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The property of the State, consisting of stocks in banks, railroads, and turnpike companies, amounts to $3,654,456.66, and is mostly productive. The State also holds mortgages of the several railroads as security for its loans and indorsement of their bonds. The State debt, October 1, 1853, was $5,746,856.55; on which about $325,000 interest accrues annually. The State has also the contingent liability to repay the United States surplus revenue, being $1,353,209. There is a school fund of near $1,500,000.

XXIII. KENTUCKY.

Government for the Year 1855.

LAZARUS W. POWELL, of Henderson Co., Governor (term of office

expires August, 1855),

Salary. $2,500

James P. Metcalfe,

of Nicholas Co.,

Secretary of State,

750

of Frankfort,

of Frankfort,

Auditor of Public Accounts,
Assistant Auditor,

2,000

900

of Frankfort,

Register of the Land-Office,

1,250

of Louisville,

Treasurer,

1,700

of Frankfort,

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Thomas S. Page, James R. Watson, Elisha A. Macurdy, R. C. Wintersmith, John M. Harlan, E. H. Tole, Benjamin Selby, John D. Mathews, A. G. Hodges & Co., J. Russell Hawkins, Thomas J. Helm, 7 per day. The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Auditor, Attorney-General, and Register of Land-Office, are elected by the people for the term of four years. The Governor is ineligible for the four years succeeding the expiration of his term. If a vacancy in the office of Governor occur during the first two years of the term, the people fill it; if during the last two years, the Lieutenant-Governor, and after him the Speaker of the Senate, act as Governor. The Secretary of State is appointed by the Governor during his term. Senators, 38 in number, are elected from single districts for four years, one half every two years. Representatives, 100 in number, are elected from single districts for two years. Sessions of the Assembly are biennial. They cannot continue longer than 60 days without a two-thirds vote of all the members elect to each branch. The members are paid $3 a day, and 12 cents a mile for travel.

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The salary of each circuit judge is $1,400; attorneys, $300, besides perquisites and fees. These officers were elected in May, 1851, to serve until August, 1856.

All judges, justices of the peace, and officers of the court are elected by the people; the judges of the Court of Appeals from districts for eight years, one every two years, and the one having the shortest time to serve being chief justice, judges of the Circuit Court for six years, and justices of the peace for four years. The officers of the several courts are elected for the same term as is the presiding judge of their court.

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FINANCES.

Sinking Fund. Certain resources are provided by law for the payment of the interest and principal of the public debt of the State. It is under the management of the Governor, who is chairman ex officio, and the Presidents of the Bank of Kentucky and the Northern Bank of Kentucky. The Auditor is Secretary er officio. The receipts of the fund during the year 1852 were $434,949.08; the expenditures for the same time were $ 399,444.61; excess of receipts, $85,504.47.

Ordinary Revenue. - Receipts into the Treasury for the year ending October 10, 1852, $783,885.57; expenditures for the same time, $724,694.77; excess of receipts (including balance of previous year), $59,190.80. Value of taxable property in 1852, $333,131,512; increase since 1851, $16,048,908. The rate of taxation is 17 cents for every $100 worth of property; 10 cents of which are appropriated for ordinary expenses, 5 cents for the sinking fund, and 2 for the school fund. Items of Taxation. -20,677,241 acres of land, valued at $153,474,334; 36,006 town lots, $37,829,617; 200,867 slaves, $71,580,909; 335,721 horses, $ 13,508,412; 51,541 mules, $ 2,405,480; 2,688 jennies, $216,696; 590,750 cattle, $3,009,106; 4,075 stores, $10,113,006; surplus cash, bonds, &c., $ 40,993,952. Specific Taxation. - On

3,705 carriages and barouches, $1 each; 1,413 buggies, 50 cents each; 1,982 pianos, $1 each; 394 gold spectacles, 50 cents each; 7,808 gold watches, $1 each; 853 silver lever watches, 50 cents each. Total white males over 21 years of age, who pay a poll tax for county purposes, 163,005; studs, jacks, and bulls, 2,554, taxed $6,358; average value of land per acre, $4.72.

State Debt. The entire debt of the State, January 1, 1852, was $5,726,307.80; composed of these items:-To individuals, $4,247,537.40; Southern Bank of Kentucky for stock, $150,000; Craddock fund, $2,000; Board of Education, $1,326,770.40. To pay which the sinking fund receives annually a tax from the banks and dividends on stocks in the same; premiums on State bonds; dividends on stocks in turnpike roads; dividends from slack-water improvements; 5 cents on each $100 worth of property listed for taxation; tax on brokers and insurance companies; excess of revenue at the end of each year over $5,000. The interest on the State debt has been punctually paid, and some portion of the principal.

Common Schools. The school fund amounted in December, 1852, to $1,400,270.01; consisting of State bonds and bank stocks, besides an annual tax on property amounting to about $55,000. 101 counties and 5 cities and towns have made reports to the Superintendent for the year 1852. Number of children reported, 194,963; average number at school, 69,825. Money distributed during the year, $111,866.40. Number of children in the State between the ages of 5 and 16 years, 215,195.

Board of Internal Improvement.

