tion the State must depend upon the Testimony
OF the engineers and contractors who aided Ii
their construction or TO other persons who may
othcrwise have acquired knowledge. IL II {
well.known fact that much OF this property has
been encroached upon and occupied and used
without authority. In many cases these tres
pnssers have erected permanent structures
The The time N Is soon coming when, unless some
only be practically, but absolutely and ire
coverably lost TO the state. 1t has been fifty
years since the canals were completed. Nearly
all the engineers and others engaged in the
original construction have either died or re-
moved from the State. Ere many more years
elapse, all will be gone by whose testimony the
lished. IL is OF the highest Importance, there
fore, that you make provision without delay for
the taking OF oil evidence and the making OF all
surveys that may be necessary to define the
boundaries Of all canals. their basins, rescr-
voirs, canal lands, lots. etc, and to reclaim all
the property OF the State which may have been
subjected to private use, and for the making
ana Keeping OF an accurate record OF oil such
property.
There does not seem to be any particular or
BSHtTul SYSTEM common 10 nll INC departments
and institutions for the keeping of
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
Each department and each institution keeps
Its accounts in its own way This leads to much
confusion and makes 1t impossible In many in
stances to fairly institute comparisons between
the different departments and institutions; and
what is true as to the departments and institu-
lions OF the STATE is also true In this respect as
to the different counties, townships and muni-
cpcl corporations. 1t would be great improve
ment II a specific system could be adopted and
fNr ,ut In oil 1nyNn Nnv4-
ments and institutions OF the State, and in all
the counties, townships and municipal corpora
tions, with such checks and balances as would
not only prevent fraud, but make confusion and
indeiniteness impossible.
BY the act Of March is. 1887, entitled IAN oct
to provide complete and correct record OF the
entries, piats and surveys OF the
VIRGINIA MILITARY DISTRICT
for the Auditor OF States Office" the Governor,
Attorney General and Auditor OF State were
empowered to contract with Samuel Kendrick,
late Deputy Surveyor, etc, for correcting, tran.
scrbing binding and completing the records,
entries, plats and surveys and other records OF
the lands contained in the Virginia Military Dis
triot Of Ohio, now in the office of the Auditor Of
State; provided said officers shall first be salts
fled that the said Kendriclk has tho means and
as such to make such
Ave thousand dollars to defray the expenses to
be so incurred. The officials named have had
several interviews with Mr.. Kendrick, but they
have not yet made any contract with him. The
reason they have not done so is they have found
the records referred to in such condition as to
make it impossible, In acknowledgement, to do ull
that should be done for less than sum so much
larger than the amount appropriated, that they
do not feel authorized to incur the obligation.
They were OF the opinion that 1t was useless to
do any thing unless more could be done than ap-
peared to have been contemplated by the
statute. They concluded therefore, before talk
ing action, to again refer the matter to you with
the recommendation that you may make pro-
vision for the whole Of the work that should be
done. Some of the most important of our land
records are in such dilapidatcd condition that
1t is almost impossible to longer use them You
should therefore give this matter prompt atten-
tion.
The late General Assembly passed an act
Cp. 454, 81, Q. L. for the publication OF
vOLUME6 OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
UThe act passed practically without opposi-
tion, but through some inadvertence it was not
signed by the presiding officer OF either House.
The fact that IT had not been signed was not
discovered until after much work had been done
and much expense contracted on behalf Of the
publication by authorized Inasmuch as what
1t provided for is necessary part of the geolog-
ical work which the State has undertaken, and
the failure to sign the law was manifestly an
oversight, and because it was necessary to con-
tinue the work in order that other work and ex-
pendturcs might not be lost, 1t was thought
best to proceed to the extent of preparing the
work for publication. The statute should, there
fore, be reenacted and the appropriation it pro-
vides thus made available.
PROTECTION TO UNITED STATES LIGHT HOUSES
Complaint has boen made that we have no
INV lot tu6 prOCectiOn OF OulteQ states UBnL-
house stations, supplies. etc., situate within the
limits Of our State, and that there has been
much damage done to such property for which,
In consequence, there is no sufficient remedy:
You should give this matter consideration and
make all necessary provision for the protection
OF these important aids to navigation.
FIRE INSURANCE STATISTICS
show there has been OF late years u large in
crease Of losses due to incendiarism. How TO
remedy this evil has been u problem to which
insurance men have given much consideration.
Ac ftAx, tputr dad fIHnt
wise to provide by law for an otIlcial investiga-
tion OF all fires by some designated official in
such locality. The subject is Of greut Importance
and should receive careful consideration. More
would be said here in regard to it, but for the
fact that 1t is understood that representatives
OF the insurance business, who are familiar with
the subject and what Is desired, will present
their views to you during your session.
MOUND-BulLDERS
At various places in the State the remains of
the works of the Mound Builders. or the pre-
historic race which occupied this country. are
to be found. Many Of them are OF the most in
teresting character. There has not been here.
tofore appreciation enough shown for these
interesting relics. In many instances they have
been wholly destroyed. Latterly, however, in
terest in them has greatly revived and quite a
sentiment has been developed in favor of the
State taking some action to preserve them as
nearly as possible in their original character.
Such action is we'll warranted by our duty both
to posterity and the interesting and important
study OF the antiquities.
OFFICIAL REPORTS.
Tho reports Of the several departments and
the different officials Of the State ore OF unusual
unnecessary to discuss here the many matters
to which they relate. This is especially true OF
the report OF the Secretary Of State. It is sell
full OF interesting information and wise and i'm
portant suggestions.
In my last annual message this paragraph
'"The State Auditors report will advise you
that the total receipts from all sources for the
General Revenue Fund for the next year will
amount to about $2,SO0000. The probabilities
are that on the fifteenth day Of next February
we will have anticipated this to the amount OF
about $500 900, and that at that time there will
remain to be paid unexpended balances OF the
appropriations of this year about s2O0,OOO.
I'm other words, tho net revenues available
for next year will not exceed &s,30o,0D0 To tho
extent your appropriations exceed this sum 1t
will be necessary to again anticipate next De.
cember the revenues Of the following year, less
unexpended balances. Should your appropria.
tions amount to about s3,0O0OOO. the sum up.
balances be 5000, ,00O the amount they are esti.
mated to be ut the end Of this year, the amount
You , would have to anticipate would be sooloOO.'
ommendation that suitable provision be made
to avoid the necessity OF drawing upon next
years revenues to meet the obligations Of this
No such provision was made, and the result hos
been what was then pointed out, The receipts
from all sources for the General Revenue Fund
OF TINS year VIII pc ABOUT t",SOOOOO. VI this
amount about S500, 900 will have been expended
prior to February 10, 1888, leaving the net
amount OF g., 900 available for general pur-
poses. To the extent your appropriations from
the General Revenue Fund may exceed this
sum. 1t will be necessary for you to make
special provision or compel anticipation again
OF next years revenues NJ the end OF this. The
habit OF anticipating revenues, although author
lied by law, Is o bad one that should be avoided
We are able to meet all demands as they arise,
and each year should pay its own debts. The
falling behind OF the State hnoncially has been
chiefly due to the fact that expenses have been
necessarily and continually Increasing, while
our revenues have remained substantially the
aama nd what has haan tr1le n ipc,,oa "a