THE TELEGRAPH.
ASHTAEULA, OHIO.
Saturday MornbgfJaii. 10, 1874.
Six moijj Communists have been
sentenced to death at Versailles.
-A postmistress in the State em
ploys her husband as head clerk.
"Xhe diplomatic representatives of
Spainat Paris, Brussels and Lisbon,
have resigned.' ':t'Ii: 11 - ' '
-A-aa-advertises in a New York
paper for a bar keeper "who must be
recommended by his pastor.". .
The Grand Duke Alerishas pre
sented' to thfe Uinversity of Mich
igan,' thirty volumes of ..the history
and educational interests of Rus-Bia-'--
.: v . i. ' r.-.i'' '
'"Henry Clews & Co., whose failure
was one of the earliest and largest in
tie panic last summer, announce that
theyre ready to pay all their oWi
gation in fulL ! - ' '": ' "
fifteen ladies filed through a car
ia.theStamford depot, on the 3rd,
followed by a boy shouting "Apples"
whereupon every masculine in the
&r instinctively murmured ' "Poof
Adam!", .-,,.,
The Spanish.,: fiJgate'Arapiles is
now at liberty to leave her dock at
Brooklyn, the sunk en barge has been
removed. She will take a large car
geof arms and other -war material
fbi the Spanish force in Cnba.' ' .' '
jlTh'e first, regular service of the
Reformed Episcopalian Church
were held in Steinway Hall, -New
Yorkto "Sunday last, .with' an im
mense audience in attendance. Bish
op Chunmins preached the sermon., . . .
' The 'Assistant1 Secretary of 'the
TreaB ufy, ' stated ' on "the . 6th, ' that
there, ere fifty female clerks in that
department! for whom there is no
work,' but ihat it Is impossible to dis
charge' them' on account of the great
pressure from Congressmen. ; .. .
( Captain-General Jovellar's requisi-'
tion for supreme powers-has been
graiiled by, the Spanish Government.
Th"e whole of -Cuba; is now virtually
in a state of , siege, and the Captain
General is Dictator,' amenable to no
olher law. than bis own will. : ' "
" The,' Havana newspapers are very
indignant over -j the i American per
fidity shown in the sinking of the
Vrrginras, a'result which they, as
sume was intentional on the part of
ou Government. They; have much
to say of the hour of bitter atone
ment1 whion-' is in waiting for the
Americans.'' : "."
The German Government has ex
plicitly defined its attitude toward
the Ultramentanes. It wDl not in
terfere with ' the ' inner organization
of the churches,' but it will exact
an oath from the Bishops of abso
lute submission to the State, and
will .restrain them from intefering,
in any manner, with State affairs.
v The Cincinnati Commercial speaks
of three life prisoners in the peniten
tiary.. One has been there thirty-six
years-a man named John Gull sent
from Stark county for murder. ti An
other, James. Frazier, from Wash
ington county, has been there since
1846, and the third is Horace Brooks
sent in 1851 from Cuyahoga county
formurder. ', i .. - . ... .f . ..
;:The joint Mexican and "United
States Commission is again at work
on, the claims, 100 of which have
ben settled (during., the. past, two
months. I .The Commission being
divided in opinion on the claims
made by Mexico for damage grow
ing out of Indian raids, these., have
been lef,t for decision to the umpire,
Sir Edward Thornton... - : i
' Two Legislatures are in session in
Louisiana, representing the Kellogg
and the , McEnery Governments.
The latter body has no quorum, and
does not ' propose to do anything
more than prepare an address to Con
greet.: J ,Gov. Kellogg's message to
hiaLiegislatnre is devoted largely: to
the. finances of the State, and the
statement of a plan for restoring its
credit by funding its debt at 60 cts.
on a dollar. .
A dastardly attempt was made a
day of' two since, " to kill Judge
Mprriaiof Brooklyn, N. T., with an
infernal machine which: was sent to
his house. Fortunately in opening
the matches did not strike in such a
mahneras to explode the torpedo.
The .fact that Judge Morris is an
active . prosecutor of the corrupt
Brooklyn City Ring, sufficiently ac
counts for this villainous attempt to
secure lis death.
' The1 women of "Washington, in
this State, to the number of one
hundred and fifty, formed a proces
sion on 4he 1st inst, and marched to
the different salocns and held pray
er meetings. When refused admis
sion :they gathered near the rum
hole and sung a hymn or two. Ma
ny dram sellers have . succumbed
i and abandoned the traffic, and the
moral suasion crusade, armed with
prayers and hymns, goes on bravely.
Slaughter ot BrrrALO. The
press of the country has very gener
ally condemned the wanton destruc
tion of the Buffalo prevalent along
the Kansas Paoifio Railroad. The
immoderate and insane butchery has
been renewed, and has increased in
gigantic proportions, witn an ar
my of 2,000 men, armed with all the
modern appliances for rapid slay
ing, in the field, some of them plead
ing guilty to the slaughter of 2,000,
neacL ,it is not at au surprising
that the caresses of the bison have
fallen in the wilderness by millions,
and that their bides are only worth
25 cents to a dollar. Horns, bones
and meat being lelt to fertilize the
rairie, .25 cents is the commercial
whiAoftho Buffalo in 1874.- The
w
rm
fact req mres no comment, a ne rem
edy says the World, is not so easily
" Ci. . ,
This is the way the Minneapolis
Tribxmi alludes to our old friends
the Hjekbick Brothers, of that am
bitious city; w,
Wheeeit "Will do the Most
Good" We would refer all wishing
to'lnVesttn re"alestateto the Ilei-fick
Brothers Room, No. 1, Academy of
Music. They are large owners of
first class business property; have
also 500 of the most desirable subur
ban residence lots in the city, and
several thousand acres of choice se
lected lands variously located in
this State. There.is aiwaysan ad:
vantage inTuying directly of own
ers. If you want money. loaned by
responsible parties, upon the best
jsecurity, ' you should call upon or
.write them. . .