David R. Haggard, of Cumberland, President, salary

$1,000. John M. Sharp, of Warren County, and Thomas S. Page (Auditor), members. The latter is Secretary ex officio. There are 95 miles of railroad in actual use from Lexington, via Frankfort, to Louisville. The railroad from Covington to Lexington is finished and in operation to Falmouth, 40 miles. The railroad from Lexington to Maysville is finished to Paris (18 miles) and in operation. Railroads from Lexington to Danville, from Louisville to Nashville, from Lexington to the mouth of the Big Sandy, and from Maysville to the same points, are in the course of construction; also a railroad from Shelbyville to intersect the Louisville and Frankfort road.

State Institutions for the Relief of the Unfortunate. — Lunatic Asylum at Lexington. Number of inmates, January 1, 1852, 249. - Deaf and Dumb Asylum, at Danville. Pupils, 67.-School for the Blind, at Louisville. Pupils, 35.- Penitentiary. Number of prisoners, 166.-There is a second Lunatic Asylum at Hopkinsville, and commissioners are appointed to manage it.

XXIV.

OHIO.

Government for the Year 1855.

Term expires.

Salary.

WM. MEDILL,

of Lancaster, Governor,

January, 1856, $1,800

James Myers,

of Toledo,

Lt.-Gov. & Pres. Sen., 1856, $5 a day

[during the session of the Legislature.

William Trevitt, of Columbus, Sec. of State and Sup't of

Wm. D. Morgan, of New Lisbon,

John G. Breslin, of Tiffin,

Schools,

1856,

1,400

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Geo. W. M'Cook, of Steubenville, Attorney-General,

Hiram H. Barney,

Jabez Fitch,

S. W. Andrews, of Columbus, Quartermaster-General,

P. W. Rice, of Cleveland, Paymaster-General.
W. S. V. Prentiss, of Mt. Vernon, Adjutant-General.

200

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Samuel Wilson, of Columbus, Warden of the State Penitentiary,

1,200

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The Supreme Court consists of five judges, chosen by the people at large, a majority of whom form a quorum. It has original jurisdiction in quo warranto, mandamus, habeas corpus, and procedendo, and appellate jurisdiction. It holds at least one term in each year, at the seat of government, and such other terms as may be provided for by law. The judges after the first election (in 1851) were classified by lot, so that one should hold for one year, one for two years, one for three years, one for four years, and one for five years. At all subsequent elections, each of the judges will be chosen for five years, and the judge having the shortest time to serve is chief justice.

Allen G. Thurman, of Chillicothe, Chief Justice,

Salary.

Term expires.
Jan. 14, 1856, $1,700

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1857, 1,700

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Kendall Thomas, of Columbus, Cl'k of Ct. in Banc, and Sup. Ct. Franklin Co. Robert B. Warden, of Columbus, Reporter,

Courts of Common Pleas.

300

The State is divided into nine Common Pleas districts, of which the county of Hamilton forms one. These districts are subdivided into three parts, from each of which one judge, to reside while in office in his district, is chosen by the electors of each subdivision for five years. Courts of Common Pleas are held by one or more of the judges in every county, and more than one court may be held at the same time, in each district. District Courts composed of the judges of the Courts of Common Pleas of the respective districts, and of one of the judges of the Supreme Court, any three of whom form a quorum, are held in each county at least once in each year. The District Courts have the same original jurisdiction with the Supreme Court, and appellate jurisdiction. There is a Probate Court, with the usual probate jurisdiction, in each county, open at all times, holden by one judge, who is chosen by the voters of each county, for three years. Justices of the peace are elected in each township, for three years. Clerks of the Common Pleas are chosen in each county, by the people, for three years.

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For the Fiscal Year ending November 15th, 1853.

The total amount of receipts for the year ending Nov. 15th, 1853, was
Balance in Treasury, Nov. 15th, 1853, .

Total,

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. $2,865,907.61 593,041.77 $3,458,949.38

2,696 118.83 $762,830,55

The constitution provides that "the State shall never contract any debt for purposes of internal improvement. It may contract debts to meet casual deficits in the revenue, or expenses not otherwise provided for, but the aggregate of such debts shall never exceed $750,000. It may further contract debts to repel invasion, &c., or redeem the present out. standing debt, but the money arising therefrom shall be applied to the purposes for which it was raised, and to none other. The credit of the State shall not be lent to any individual or corporation, nor shall the State become a stockholder in any association, or assume any debt, except such as may have been incurred in repelling invasion, suppressing insurrection, or defending the State in war. The Secretary of State, Auditor, and Attorney-General shall be the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, which shall consist of the net annual income of the public works and stocks, and of such funds raised by taxation or otherwise as may be provided by law, which shall be made sufficient to pay the accruing interest on the public debt, and annually not less than $ 100,000. A Board of Public Works, to consist of three members, shall be elected, and so classified, that one member shall be elected annually, and for three years."

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116,837.95

$1,018,029.09

Total State debt and annual interest, Jan. 1st, 1854, $17,165,428.64 The irreducible stock funds, upon which the State pays six per cent. interest to the townships and districts from which the funds were received, form a part of the State debt which is not to be repaid. In addition to the public works, the State owns $2,699,477.27 of turn

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