USA > Ohio > The biographical annals of Ohio, 1904-1905. A handbook of the government and institutions of the state of Ohio Vol. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 10
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The Board makes an annual written report to the Governor on the first Monday in December of each year, of its actions during the last preceding year, its officers and members, and the names thereof, with a recommendation for such legislation as they think proper in order to carry out more fully the object and purpose of its creation.
Under the constitution and laws, the Governor can not pass upon or grant a pardon until after the case has been submitted to the Board of Pardons, and passed upon by that body, except in cases specifically men- tioned in the statutes.
The Board was created for the purpose of relieving the Governor of the task of examining manifold papers and documents, which con- sumed a large part of his time, to the detriment of other important public business.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
609
The State Board of Pardons.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF PARDONS, 1888-1902. CHARLES C. LEMERT, SECRETARY.
Names.
Years.
Counties.
Chas. N. Vallandigham.
1888.
A. V. Rice.
1888.
Thos. T. Thompson
1888.
Cuyahoga.
Nathan Drucker.
1888.
Hamilton.
Theo. E. Cunningham
1888.
Allen.
L. D. Hagerty
1888
Henry Kahlo.
1888.
Lucas.
Nathan Drucker
1889
Hamilton.
E. J. Kennedy
1889.
Cuyahoga.
Cassily C. Cook.
1890.
Hamilton.
L. W. Baughman
1890.
Wayne.
John R. Malloy
1890.
Franklin. Athens. Wayne.
J. W. Baughman
1891.
E. J. Kennedy
1891.
Cuyahoga.
Harry Miner ..
1892.
Franklin.
Jamse P. McNally.
1894.
Mahoning.
M. M. Rose.
1895.
Washington.
George Ewing.
1895-9
Fairfield.
J. E. Braden.
1896
Darke.
S. F. Hanselman
1897.
Portage.
John A. Wilkins.
1897
Fulton.
S. J. Hatfield
1897.
Shelby.
P. H. Bruck.
1905
Franklin.
S. S. Deaton
1905
Champaign.
George Ewing
1907.
Fairfield.
S. J. Hatfield.
1907:
Shelby.
L. A. Koons
1891.
Franklin. Putnam.
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THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
T HE Ohio State Board of Health was established by an act of Legislature, passed April 14, 1886. Hon. J. B. Foraker, then Governor of Ohio, appointed the following persons as
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Name
Residence.
Serul of Service.
W. H. Cretcher, M. D .*
Bellefontaine.
1886-1889
T. Clarke Miller.
Massillon.
1886-1887
John D. Jones, M. D .!!
Cincinnati.
1886-1889
Simon P. Wise, M. D.
Millersburg.
1886-1896
D. H. Beckwith, M. D.
Cleveland.
1886-1890
Thos. C. Hoover, M. D.
Columbus
1886-1897
H. J. Sharp, M. D
London
1886-1892
*Deceased.
||Resigned.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE.
Name.
Residence.
Term of Service.
Edward T. Nelson, A. M., M. D.
Delaware.
1887-1897
Jos. T. Anderson, M. D.
Cincinnati.
1889-1891
S. A. Conklin, M. D.
Canton.
1889-1893
Wm. T. Miller, M. D.
Cleveland.
1890-1904
A. J. Scott, M. D.
Loudon ville
1891-1892
Byron Stanton, M. D.
Cincinnati.
1892-1904
R. D. Kahle, M. D ..
Lima.
1892-1899
Josiah Hartzell, Ph. D
Canton
1893-1904
J. C. Crossland, M. D.
Zanesville
1896-1904
Darwin G. Palmer, M. D
Geneva.
1901-1904
Frank Warner, M. D ..
Columbus
1898-1904
W. C. Chapman, M. D
Toledo
1899-1904
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The State Board of Health.
The Board held its first meeting in Columbus on April 30, 1886, and organized by electing Dr. W. H. Cretcher President, and appointing Dr. G. C. Ashmun, the health officer of Cleveland, as Secretary.
Dr. Ashmun resigned this position in June, 1886, and Dr. Guy Case, of Cleveland, was appointed as his successor. Dr. Case tendered his resignation July 27, 1886, and Dr. C. O. Probst, of Columbus, was ap- pointed Secretary on the same date. Dr. Probst has continuously filled the position since that time, and is the present Secretary.