j Ltfamous. ' Repudiation.- The
funding ' act which, is before the
South .. Carolina Legislature, . and
(which will probably pass, reduces
jthe State debt from $16,000,000 to
about $6,000,000. :W, repudiating a
part of 7' tie fraudulent debt, and
scaling tne vaud obligations of the
State, and other parts of the fraudu
lent debt fifty per cent. ' It is said
bonds for which South ' Carolina re
ceived dollar for dollar are scaled
i ...
equally with those : for which only
fifteen cents was paid by New York
speculated This is iniquitous if
not contrary to the Constitution, of
the United btates. .- .... .... ....
TEX&kCLLL Crisis ix Cuba; In ad-
dition to the' patriots' revolution, the
Cubans have another serious trouble,
a financial crisis. It is stated th at com
mercial confidence seems ' almost at
an end, prices, of necessaries are ris
ing enormously every day, and some
of the newspapers have been com
pelled to suspend publication for
want of the means to pay their
hands.' 'The ilrain upon' ; the re
sources of the country caused by the
insurrection has been so steady and
long continued that it would j al
most appear as though the "Cubans
were upon their last . financial legs.
Gold has. been 6teadily going out of
circulation, and now is at' an - im
mense premium, while ' confidence in
the paper currency is so shaken that
many people refuse to take it at any
price. - Unless some arrangement of
the insurrectionary troubles can be
arrived at, that a general resumption
of industry and production' may be
brought about, it is difficult to see
where the present crisis will end.' '
The English Courts having ' pro
claimed the Loch ' Earn blameless
and eulogized Capt..: Robertson, the
French Court, en the principle, per
haps,' that one good turn deserves
another,' proclaims the Vfi?e du
Havre blameless and eulogizes Capt.
Surmount; all of which is tanta
mount to an official announcement
that no 'one is to "blame. ; If the
Ville du Havre had been investigat
ed by the English and the Loch
Earn by the French, we should
probably have got nearer the truth.
The great engineers' strike has
collapsed, andBthe strikers have un
conditionally surrendered. The en
gineers are applying for work again,
and " are' resuming their places, ex
cept .that those' freight' engineers
who volunteered to ,run passenger
trains are allowed to kSep them, and
the recalcitrant passenger engineers
are put on freight trains.' The en
gineers . on the Pennsylvania road
have decided to agree to, the reduc
tion of wages . for the ' present, at
least. The only effect of this fool
ish 'movement J has' been to . cause
idleness, destitution, disappoint
ment, mortification, ' and : aliena
tion between employees and employ
ed, and a'- disturbing of the confi
dence of the people in the security
of travel. :.. ..
..Bills have 'been introduced into
both Houses of Congress providing
for a division of 'Dakota Territory,
and a , petition will be presented,
signed by the majority of the inhab
itants, in favor of such division. The
movement is not a new one, the Da
kota Legislature having twice me
morialized Congress to the same
end. -- It is the northern portion of
Dakota, lying between Red River
and Montana, which asks for a sepa
rate Territorial Government. , This
section claims a population of 5,000
people and peculiar advantages for
building up a prosperous State. It
has two hundred miles of the North
ern Pacific. Road ' completed, which
divides it, : running , from . east to
west, and 2,000 miles of navigable
rivers, including the Red, Yellow
stone and Missouri rivers. Less than
12 per cent, of the land is waste
land for agricultural purposes, and
this is said to be rich in mineral
wealth. The people of this section
complain that, under the present
Territorial Government, they are
left almost without representation
in the Legislature, and with inade
quate provision for courts. " Their
principal town, Bismarck, is ' 900
miles away from the Capitol of the
Territory.
Madeid. Dispatches from Mad
rid inform us of another revolution.
A vote in the Cortes showed Presi
dent Castellar to be without the
support of that body the majority
against him being twenty in a vote
of two ' Eundred. Upon , this devel
opment, General Pavia sent a letter
demanding its dissolution.. ' Saimer-
on urged Castelar to remain in pow
er, but he declined, whereupon Pa
via dissolved' the i Cortes' by force
and called .upon the . leaders of all
parties to form a new Government.
This has been done by making Mar
shal Serrano President .pf tne Re
public, and . investing him .with, the
chief executive power. According
to the latest dispatches, the military
were in possession of all the strate
gic points of the city arid everything
was quiet. The prominent civil and
military authorities in the various
provinces have telegraphed to Gen
Pavia,' approving his course,
wk t-avias couv U ciul Has. proJ
:s at
Madrid or in the Provinces. The
new Government is recogniied by
the forces beseiging Cartagena, and
at the Capital it is accepted without
any visible hesitation-!-perhaps as
mueh. because Pavia'stroops- are in
full possession of the city and the
national militia is disarmed, as for
any "better reason.
Ohio Legislature. This body
assembled on Monday last. Lt. Gov
ernor Mueller was in "his place in the
Senate, and. by the appointment of a
clerk pro tern, proceeded to adminis
ter the path of office to the new
members 36 in number.
The political status of the Senate
was shown in the vote cast for clerk
Donovan, of Delaware, Dem., and
Browning, of Clinton, Rep. The
vote was 22 Demos, and 14 Reps.
