New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-08
GOV. HUNTS
FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE

entrusted 70 your charge by conhding PeoPlS'
we witness the most gratifying evidences OIL PuO
liz prosperity. 1t is impossible to contenP's's
,ho varied blessings which have fallen to our W.
a.. people. without emotions OF iepons . r.
80 70 tbe Supreme Being whose oenl5naa' IA "a,
yor has protected ana sus'A
past vicissitudes. ,...,oo NTH orgnst
The State continues 70 au' - -"
strides on it's ward mission OF lreeoo"- anu CIV
ilization The republican eI o., ,bs
On, ancestors ard preserved IN iull Ngor oy the
|,Hshteped vigilance OF the people nave oeeh
Indicated by experience, as the system OF gov
erpnent most favorable 70 the digrty and haPpl-
ness of the human race. Some ca those hs'Iu-
t;ops were reformed and liberakZed by our ne"
Constitution. Political power was brought near.
or the people by investing then with tue direct
choice of their judicial and administrative agents.
and II il source Of high felcitation that the sue
cessful result OF this organic change has iurnsneo
fresh proof of the capacity OF our citizens ior an
intelligent discharge of the responsibilities OF sell
government. ,..L. .to e.
fairs of the State presented a more encouraging
aspect The year which has recently closed was
peculiarly prosperous and auspiclous. Inc pes
tilence which visited our cities the previous
wear and which continues its desolatlng raw
ages on some portions OF the continent olsSP-
peared beyond our borders, and was followed by
a season Of unexampled public health. The
earth Welded an unusual abundance TO remune-
rate the toll of its cultlvators, and industry IN
other forms, including many branches oil trade
and manufactures, found active and profitable en-
ployment With our rapid progress In wealth
and population it is gratifying to observe the CON
slant advancement of our people in moral and In
felleceual Improvement. The wider dlssemina-
ton OF knowledge among the masses, the lnhu-
ences shed abroad by our seminaries OF learning,
the constant increase OF religious and benevolent
Al ~A hrtra
the peaceful conquests of invention and the arts,
all tend TO elevate the condition OF society and TO
strepgthen the foundations of popular govern
ment. These genial influences, combining to
augment the happiness and exalt the character
of the State have been cherished by the liberal
spirit of past legislation and l cannot too earn
estly commend the enlightened action OF your
predecessors in this regard and especially 10 sec
onding the efforts Of humane individuals to I'M
prove the moral and physical condition OF the un-
fortunate and the humble, as an example worthy
Of your emulation.
1t affords me much satisfaction to congratulate
YOU on the sound and healthfu condition OF our
State finances. 1t became my duty before retir
ing from the Office of Controller to prepare an
annual report exhibiting the condition OF the Trea
sury, and Of the several funds at the close OF the
last fiscal year. 70 which, with the suggestions
therein contained, would respectfully inylteyour
attention.
II appears that after meeting all the appropr
atoms payable during the last fiscal year, from
the ordinary revenues, there remained balance
In the General Fund at the close OF the year, OF
e54,52l,26.
1t is estimated that the receipts OF the current
year, from ordinary sources, will be sufficient TO
defray all the usual expenses oil the state, ana
that the resources of the General Fund, as now
established, will be found sufficient at all times
for the support of the Government without an
increase OF debt or taxation. There Is an evil
dent necessity, however, for economy 10 the ex'
penditures; and trust you will feel the lmpor-
lance of keeping the appropriations within the
reliable means Of the Treasury. In addition to
the ordinary current revenues, the Controller S
report exhibits certain balances due to the Cen
eral Fund from arrears Of taxes aud other
sources from which it is believed the Treasury
will realize over s350,O00 within the ensuing
two years Ii is with special reference TO this
resource that deem it expedient in the present
communication 10 recommend some appropra'
tons for new institutions and improvements,
which conceived to be essential to the pub
lie welfare.
The aggregate amount Of the State debt on the
30th day of September last, was as follows:
9sneral Fund Debt .6S596sS 50
s22,53OsO2 48
exclusive of the stock loaned by the State to GER
tain Railroad Corporations. IL will appear from
the report ofthe Commissioners OF the Canal Fund,
that the operations of the Sinking Fund are steadi-
the Canal revenues in the manner prescribed by
the State Constitution, will discharge the entire
State debt now existing in the year 1905 -,
Our canals continue to yield rich return The
amount received for canal tolls, including Inter
eat, rents &c. during the last fiscal year, was
S34s6. l79 30. being small increase upon the
receipts of the preceding year. After paying all
the expenses of superintendence, collection and
repairs, and si,e5OOO0 to the Sinking Funds and
the General Fund surplus remained from the
revenues of the last fiscal year OF Ss00,2O6 ~, ap-
plicable to the npletion of the Black River and
Genesee Valley Canals, and the Enlargement OF
the Erie Canal.
Previous % the last season Of navigation, con-
siderable reduction was made by the Canal Board
in the rates of toll on certain leading articles OF
transportation. Opinions will probably ditier as
TO the precise effect of this reduction upon the
trade and income Of the canals but it is gene
rally believed that it attracted additional tunnage
sufficient to equalize the diminution ofrevenue;
Serious apprehensions are entertained that the
trade Of the Erie Canal will be impaired by the
competition Of railroads and other rival avenues
In and out of the State, unless early and efectual
measures are adopted to cheaper the expense
OF Canal transportation. IL is conceded on all
hands that no material reduction can be made IN
the cost Of Canal freight without reducing the
rates Of toll until the enlargement OF tue Erie
Canal shall enable our forw arders to increase the
capacity of their boats. This important object
will be attained in partial degree by the com
pletion of the new locks, on the enlarged Plan
The reconstruction and enlargement Of these
structures has been nearly perfected and new
locks on the large scale will be brought into use
ON the entire line of the Erie Canal at the open
ing Of navigation the coming season, with the ex-
ception Of five which are located at points where
the route of the Canal is TO DO changed. These
cannot be reconstructed and made available with
oRt the Simultaneous construction Of several miles
OF new channel estimated to cost over q million
of dollars.
But il is proposed to lengthen the old locks at
these points. by temporary structures in such
manner that the entire canal may be navigated
by boats having an additional length of % feet
compared with those now in use. 1t is not to be
disguised, however that the enlargement Of the
locks renders a corresponding enlargement of the
sections more necessary than before. The guam
tity Of water required for passing boats is greatly