. The Board first directed its efforts to building up a complete health oranization for the entire State. In 1886 the larger cities and a very few villages were the only municipalities that had availed themselves of the provisions of an act permitting them to establish a local board of health.
The Board at once took up the work of increasing the number and improving the efficiency of local boards of health. Within a few years it secured a board of health in all cities and villages ..
In 1893 the townships, which up to that time had had practically no protection in health matters, were required to establish boards of health, so that provision is now made for a board of health in every city, vil- lage and township, a grand total of two thousand one hundred and twelve . such boards.
Sanitary legislation has been secured from time to time enlarging the powers and increasing the duties of both the State and local boards of health.
In furtherance of its work the Board began, in 1897, a systematic examination of the streams in Ohio. Each main stream, with its tribu- taries, has been carefully examined from source to outlet with a view to determining the source and character of its pollution. Monthly chemical and bacteriological examinations of the waters of these streams, taken at various places on each stream, have been made, and careful gagings and measurements to determine their rates of flow at different seasons of the year. This work is completed for the main drainage system of the State. Five special reports of much value have been published upon this sub- ject.
An act of 1898 authorized the Board to establish a Laboratory "for the examination of public water supplies, the diagnosis of diphtheria, typhoid fever, hydrophobia, glanders, etc., and for the examination of food suspected to be the cause of disease."
The Laboratory has been placed at the disposal of all local boards of health, and much good has already resulted from its establishment.
The Board is frequently called upon to examine the sanitary condi- tion of public institutions and school buildings, to investigate the causes of outbreaks of epidemic diseases, and to assist the local authorities in the abatement of nuisances injurious to health.
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612
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS, OF OHIO.
The State Board of Health.
Beginning with a Secretary, the working force of the Board has been gradually increased until it now embraces a chief clerk, two stenographers, an engineer, a chemist and bacteriologist and an assistant chemist.
The immense growth of public sentiment in the last ten years in favor of improved sanitary conditions and more stringent measures for the prevention of disease has been due in no small part to the progressive character of the work of the State Board of Health; and we may con- fidently hope that this enlightened sentiment will gradually lead to a more generous support of health measures, whereby the sum of human happiness and average duration of life may be materially increased.
The State Board has kept in close touch with the local boards and is constantly helping them by aid and advice.
In 1888 a monthly journal was established as a medium of frequent communication between the State and local boards of health. A sum- mary of the weekly reports of contagious diseases, made to the State Board, by the local boards, is published therein, with other original and , reprinted matter of interest, or suitable for the guidance or instruction of health officers and members of boards of health.
In 1891 a call was issued for a meeting of the State Board of Health and representatives of local boards of health. About forty delegates were present at this meeting. Annual meetings have been held regularly since; the attendance at the late meetings has been nearly or quite four hundred.
The State Board of Health has endeavored to disseminate among the people plain instructions for the prevention of the dangerous contagious diseases. Suitable pamphlets were prepared, and hundreds of thousands of copies have been distributed. All local boards of health have been supplied with copies of these, and when a contagious disease appears in any community they are urged to distribute the appropriate circular to families having the disease, and to their neighbors.
In 1893 an act was passed providing that plans for all proposed . water works or sewerage systems, or for changes or extensions thereof should be submitted to and approved by the State Board of Health. The Board has examined and passed upon about two hundred and fifty such plans. It has been able in this way to protect many communities against the introduction of an impure water supply, and to prevent what in some instances would have been dangerous pollution of sources of existing public water supplies. To this end it has encouraged the introduction of sewage purification plants, of which there are now some twenty-six in the state, and at the present time is especially endeavoring to secure the filtration of public water supplies where pollution is known to exist.
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THE CANAL COMMISSION.
1 N the year 1887, Hon. Jacob A. Kohler, Attorney-General, called the attention of Governor Foraker and the Board of Public Works to the valuable state property, in the city of Akron, that had been unlawfully taken possession of by individuals and corporations, and shortly thereafter, ten civil actions, against as many different defendants, were commenced to recover state property valued at one hundred thousand ($100,000) doilars.
When the succeeding General Assembly convened, the governor recommended that a commission be created to ascertain what lands the State owned; thereupon Hon. J. Park Alexander, of Summit county, in- troduced a bill, embodying the ideas of the governor and attorney-gen- eral, creating "a commission to establish the boundaries and lines of the canals, canal basins, reservoirs, etc., of the State, by actual surveys by metes and bounds, together with maps and plats of the same, and to define and protect the ownership and titles in and to all lands belonging to and connected with said canals."