On coming to order in the House,
95 members elect took- the oath, and
their seats, " Geo.:" L. Converse re
ceived 55 .votes, for Speaker to 37
for James Scott. By a similar vote
the nominees of the Democratic cau
cus were elected as follows : ' Asst
Clerk D. L." Critis, and J. B. Hous
ton, Sergeant-at-Arms.
Mr. McLane offered a resolution
instructing, Senators, and requesting
Representatives in Congress to work
for the nnconditional repeal of the
Salary Increase so far . as can consti
tutionally be done. '
Mr. Hoag, of Henry county, mov
ed to table the resolution. He want
ed to censure Presidents Grant , for
not vetoing the bill. 'v.
A lively little discussion followed.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Eshelman moved to refer to a
select committee of . three to report
on Tuesday. He desired to have the
phraseolgy so worded that all could
vote for it. ' The motion was carried
yeas 55, nays 33 a party vote. .
, Messrs Eshelman, Hoag and Mc
Lane were appointed said commit
tee. ' .'' "; ' : - ' '" : : ''"
: Mr. ' Hodge ' offered a resolution
that the "salary grab" bill having
been passedby the votes of a major
ity of Democrats in Congress assist
ing a minority of Republicans, the
zeal of Democrats for its repeal was
highly commendable. Referred to
same committee. ;
Mrj i'Heitmann introduced a bill
to prohibit the payment of per diem
to members of the General Assem
bly for time when ; they are not in
actual attendance.,
J After the reading of the Govern
or's message, the ( House adjourned.
Turning the Tables. A some
what remarkable scene took place in
the House, on Tuesday last. It was
the handling of some of the South
ern members, such as ex-President
Stephens and Mr. Harris of Georgia,
by the . colored member Elliot, of
South Carolina, who spoke in favor
of the supplementary civil rights
bilL The eloquence and power of
the speaker, and the scathing char
acter of his arguments, showed him
to be a giant, compared with those
who had fallen under his castigation.
The inost respectful attention and
enthusiastic applaus. characterized
the audience. He paid his attention
to Alexander H. Stephens, and Mr.
Harris, of Virginia, in a way which
will be apt to impress these gentle
men with the necessity, of still an
other . Supplementary Civil Rights
bill for their protection against the
scourging tongues of former slaves.
Mr. Stephens was reminded that it
ill became him to abuse the amnesty
which allowed him to. return to a
place in the Government : he had
saught to overthrow, by again advo
cating principles which were hostile
to the existence of its Constitution.
He could best vindioate the wisdom
of the magnanimous policy1 which
permitted him to return; by advocat
ing the doctrine that American citi
zenship carried with it every civil and
political right that manhood could
confer Mr. Harris was less gently
treated. Mr. Elliot told him, with
cruel considerateness, that a negro
was too magnanimous to smite him in
his weakness, and was moreover
charitable enough to grant him the
mercy of his silence.' Mr." Elliot
contended that the power to pass the
bill under discussion was conferred
on Congress by the late amendments
to the Constitution, and that the
power ought to be exercised in favor
of the negro as a' reward for their
military services, and for their loyal
ty to the Government of the United
States when those against whom they
now seek to assert their rights were
trying to overthrow it by a Govern
ment based on slavery.
The Message. We make room in this
paper for thii document, and are pleased
to give it a hearty endorsement for its di
rectness and business common sense. It
shows that the finances of the State are
in a sound and wholesome condition, bnt
the same complaint that we have heard in
previous messages are reiterated in this :
Local indebtedness is rolling up at a fear
ful rate, and calls for Legislative restric
tion. .
The Governor takes a sensible view of
railway matters and their evils. The sys
tematic swindling of stockholders, the lit
tle Credit Mobiliers wheels within
wheels by which the earnings of these
corporations are absorbed by wily boards
of directors formed into independent or
ganizations - with . sharp speculators, re
quire attention. The remedies proposed
are worthy of consideration. "
The present manner of conducting the
conrici, inror system, oy wblcn it la
brought into competition with honest la
bor, receivcs.very properly, the Governor's
attention ana disapproval.
The expenditure proposed upon the Ag
ricultural College, is a matter about which
there will be considerable differences ot
oninion. ' '
The consolidation - of weak colleges,
cannot but meet with approval in the
coses alluded to. .
The completion of the Geological Sur
vey of Hie State, is urged, and it might be
added, that a little less parsimony in dis
tributing lt as pnousnea, wouia oe wen.
But w cannot follow the subject! of the
message in order, but commend it to the
reading and digestion of the people.
The document it a commeudable one,
and 1b a fitting finale of the administration
politically, Las filled the executive clair
with something more than average abll.ty.
GOVER[...] SSAGE.
To the Six [...] Assembly.
In aceordu
tiou, yon fcayc
pose of 'enact.;
eioty and to ;
etts of the
, .Azmiiitly;
, i L.le constitu
.llj'ed tor tbepur
"iws to protect 60
cte the best inter
The people have
., their representa
irj posed ujw.
tives, a grave respousibLuty. and
they justly look to you for wise, ju
dicious and patriotic legislation in
return for their generous confidence.
I .trust they will not be disappointed.
