Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-01-02

hundred and fifty of the aborers on the line died of
cholera during the last summer
The entire balance of the line from Maysville to
Evansville is under contract and the work progress
to be completed by the first day of November 1852.
The length Of the line now under work from Peint
Commerce Evansville, is hundred and eleven and
half miles; upon which there has been employed, du-
sing the past season, efficient force Of two thou
sand men.
1t is gratifying to find from the reports of the Trus
tees, that Notwithstanding the great advance in the
price of labor which has taken place since they CON-
menced the work. the actual cost of completion will
materially exceed the estimates which were made in
1915, prior to the transfer.
The cost, according to contract prices, from Coal
Creek 20 Evansville, lone hundred and ninety and half
miles, (eclusive of damages for the right of wav) will
not vary much from 50 ,0l2 Coo The actual can
not he known until the contracts closed and the
work paid for.
The certain and speedy completion Of this canal the
longest the United States through the territory of In
diana to the Ohio river: work which has ever been
regarded with such interest by citizens and the
partial completion of which has already conferred such
direct benefits upon large portion OF those living
along and and upon the whole State in the
addition which 1t has been the means of making its
population and taxable property, subject eff sincere
congratulaton. And when consider that this result
has been attained by the agency of the holders of
bonds and by means advanced by them at time of
great embarrassment it would TO add the obl-
cation resting upon us, If any thing add to the
sacredness of State faith and State honor additional
i
rangements with Them and throwing around them every
possible security their only reliance for protection
and indemnity rest upon 1t.
The revenues OF the finished portion Of the canal show
gratifying increase in its traffic and usefulness.
The tolls received for the year ending November /,
1880 are reported at Sl57, 15S 49, being increase
of S22. 499 80 over the tolls of the previous year.
The Trustees report the sale of 25, 468 22100
of land in the Vncennes Office; and 80 9S6 % 100 acres
in the Loganspori Office during the year; exhibiting
increasing demand of canal lands for settlement
1t cannot be expected that work of the magnitude
of this involving many interests can be prosecuted
and completed without causes of complaint the part
of some of citizens. These complaints are made
the Executive department, frequently accompanied with
! the request that suits be brought.
1t suggested that you adopt rules to be observ
cd in all applications for relief by suits. The views of
my predecessor this subject worthy of your
FIJI consideration.
On the 2Sth day of September 1850 Congress passed
law granting each State, for specified purpose, the
swamp over6owed lands within their several borders.
then belonging to the General Government On receipt
Of the law a correspondence opened with the Gen
eral Land Office at Washington. A reply was com
municated to me on the 2Sh day of October and the
goth day of the same month, circular issued TO
each OF the County Surveyors throughout the State.
Additional Instructions having been received on the 29
day of November they embodied in another cir
cuar ard on the succeeding day also issued as
above Under these instructions and circulars the Sur
vcyors this time engaged making the necessary
examination of the of land that shall he entitled
to under this law. portion of them have discharged
their duties and made their rcpors but it is probable
that the entire work will not he completed before March
or April, 1851. From the best information have
ceved the State will obtain, under this act about One
Million Of land, for the purpose named therein.
1t will be your province at the present session, pro-
vide by law for the compensation OF the surveyors and
others engaged in selecting these lands and take such
steps will preserve them from waste until such time
as the patents shall be made the State and the Lee
gslature shall have determined the in which
they shall be disposed Of. have sufficiently
cd any system for bringing these lands into Market
otherwise dsposng of them. This with other matters
relating thereto may be made the subject OF special
communication 1t would accord with my views, after
the objects for which these lands were granted are
compshed if the proceeds and residue apart
to aid the Sinking Fund for the redemption of the State
debt.
By the determination of the Commissioner Of the Gen
eral Land Office the Sales by the several Land Offices
of TIE swamp and oycrfowed lands thus granted TO
will be stopped interlered with until they
ascertained and marked off as State Lands" upon
their office plas But that any such lands shall have
BEEN or hereafter be sold, by such Land officers, the
money received therefor shall be held for and be paid t.
the State have already received information of
such sales; and rs there will doubtless he more, sug
cest that You provide by law the method of applying
for and receiving the money arising thereirom
The State is under many obligations to Hons. X. W
Thompson and John H. Bradley for services rendered al
Washington City in the adoption of the rules for the
lection OF these lands
We were visited in the State Prison, the past sea
son. with the Cholera. Twenty of the convcts died
The Warden Col. Lemue Ford, and hs wife, fell vic
Tins the disease He his post OF duty, active
ly engaged day and night, in administering to the COM
forts and wants of the sick and dying He uselu
man. emnonty qualified discharge the duties of his
Office. His place will be difficult to fill.
am cratiied in being able TO say that the prison
in excellent condition; entirely cleansed; and the
physician and ell others connected with the prison. nob
did their duty during the prevalence of this disease
BY the kindness Of Miss Dix that devoted friend
prisoners prison discipline, and suffering humanity
had selected and purchased at the East for the use
the prisoners two hundred volumes of Religious His
torical, Agricultural and Biographical works which
cost the of one hundred and thirtyegbt dollars ana
eighty ght cents. which kept neatly book
let the convcts regularly who charged witt
them and when returned another is taken in its place
1t is with pleasure learn that large portion OF tht
convicts read with interest this excellent selection.
Wisdom and humanity demand that appropriation
of fifty dollars be made annually for the purpose of keep
ing up Library II is right and proper that men thus
confined should he furnished with books, that they may
employ their time in reading hennot engaged in labor
doubt that the above expenditure, although unau
trio lied by law, will be approved by this enlght nee
body.
The greater part of the work the new buildings ha
been completed and can now dispense with the du
ties Of the Commissioner 10 superlntcnd the Publ,
Buildings far, at least to give the in charge
to the Warden who resides inside of the walls, and wh
should be able to supeTntend all the improvements VI
have to make. BY pursuing this course, we shall save
four hundred dollars year, and he able to pay you
Warden Thousand dollars year for his services il
discharging the duties that have heretofore been in th
! hands of the two.
There is doubt under the present law, how thu
r Physician 10 the prison should be selected. My owl
opinion is that he should he appointed by the State
be independent of the lessee. therefore recommen'
that you provide for his appointment in the future
Your attention is called to the very able report made
by the Visitor to the prison.
The highest number in the prison during the past yea
was one hundred and iity-four. OF this NUMBER six
teen have been pardoned three Of them on &C
count of insanity; five for good conduct, (hc pardon
being granted within few weeks of the expiration o