Subsequently, the duties of the commission were enlarged by adding to its work the duties previously performed by the swamp land com- missioner, and providing for the recording of all documents, maps, plats and records in any wise appertaining to the title of any real estate formerly belonging to or now owned by the State.
By the act of the General Assembly passed April 28, 1902, dedicating Buckeye Lake, Indian Lake, Portage Lake and the Celina Grand Reser- voir to the use of the public for park and pleasure resort purposes, the . management and control of said parks was placed in the hands of this commission, the Board of Public Works and the Chief Engineer of the Public Works, acting as a Joint Board.
Owing to limited appropriation, $1,000.00 per year, the work of the joint board has been confined to the clearing out of stumps and logs dangerous to navigation and to policing the reservoirs during the sum- mer months.
The commission is generally called a "Canal Commission," but should be called a land commissioin, as it has nothing to do with the navigation or management of the canals, and has no relation whatever to the old board of canal commissioners that laid out and constructed the public works of the State.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Canal Commission.
The duties of the commission are to locate and define the state's property, to recover such portions of it as are found in the unlawful possession of individuals and corporations, to lease such portions of it as are not necessary for canal purposes, to acquire title to swamp lands and to collect the cash indemnity due for such lands when they have been disposed of by the United States.
The original act was passed March 28, 1888, and shortly thereafter Governor Foraker appointed as members of said commission, General William H. Gibson, of Seneca county ; Col. Charles F. Baldwin, of Knox county, and Judge Alexander S. Latty, of Defiance county, General Gibson being made president, Judge Latty vice-president, and T. C. Ryan, of Washington county, secretary. Colonel Baldwin resigned after a few months' service, and Hon. R. M. Rownd, of Franklin county, was ap- pointed in his place.
The commission found that there was practically nothing with which to commence their labors. The original surveys and maps of the canals had all disappeared along with the books that showed the awards of dam- ages paid for lands appropriated for canals and reservoir purposes. Fortunately a half dozen of these books were found in a consignment of old paper that had been shipped to one of the paper mills on the Miami : and Erie Canal, and were finally restored to the State, where they have been of inestimable value in aiding the recovery of State property.
The first three or four years may be called the period of surveys and discovery. More than twelve hundred miles of transit lines have been run since the commencement of the canal and reservoir surveys, while hundreds of monuments have been planted to perpetuate the lines es- tablished for the boundaries of the State property. In addition, the titles to lands owned by the State, at one time and another, aggregating one million two hundred and thirty thousand five hundred and twenty-two (1,230,522) acres, have been recorded in the records of the office.
Twenty-seven volumes of maps have been completed and bound in convenient book form, and others are in process of completion.
These maps when completed will embrace the entire canal system, including the canals, reservoirs, basins, wide-waters, feeders, raceways, water-powers, hydraulics, dams, slack waters, locks, aqueducts, bridges, culverts, bulk-heads, waste-weirs, and in fact nearly every thing per- taining to the public works of the State.
In addition to these, plats have been made of all the swamp lands in the northwestern part of the State. This was necessary in order to determine the indemnity due the State, from the United States, for swamp lands, and the commission has filed claims for swamp land indemnity aggregating $121,601.66, which claims are pending for hearing before the Secretary of the Interior.
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615
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Canal Commission.
While investigating the subject of titles a few years ago, the com- mission discovered that there were 2,614 acres of land in the Mercer County Reservoir and 80 acres in the Loramie Reservoir that was still owned by the United States, the State of Ohio having by some oversight failed to acquire the title to these lands at the time the reservoirs were constructed.
Parties immediately undertook to locate these lands with military bounty land warrants.
Thereupon the commission filed a protest with the Commissioner of the General Land Office setting forth the injury that would be done the public works of Ohio. The Commissioner of the General Land Office, after a contest lasting nearly four years, rejected the applications.
The commission, after a second attempt, secured the passage of a bill by Congress at its last session granting these lands to the state, thus completing the state's title to its reservoir lands.
In order to recover much of the state's property, tedious and expen- sive litigation has been necessary, but fully ninety per cent. of the value of property involved in the suits commenced on behalf of the state has been recovered.
The net results to the state from the work of the commission in lands recovered, and lands leased and sold, is approximately $1,200,000.00, and this will be substantially increased if pending litigation results in favor of the state.