I congratulate you that Ohio, du
ring the past year, has been exempt
from the curse of war, violence, pes
tilence and famine; that our citizens,
unmolested and uninterrupted, in
health and happiness, have been per
mitted to pursue the avocations of
civil life, while the earth has yielded
abundant harvests, aud all depart
ments of business have for the most
part prospered. It is to be regretted,
however, that within the last three
months, capital and labor have been
embarrassed and distressed; that
workmen have been thrown out of
employment, and those who have
abundant means are for the time
powerless to help them. It is difi
cult to account, satisfactorily, for
the wide-spread financial trouble
which now assails the whole coun
try. Our agricultural, manufactur
ing and mining industries have been
unusually prosperous during the
past twelve months, and the close of
the year has aggregated fair returns
to investments in business enterprises
of every description. Our commerce
is once more assuming importance
on the sea, and oar exports are ap
proximating more nearly in value to
the imports than at any time since
the late war, and yet we are in the
midst of a financial crisis, approach
ing almost to a panic It is believed
the explanation of this state of things
is to be found in the vicious system
of speculation, which, hazardous in
its ventures and reckless of conse
quences, employs capital not its own
in questionable and worthless
schemes, gambles in corners made
by the stock-jobbers, and seeks its
profit in the distress and ruin of hon
est men. These gamblers control
largely the money market; they ad
vance or lower the price of gold and
of stocks to suit their own purposes;
they do not shrink fiom great risks,
because they employ the means of
other men; they have no dread of
debts, because they never expect to
pay them. The whole system of
wild speculation on borrowed capi
tal is pernicious in its influence and
disastrous in its effects. It induces
dishonesty and promotes extrava
gant habits. It ought to be dis
couraged, and as far as possible, pro
hibited. But whatever may be the cause of
the present financial pressure, it is
certain that it exists; and it is an im
portant part of your duty, gentle
men of the General Assembly, by
the strictest economy in all expendi
tures authorized by you, to relieve,
so far as you may be able, the bur
dens of the people.
The following is a brief summary
of the present financial condition of
the State:
STATE FINANCES.
On the 15th day of November. 1373,
the public landed debt of the
State was S883,546 8T
The redemptions during the year
were
Loan of 1860 $ 100 09
Loan of 1870 838.784 iI7
Loan of 1875 18,100 09
Loan.of 1881 600 00
Total 873,481 T
Outstanding, November 15, 18TB.. .. $811,063 10
Of the amount outstanding on the
15th of November, the sum of 64,
215 had ceased to draw interest, the
holders thereof having been notified
to surrender their stock for redemp
tion, so that the interest bearing
funded debt of the State is $8,146,
847. .
The funded debt is divided as fol
lows: Foreign debt, payable in New York '
City $309,897 10
Domestic debt, payable in Columbus 1,685 00
Total : 8,SU,03 10
The local indebtedness of the
State on the 1st day of September,
1873, was as follows:
Net debt of counties S 8,123,587 37
Net uebt of townships. Including
debts created bj boards of educa
tion other than for separate school
districts . 411,51018
Net debt of cities (first .and second
class) 14,BT,10B TO
Net debt of incorpoiatek villages $10,683 88
Net debt of school districts (special) 148,880 71
Total 4 i $ao,03B,ll 83
The amount of reimbursable debt,
therefore, is
State ..$'8,111,063 10
Local 10,033,138 83
Total $38,344,385 43
Irreducible debt 4,070.430 96
Aggregate debt of the State $33,814,658 88
The local indebtedness in this
statement is reckoned to September
1, 1873, and the State debt t No
vember 15, 1873.
The balance in the State Treasury on
' the 16th day of November, 1872,
was 447,588 84
Tbe receipts, including transfers of
11,676,149 85J for the fiscal year end- '
ing November 15, 1878, was 6,866,778 66
Total amount of funds in the Treasury
or the year $8314,817 50
The disbursements, including trans
fers, during the year have been 26,848,731 08
Balance in the Treasury, Nor. 15.
1873 $ 129,586 43
The Auditor of State estimates the re
ceipts, including balance on hand
November 15, 1878, for the current
year, from aU sources, at $5,744,034 70
The disbursements at
Revenue $ 80C,088 18
Asylum 1.832,809 63
Sinking 1,089,717 66
School 1,500,000 00
National Boad 19,123 34
Total 6,341,332 59
Leaving estimated Dalance in Treas
ury, Nov. 15, 1874 $ 602,793 11
The taxes levied in 1872, collecti
ble in 1873, were
State taxes $ 4,414,567 35
County and local 18,834,423 49
Delinquencies and forfeitures 561,992 28
Total $28,810,971 97
The taxes levied in 1873, collecti
ble in 1874, were
8tate taxes $ 5,479,853 35
County and local taxes 10,663,498 98
Delinquencies and forfeitures 848,106 76
Total $26,474,459 98
It will be observed by reference to
the above figures, that while the
State debt has during the past year
been reduced $372,484,27, the local
indebtedness has increased $2,442,
575,35. And yet the taxes levied for
all the State purposes, (exclusive of
the $1,500,000 levied for support of
common schools, and which goes di
rectly back to the counties to be ex
pended,) amounts to only $3,977,850,
25. This sum includes all the ex
penditures for building and main
taining our publio institutions, the
Sayment of interest on the State
ebt, the reduction of the debt, the
the oost of the Eiecutivr Legisla
tive, and Judicial departments of the
State government, and all expenses
incident to the management of State
affairs. On the other hand, the levy
for county and local purposes (in
cluding that for common schools,)
amounts to $22,153,493,98. In other
words, the levy for State purposes is
less than one-sixth of the entire tax
ation, and that for county and local
expenses more than five-sixths.
There is certainly a great disparity
between these two classes of expend
itures, and I submit for the consider
ation of the General Assembly,
whether it would not be wist v ru
,4 riot, by legislative enactment, tb
power of minors political organiza
tions to create debts and impose tax
es." The people naturally complain
of their burdens, when annual or
semi-annual payments of tax bills
are made,,, knd but few stop to in
quire or consider "whether the bills
are on account of local affairs, under
levies made for county, city, and
school district purposes, or for the
State at large. I commend this sub
ject to your attention.
