Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-01-21

PRIMER, VIII tel what he knows abodt
the abominable condition Of the state
house. Mr.. Mcdonald is a thorough
builder, an architect by profession and
an expert in sanitation. He speaks of
the present state Of things in this build
ing in no polite terms. The system of
sewerage and ventilation, he says, are
not only worn out, but were inadequate
when first put in. The members Of the
house set upon a raised platform that
bakes them almost to a crisp and to get
relief, windows must be opened only TO
bring the death dealing draughts. The
closets are reeking with sewer gas that
is positively dangerous to health. It
seems that there is not one redeeming
feature about the state house apparatus,
that ought tO be run for public comfort,
convenience and good health. In the
chamber of the house-and the same is
true in the senate-the seats are so ar
ranged that the light of all the large
windows comes directly into the eyes of
the members. One of the prominent
members in speech on the floor of the
house last week. said that when he first
came to the house four years ago he
had as good eyesight as any man
of his age ought to have; he could
at that tine read without the
use of gla rs. Now his eyesight
was almost ruined, and all because
he was compelled to sit facing those
broad windows. If the seats were only
placed so as to face the opposite wav,
the light would then come in at the
back and the left, the proper way. 1t
is to be hope that the present legisll-
ture when it takes hold of the sanitation
and sewerage question will also takA
this matter of light into consideration
and make one grand change that shall
be for the better. Mr.. Mcdonald esti-
mates that the whole will cost about
$50, ,000-a beggarly sum when so much
harm comes from the present arrange
ments.
The Scramble for Oil Inspector.
After every change in political parties
in the governors office, there is great
scramble for the Office of oil inspector.
The reason for this is very patent to al.
1t is the best paying office in the state;
in fact, it pays more money than does
the governorship itself. The report of
Inspector Dowling is now out, and it
shows that his fees for the last year
amounted to $24, ,4S5.37. Out of this
sum he paid his deputies. 1t is estimat-
ed 'hat he makes for himself something
oyer $40, 900 year, while the only duty
is to draw the salary, so that it is easily
to be seen why the Office is so much
sought aftc The number of bar
rels inspected last year was 4S1 ,07F.
of which 1893, $50 barrels were manufac-
tured in Cleveland, though only 1904
barrels were inspected there. Only 2O9
barrels were rejected during the year.
There were 97, 149 more barrels inspected
this year than last The accidents trace
able to oil explosions are very scarce,
which is strong argument in favor of
the present oil inspection law.
Norton's Railroad Report.
Inspector of Railroads DR.. Norton has
also issued his report. and the chief
thing of interest--at least to the doctor
is the large and thrilling picture of him
self which is printed as frontispiece to
the volume. DR.. Norton condemns
the Union passenger station here
at Columbus as especially dangerous,
and he is backed up with the same sort
of opinion on the part of every person
who ever ran the gauntlet of trains and
engines in and about that ancient and
dirty structure But the next railroad
commissioner will probably have a
chance to condemn 1T, and possibly
several succeeding officials in the same
Office, before the requisite changes are
mada