The fixed policy of the commission has been to lease the state lands rather than to sell them in order that the state may derive a steady in- come from the same.
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616
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
1
The Canal Commission.
The following is a list of the different canal commissioners who have served on that board from time to time, the date of each commission being some day in the latter part of April :
Names.
Years.
County.
· Wm H. Gibson.
1888-1890
A. S. Latty
1888-1890.
C. F. Baldwin (Resigned)
1888 -.
R. M. Rownd.
1888-1900
Wm. E. Boden
1890-1892.
Guernsey.
A. H. Roose.
1890-1892
Pickaway.
R. M. Rownd.
1890-1892
Franklin.
R. M. Rownd.
1892-1896.
Daniel Hartnett.
1892-1896.
Franklin. Henry .:
A. T. Wikoff
1896-1900
Franklin.
C. W. McCracken
1896-1900
Crawford.
A. T. Wikoff
1900-1902
Franklin.
.H. W. Blachly
1900-1904.
Van Wert.
*A. T. Wikoff.
1902-
Franklin.
W. C. Wikoff.
1902- -1904
Franklin.
.
W. C. Wikoff (Appointed two years). H. W. Blachly (Appointed two years) .
1904-
Franklin.
1904-
Van Wert.
The membership of the commission was reduced from three to two mem- bers in 1892.
*A. T. Wikoff died July 22, 1902, and W. C. Wikoff was appointed to fill out the unexpired term ending April 28, 1904.
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Seneca. Defiance. Knox. Franklin.
' OHIO FISH AND GAME COMMISSION.
T HE Ohio Fish and Game Commission was created in 1886, and is composed of five members, appointed by the Governor, who serve for five years each without compensation, except their actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The law defines the duties of the Commissioners as follows: "To examine the various rivers, lakes, ponds and streams in the State, or bordering there- on, and to ascertain whether they can be rendered more productive of fish and game, and what measures are required to effect this object, either in restoring the production of fish and game in and about them, or in protecting and propagating the fish which at procent frequent and abound in them, or otherwise; and the Commissioners shall carry into effect all measures in this behalf, that they deem necessary, so far as means are placed at their disposal for these purposes; and they shall also inquire into the matter of artificial propagation of fish in the waters of the State, and adopt such plans to test the efficiency of this mode of increasing the quality of edible fish as they think best."
To carry into effect the laws providing for the preservation of game and the protection of land owners from trespass against those who hunt illegally, the Commission appoints a force of wardens, deputy state wardens and special wardens, and by these a large number of arrests and convictions are made each year. Special wardens are appointed for some of the public lakes and reservoirs of the state, and there are also special wardens for Lake Erie.
In the matter of propagating fish the Commission maintains a fine hatchery near London, Ohio, where black bass, marble cat, and crappies are raised and at the proper time are distributed to the public streams and lakes throughout the state. A new hatchery for the artificial propagation of fish for Lake Erie is also maintained at Lakeside, Ohio, Ottawa County. The lake fishing interests being of great magnitude and importance, the work of the Commission in respect to propagating these fish is one of vital necessity. The Commission has accomplished great good in its various endeavors, and there is every reason to believe that the future will be even more productive of satisfactory results.
The present personnel of the Commission is as follows : J. L. Rodgers, President, Columbus ; Thomas B. Paxton, Cincinnati; D. W. Greene, Dayton; Paul North, Cleveland, and L. J. Weber, McConnelsville. The Secretary of the Commission is George C. Blankner, of Columbus. The active field work of the Commission, which means the control of all wardens, is under the charge of Mr. J. C. Porterfield, Chief Warden, of Columbus.
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THE BOARD OF STATE CHARITIES.
T HE Ohio Board of State Charities is composed of six members appointed by the Governor. The law requires that the member- ship shall be equally divided between the two leading political parties, and fixes the term of office at three years. The mem- bers receive no compensation for their services, but their actual expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties are paid by the State. The Board appoints its own secretary, who is not a member of the Board. It is required to hold quarterly meetings, but special meetings may be held at any time.