Upon examination it will be found
that there is a remarkable difference
between the expenses of several
counties, for - the very same purpo
ses, where there ought to be substan
tial agreement; all of which could
possibly be remedied by legislation.
FISH CULTURE.
laborers are out of employ
ment, when times are hard and mon
ey scarce, the minds of men natural
ly and properly turn to considera
tion of matters affecting the price of
subsistence the oost of living. Cer
tainly there is no food more health
ful or more palatable than the best
varieties of fish which are found in
our lakes and rivers. " Yet the sup
ply has been growing lesa, year by
year, until it can no longer be re
garded as a common and cheap ar
ticle of diet, but should be classed
with the; luxuries, which only the
rich or those in comfortable circum
stances can afford. It is no longer a
question whether or not it is possi
ble to re-stock our inland waters
with fish. Experiments in various
parts of the country have been made
on so generous a scale, that it is now
certain we can repair the waste and
consumption which have produced
the present scarcity. And this can
be done with eomparitively. little
cost. The delicious white fish of the
lakes, instead of costing ten cents
per pound, as they now do when
placed upon eur tables, - ought to be
afforded at four cents at most. 1 But
to effect this there must be a more
plentiful supply.
The General Assemhly,, at its last
session, authorized the appointment
of three Fish Commissioners, who
were to act without compensation,
but whose actual . expenses while
prosecuting their investigations were
provided for by a. small appropria
tion. These Commissioners were
not expected to undertake the actual
work of fish culture, otherwise a
larger appropriation would have
been made.' The , Board are now
ready to commence re-stocking our
waters, and are satisfied that an al
most unlimited supply of fish can be
furnished, within three or four years
from the time when work is entered
upon in earnest. In the interest of
both comfort and economy, I recom
mend an appropriation of at least
$5,000, for the purpose of . erecting
hatching houses on Lake Erie, in
our reservoirs and rivers, and to pay
the expense of propagating the
most desirable kinds of fish.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
Two volumes of the Geological
Survey one of Geology and one of
Paleontology have been published
and distributed since the adjourn
ment of the last General Assembly.
The field-work of the survey has been
completed, and a large amount of
material has been collected for fu
ture volumes. It was hoped that all
the text would be ready for the
printer at the beginning of the pres
ent year, but it has been found im
possible, with the utmost industry, to
finish it. Sufficient matter for two
more volumes will be prepared by
the 15th of February next, when the
term for which the Geological Corps
was appointed expires by limitation.
Indeed, : ne appropriation has been
made for expenses beyond the 1st of
the present month. The plan of the
survey contemplates two other, vol
umes, in addition: to those I have
mentioned, one devoted to economic
Geology purely; and the other to zo
ology, botany, agriculture, etc The
work will not be complete without
these latter .volumes, the material
for which is now fully half prepared.
A general geological .map .of: the
State should also, accompany the
printed volumes, j To ; perfect the
whole in a creditable manner will
require two years more of time at an
expense of $19,000 a year. :
I therefore recommend that an ap
propriation be made for the publica
tion of two volumes immediately,
and that the sum of $10,000 be ad
ded, te continue the work of the sur
vey another year. I ;
. The value of. this geological Bur
vey to the people of Ohio can hardly
be over-estimated. . It has occupied
but little time, and its cost has been
much lesa than that of similar enter
prises in other States. The work, so
far as published, is everywhere high
ly commended; in my judgment the
interests of the people, require that
it should be carried on to comple
tion. It would be an unwarranted
-vaste of time and money if the ma
terial now . prepared Bhould not be
utilized.
WAR CLAIMS AGAINST THE UNITED
STATES.
The following statement will
show the history and condition of
war claims presented by the State
of Ohio against the General Gov
ernment. .
Amount of claims presented prior to
November 15, 1873 13,198,906 7V
Amount presented during the last fis
cal year .....
(6,348 73
Total $385,188 51
Belmbursed prior to Nov.
15, 1873.... $3,826,347 94
Amount collected during
last fiscal year 94,174 BO
1,930,42144
Amount outstanding $314,76107
Of the amount of claims now
outstanding, probably not more
than fifty thousand dollars will be
collected unless payment shall be
authorized by act of Congress,
though it is believed that a large
part of what is claimed, if not all,
is justly due, and ought to be paid.
Our war claims have been collect
ed at a cost of little more than one
half of one per cent, and the work
has been faithfully and efficiently
done.
For a more detailed statement,
and for several important sugges
tions, you are referred to the report
of the General.
CLAIMS OF OHIO SOLDIERS.
The act of the Ohio Legislature,
passed April 6, 1886, made provis
ion for the appointment of a Board
of Commissioners to examine and
allow such claims of Ohio oitUens as
they deemed just and proper, and
otherwise provided for, growing
out of military transactions, princi
pally in the recruiting service.
This act was repealed by the last
Legislature, to take effect Sept; ' 1,
1872.
A few claims have been reported,
amounting to the sum of $5,000,
whioh were not presented to said
Board within the limits of the law.
They are represented to be of the
same character as others which were
allowed and paid, the parties who
presented the claims at too late a
;i vl.it u be acted "upon r-T tv,c
Jioim! t t being aware of tha I'M-
visions of law under which their
claims might have been settled.
I do not think it desirable to re
vive the old commission, or, to ap
point a new one, but would recom
mend that a committee of tbe Legis
lature be appointed to examine and
adjust such honesfclaims as ought
to be paid.
THE TWO PER CENT. CLAIMS.
Claims to the amount of nearly
$1,300,000 about one third o"f
which is due to the State of Ohio
have been presented to the United
States Government by the States of
Ohio," Indiana' and Illinois, on ac
count of the unpaid balance of the
five per cent, granted by Congress
to the several States on the sales of
public lands. The House of JElepre
sentatives in Congress last' winter,
by a vote of two to one recognized
the validity of this claim. The Sen
ate barely defeated the measure, if
I mistake not, by a single vote. A
memorial has recently been address
ed to Congress of the three States
interested, and we trust our .efforts
will be warmly seconded by the
Legislatures of our respective States.
It is believed that a sense of ' justice
will induce Congress to accord' to
us what we maintain is fairly due.
CENTENNIAL.
having to brate
the one hundreth anniversary
of our National Independence by a
grand, exhibition of the industry
of the country, it is desirable that
provision for this important event
be made upon a scale commensurate
with the dignity of, the occasion.
Foreign nations are already signi
fying their acceptance of the invita
tion of our Government while exhib
itors . in this and other countries
are applying for necessary space,
To make the Exposition such a suc
cess as shall present our young Re
public to the Governments of the
old world in the most favorable
light, such a display as shall attract
the attention and command the ad
miration of the whole civilized world,
a large sum of money will be required.
In order to raise the necesary funds,
and for other purposes, the Centen
nial Commission appeals to the pa
triotic impulses and generous spirit
of all eur people. Certainly no
State in the Union has greater cause
for gratitude and pride than Ohio,
with her three millions of inhabitants
and her abounding wealth. : It is
hoped the rich and the poor alike,
each according to his means, will
contribute somewhat toward carry
ing out the designs of the Com
mission. To facilitate this, Hon. A
C. Goshorn, Director General of the
Centennial, a citizen of our own
State, asks for the appointment of
State Boards to co-operate with
the National Board of Commissions.
I would therefore earnestly recom
mend that provision be made for
appointmentjby my successor, of such
State Boaid, and that an appropri
ation of $5,000 be made to defray
the expenses thereof, including the
cost of travel, postage, clerk hire,
etc. I am convinced this is the
least sum which will answer the pur
pose.' It is hoped Ohio will not be be
hind her sister States in the mani
festation of her patriotism.
STATE ORDINANCE.
may
that under the act of. Congress, ap
proved April 2g, 1808, two hundred
thousanddollaiare annually appro
priated for the purpose of arming
and equiping the militia of the Uni
ed States, this sum being divided
among the States and territories ac
cording, to the representation in
Congress. The yearly quota of
Ohio under this rale, is $11,500. But
during the late' war large sums 6f
money were charged against some
of the States for arms and ether
ordnance stores issued to said States
by the "War Department. By refer
ence to the report of the Adjutant
General, which will be laid before
you, it will seem that Ohio stood
charged on the 1st of December,
1868, with $184,773 23. in excess of
her quota. The amount at this time
appearing to be due, after deducting
the credits allowed since December
1st, 1868, is about $127,000. - As the
arms and other ordnance stores new
in possession of the State are incon
siderable in quantity and of little
value it is undoubtedly true that
we stand charged with stores issued
to troops and used during the war,
and which have been accounted for
to the United States Government
by commanding officers in the field.
It may be that errors occurred in
keeping the accounts, . but certain
it is that Ohio ought not to be
charged with this large amount of
money. Indeed, General A B. Dy
er, Chief of Ordnance says: .
"Large sums of money were charged
against some of the States for arms, eta,
furnished by the department during the
war and other 8tates, equally populous,
had no charges made against them du
ring the same period rand it seems to me
highly probably that the errors occurred
in keeping the accounts with the State,
which do great injustice to sorne of tbem,
but which this Bureau has no authority
to correct . The principal, if not all, of
the issues which were made to tbem for
the maintenance of the Government and
the preservation of the Union, and should
have been charged as arms and other
stores issued to volunteers, to the United
States, and not to the States."
If the apparent indebtedness here
referred to is not -.canceled, as the
Adjutant-General says it will be
eleven years before any army can
be received by this State.
It would be well to authorize some
agent or State officer to investigate a
secure a correction of the mistakes
heretofore made. Or, if Congres
sional action is necessary, as the
Chief of J Ordnance seems to think,
then the General Assembly should
instruct our Senators and request our
Representatives in Congress to,
secure, if possible, the required legislation.
RAILROADS.
Recognizing the faot that rail
roads have contributed very largely
to the prosperity of the State,
that lines heretofore projected ought
to be built, and that new routes
ought to be located in order to se
cure the best developement of our
resources and the highest reward
for our industries, it is undoubtedly
the dr-ty of the General Assembly
to encourage legitimate railroad en
terprises, Bnt several abuses have
crept into the management of some
of these corporations whioh ought
to be oorreoted. It is no uncom
mon thing for the officers of rail
road companies- to associate them
selves together, as tbe proprietors
of fast freight Unes, or In other like
capacity, whereby they are enabled
to contract with themselves, so as
to seoure unwarranted profits, at the
expense of the stockholders they of-
ial ly represent, and of the people
who transact business with the roads.
Another difficulty is that those fast
freight lines, not being organised
under the laws of Ohio though doing
business within the limits of this
State, pay no taxes whatever.
V.Ton U.u officers of the rallroad(
corporation are asked to list the
property, they answer that they do
not own it and have nothing' to do
with it- It has been impossible to
reach these interior orjJaaizations.
One fast freight line has heretofore
owned and used four thousand cars
aud all this property escaped taxa
tion in Ohio, although operated in
this State. It is worthy of consider
ation whether or not this evil can be
reached and remedied by the State
or National Legislation.