It was first established by an act of the legislature passed in 1867, Massachusetts being the only state to precede Ohio in the enactment of such a law. Its organization at that time was due to the efforts of a member of the House of Representatives from Cuyahoga county, Hon- orable D. A. Dangler, who had the support of the then Governor, Jacob D. Cox. The motive that actuated Mr. Dangler in the introduction of his measure is defined by him as follows: "I availed myself of the op- portunity, as a member of the Ohio Legislature, of visiting the state institutions for the purpose of familiarizing myself, as far as possible, with their arrangement. It was after such a visit that I became im- pressed that the citizens of the great state of Ohio should have a more perfect knowledge of the management of these institutions than was gained by the annual visits of their representatives in the Legislature." In a speech advocating the passage of the bill introduced by him, Mr. Dangler said:
"My objects are, by the agency of a common center and common head, to crystallize those various suggestions tending towards reforma- tion and economy in the present system of management and extend their application to all alike by the same agency; to extract from the systems in use in the European states and countries, such ideas as may be appli- cable to our peculiar wants and requirements ; through the introduction of statistics and analytical records, to assist in the diminution of crime, suffering and sickness, by pointing out the causes, occasion and the source; by the adoption of similar rules and regulations for institutions of a like character, to render their management uniform, harmonious and effective, and by a common standard of qualification for the various offices, prevent the appointment of any but those fully qualified to dis- charge the various duties with honesty and efficiency."
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Board of State Charities.
In 1872 the Board was abolished, but it was again organized in 1876 under the old law with the additional provision for a salaried sec- retary. On April 15, 1880, the law was so amended as to provide for a Board of six members, instead of five, the original number.
The Board is required to submit an annual report to the Legislature, setting forth the conditions of the institutions coming under its super- vision, together with any suggestions or recommendations it may have to offer relative to their management. Its work is not executive, but is entirely supervisory over the whole system of public charitable and cor- rectional institutions of the state, including those maintained by municipal- ities and counties. It has authority to require such reports from all insti- tutions supported in whole, or in part, by public funds, as it may Seem . necessary. All of these institutions now make annual, and some of them quarterly reports to the office of the Board. One of the most important duties devolving upon it is that requiring the submission of all plans for state institutions, jails, children's homes, workhouses and infirmaries to the Board for criticism and approval. The Governor of the State is ex- officio president of the Board, and may, at any time, order an investigation by the Board, or a committee of its members, of any institution over which it has supervisory power.
PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF STATE CHARITIES.
(Term of office, three years.)
Names.
Residence.
Date of Original Appointment.
Present Term Expires.
Myron T. Herrick, Gov .. J. G. Schmidlapp.
Cleveland .. Cincinnati .. Cleveland. . Mansfield. Marietta ... Wilmington. Columbus .. Columbus ..
President ex-officio
October 10, 1902
April 22. 1907
Henry C. Ranney.
August 10, 1892.
April 22, 1907
Roeliff Brinkerhoff
April 23, 1880
April 22, 1905
Martin Dewey Follett.
April 28, 1891
April 22, 1905
Jesse N. Oren.
April 26, 1903.
.
April 22, 1906
Rutherford H. Platt. H. H. Shirer
January 26, 1901. .
April 22, 1906
Appointed by the Board
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Board of State Charities.
NAMES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF STATE CHARITIES SINCE ITS ORGANIZATION IN 1867.
Names.
Residence.
Date of Original Appointment.
To Succeed.
*Albert Douglass
Chillicothe . Columbus ..
May 17, 1867.
*G. D. Harrington
June 4, 1867.
*Robert W. Steele
May 23, 1867.
*Douglas Putnam
June 8, 1867
*Joseph Perkins
June 10, 1867
*John Davis ..
Columbus ..
March 15, 1870.
Alberi Dinriass. G. D. Harring- ton.
*Rutherford B. Hayes, Governor.
President, ex-officio.
*John W. Andrews.
April, 1876.
*Chas. J. Albright.
April, 1876
*Charles Boesel
April, 1876
*Joseph Perkins.
April, 1876.
*Murray Shipley
April, 1876
*R. M. Bishop, Gov Roeliff Brinkerhoff
President, ex-officio. April, 1878
*M. D. Carrington.
April, 1879
*Chas. Foster, Gov.
President, ex-officio.
April, 1880
President, ex-officio.
Chas. Foster. Chas. Boesel.
Joseph B. Foraker, Gov. John G. Doren. H. H. McFadden
Dayton. Steuben'le.
February, 1887
Lyman Jackson.
May, 1887.
M. D. Carring- ton.
*James L. Wilson
Greenfield. . Columbus .. -
January, 1889.
J. W. Andrews.
Hamilton.
President, ex-officio
J. B. Foraker.
Marietta.
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