I am informed it is the custom for
many of the railroad companies in
corporated by the laws of Ohio to
keep their- transfer books on . Wall
Street, in the city of New York; the
practical 'result of which is that
money is borrowed, on railroad
stock pledged as collateral security,
a transfer is made on the boo ks to
the banker or broker who has only
a remote interest in the ultimate
value of the stock. Speculators and
schemers then borrow or hire the
proxies on stock so held in pledge,
and by voting the same, sometimes
enter into transactions to the extent
of millions 'of dollars, 'involving the
validity of railroad securities, and
affecting the financial interets of
many innocent persons. A control
ing influence is thus often exercised
by men having no pecuniary inter
est at stake, to the discredit of the
whole railroad system, and to - the
prejudice of the public welfare.
It would be well for the . Gener
al Assembly to compel Ohio corpor-
rations, under heavy penalties for
refusing to obey the law, to keep
their transfer books, or duplicates
thereof, at some office or place witn
in the limits of the State, and
the books should be closed for
transfers at least ten days before
he annual meeting of stockhold
ers. In this connection it may not be
improper to say that the - subject
of cheap transportation is one which
is engrossing attention of the whole
country. A Committee of Con
gress nowhas the matter in consider
ation, and it is hoped a just and sat
isfactory solution of this trouble
some question will be reached. If
Congress fails to afford relief, it may
become the duty of the State. Legis
latures to: consider what can and
what ought to be done.
CONVICT LABOR.
Under existing laws, the labor of
convicts of the Ohio Penitentiary is
not, for the most part, employed
directly by the State, but is let out
to the . highest . bidders therefor.
The contractors pay for such labor,
on an average, about ninety cents
per day per capita, and the prisoners
are clothed and fed at the expenses
of the State. It necessarily happens
that manufacturers who obtain la
bor at so low a rate, go into market
with great advantage over all com
petitors less fortunate in this re
gard. They are enabled, it is be
lieved at a profit, to undersell the
market price. The result must in
evitably be, that all kinds of busi
ness similar to those carried on in
the Penitentiary are embarrassed,
while the prison contractors make
inordinate gains. It may be urged
that the hiring of this convict labor
is open to competition. Nominally
it is so; practically, it remains for
many years in the same hands, and
it is not fully paid. I am of opin
ion, that after investigation, that it
would be more profitable for the
State to utilize aud control the la
bor of all the prisoners than to ad
here to the contract system. At all
events, the prison could be so con
ducted as to interfere less with the
legitimate . pursuits of business
men who pay the ordinary wages for
work. .
i . The State, looking to the inter
ests of all the citizens, could .have
no inducement to sell its manufac
tures below the market price, for
its plain duty is to eifcourage busi
ness everywhere, and to embarass it
as little as possible.
I hope the General Assembly will
investigate this subject, and do what
is deemed best for the good of the
whole State.
I renew the recommendations I
made last year with regard to en
larging and improving the cells of
convicts in the Penitentiary. As at
present constructed they are not fit
to be occupied, and are not in keep
ing with the humane spirit of the
age. The cost of making the neces
sary changes would not be great, as
most of the work could be done by
the prisoners themselves. A decent
regard for the health and reasona
ble comfort of these unfortunate
criminals requires early attention
and action on the part of the Legislature.
CRIMINAL LAW.
Another years' experience in the
matter of hearing and deciding ap
plications for pardon has confirmed
me in the opinion that the law
should be so modified as to leave
less discretion with the courts in
passing sentence for criminal off
ences. It often happens that two
prisoners work side by side in the
the Penitentiary, both sent there for
precisely the same crime, one for
one year and the other for ten. In
such case it is impossible -to con
vince the convict incarcerated for
the longer time that he has been
fairly dealt with. And so long as
he is stung with the sense of this
injustice, he is not likely to reform.
There is- nothing approaching uni
formity in the length of sentences
pronounced by different judges for
similar offences.
I earnestly recommend that the
criminal law be so changed as to se
cure more exact justice; so amended
as to leave results affecting the lives
and liberties of men less dependent
upon the judgment, tbe tempera
ment or the caprice or tnose w no
administer the law.
CONFEDERATE GRAVE-YARD
The Confederate cemetry at Co
lumbus has for several years been
cared for by an agent under the di
rection of the Governor, and the
expenses thereof has been paid out of the
contingent fund- Tb ground is owned
by private parties and ia not lawfully
under the control of the State or of the
United State. The wooden head-boarda
bearing the names of tbe dead are rapidly
going to decay. In a fuw year lt will
be impossible to Gigtlngutsh the' different
graves. It would teem proper that the
United State Government should pur
chase this cemetery and provide fbr its
care and superuion. In the absence of
uch aotlun, boweyer, on tbe part of the
United States, it is for the Qeneral As
sembly ot Ohio to decide what ought to
be done. Tbe subject is respectfully re
commended far your consideration.
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE.
The Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege w&s.upcnad for the admission, of tu
dents on tbe )7lh of September last.
Thirty students entered tbe institution at
that time, and classes ware formed la al
most all of the departments of Instruction.
Tbe College cannot therefore be said to
be in successful operation.-
Tbe courses of study see mi to bare been
organised in conformity with the pro
visions or the act of Congress to which it
owe Its origin these provisions demand
ing an institution properly equipped "lor
tbe liberal and practical , education of the
industrial classes Id the various pursuits .
and professions of lite." Several of its
more important professorships remain to
be filled, but tbe trustees giye assurance
that appointments will be made to one
or more of these department during tbe
present year.
Tbe productive capital of the college
now amounts to $504,000, while its farm,
its buildings, apparatus and cabinet to
gether with tbe unsold lands belonging to
it in some of the southern counties of the
State, making an aggregate of at least
$350,000 more. Such a foundation can
scarcely fail to become a very important
addition to tbe educational facilities of the
State, enlarged as it certainly will be by
private munificence.
There seems, therfore, jnst ground for
congratulating the people of Ohio npon
the openioir of the College n so broad an
educational and financial basis.
I desire espec'mlly to commend this in
stitution to tbe kindly consideration of
the General Assembly, and to tbe good
will of the people. It is the school of
the people; they will own it and profit by
it ; I trust they will hereafter have great
reason to be proud of it. Its teaching
will be thorough and comprehensive ;
its doors will be wide open, and lis bles
sings wide spread ; its sopport ought to
be generous and cheerfully accorded.
By act of the Legislature all of the ma
terial collected by the Slate Geological
survey during its five years of service be
comes the property of the College, to
the keeping of which it is already, trans
ferred. The collections are large and
furnish a very satisfactory representa
tion of the mineral wealth and fossil con
tents of the rock of Ohio. The value of
the gift would be greatly enhanced by
some provision for its . proper display.
Sui table- cases - for the exhibition of so
large an amount of material would prob
ably cost 3,500. By the appropriation
of such a sun. the collection could be
immediately utilized in an impressive and
instructive display of both the economic
al and scientific interests of the Geology
of Ohio. 1
STATE LIBRARY.
The Legislature at its last session ap
propriated $12,000 for the purpose of
making certain specified improve
ments in the IState Library. The
work has been done in a satisfactory
manner, and there remains unused
of the sum appropriated $2,964,85.
This amount could, have been judi
ciously expended for further im
provements, but-the Library Com
missioners did not feel at liberty to
go beyond the authority delegated
to them by the General Assembly.
The sky-light above the library ' room
ought to be enlarged, the walls aud ceil
ing should be painted, the floor carpeted,
and a little expensive furniture added; for
all of which the fund heretofore appropri
ated is sufficient
I recommend that the Librarian or the
Commissioners be authorized to direct the
necessary changes and . additions . to be
made.
OHIO AND MIAMI UNIVERSITIES.
The Miami University has temporarily
closed its doors for want of, adequate sap-,
port, and the Ohio University is far from
being in a prosperous condition. Unless
assistance is rendered by the Suite to both,
they will soon be obliged to suspend alto
gether. I renew the suggestion maJe in?
my message last year, that one of these in
stitutions be changed to a normal school
of the higher grade, and the other to a pre
paratory department, auxiliary to the Ag
ricultural and Mechanical College. Or, if
thought best, normal schools could be sub
stituted for both. Unless this, or some
thing equivalent to this, is done, tLe funds
heretofore donated to these Universities
will be lost to the educational interests of
the State. For the benefit of our common
schools, we want, most of all, normal in
struction; and if tbe Ohio and Miami Uni
versities were devoted to this purpose,
with very little helf from the State, I
have no doubt they would be abundantly
supported.
OTHER PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
Ohio is justly proud of her benevolent,
reformatory and penal institutions. In no
part of the world, it is believed, are the
asylums, reform schools aud prisons bet
ter conducted than with us. Our unfor
tunate, and even our criminal classes, are
watched over with tender solicitude, are
surrounded with healthful influences, and
are furnished with tbe necessaries, com
forts and some of the luxuries of life; they
are well fed and clothed and sheltered;
they arc provided with mental and moral
culture, their lives are rendered as happy
as their stuation and condition will per
mit. Moreover, it is gratifying to know
that the yearly cost per eapita for main
taining the inmates of these public institu
tions is from forty to one hundred and fif:
ty dollars less than in the corrse ponding
establishments of other States -east ana
west of us, ranking nearest to Ohio In
size wealth and population.
I commend all these charitable enter-,
prises for the fostering care of the General
Assembly, with the recommendation that
the Central Lunatic Asylum and the
Northern Asylum at New burg be pressed
towards the completion as ouickly as.
possible, since our work houses, infirma
ries and jails are now filled with dement
ed persons who cannot be accommodated
otherwise.
REPORTS.
Tonr attention is called ta the Terr
full comprehensive reports to. the various
State officers, heads ot the department
and superintendents of public institutions.
They will be found to, contain moch val
uable information and many important
suggestions.. Yon are especially referred
to the request of the Secretary of State
for an act defining his duties in passing
upon the legality, of certificates of in
corporation ; and also to his suggestion
that contracts for paper should be awar
ded by the Commissioners of Fublio
Printing, and not as now by the Secretary
of State.
THOMAS CORWIN.
In a little grave yard at Lebanon. War
ren County, Qhio, marked only by a bed
of myrtle reposes the dust of Thomas
Corwin, the moat brilliant orator and one
of the wisest statesman who lives grace
the history of tbe nation. No man has
held a larger place in the hearts and
minds of the people, nor has any one con
tributed more to the welfare of the 8tate
of Ohio than he did. His publio utter,
ances will inspire the eloquence of ether
men long years after all whe kaew him
and. beard him shall have passed -away.--.
The study of his life and its grand success
will cheer the redoubled effort the toil
ing sons of genius and poverty genera-,
tion hence.
It is one of the sweet privileges f the
living to honor the diatinguiaE deaoV
It is especially becoming that the State
which Thomas Corwin smd so long
and so well shonld testify its appreciation,
of his public career by erecting an appro
priate monuruent to commemora; tUsr
name and fame.
There are several other waiters to
which I bad expected to call attention of
the Assembly, but they involve the ex
penditure of considerable sum of money,
and I do not feel at liberty, in the present
condition of affairs, to auggest them.
In conciuaioD, permit me to express the
earnest hope that your present sesaioq
may be pleasant to yourselves and pioflt.
able to your constituent.
EDWARD F. NOYES, Governor.
January 5, 1874.
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