St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-12-18


There will be due, State taxes
from theseyeral counties, Jan. ,-
LIST, 1867, payable into the
treasury Jan. Is, 1867. ... 205, 243 OF
Amount now in treasury ...... ,256 46
Total available revenue. ;. .. sag, $50 q
There were outstanding unpaid d.
Auditors warrants Nov !, SO Sill, 567 Ga
There are of bonds of the State
due Jan. /, 1857. ......... ST., 442 90
Due to the School Fund, Sept. 3g.
Is, 1859. 5000 90
Is, 1866. ............. $3.50. 10000 90
Total State Indebtedness. s12s, 1908 GA
Fifty five thousand dollars of the State bonds
fall due at the Philadelphia Bank, in the city of
Philadelphia, on the first day of January, 1857,
and provision should be made for their pay
ment without moments delay.
1 was authorized by the joint resolution of
the General Assembly, approved July 18th,
1857, to borrow the sum of one hundred thou
sand dollars from the Superintendent Of Public
Instruction, for the purposes in the resolution
specified. On that day obtained from him
the sum of forty Thousand dollars, which de-
posted with the Treasurer of State. The re.
naming sixty thousand dollars, have not
still remains in the hands of the Superintend
ent Of Public Instruction.
SCHOOL FUNDS AND SCHOOL LANDS.
am unable to state the amount of schoo
land and school money belonging to the State
nor do know any means of speedily ascertain
ing the amounts
/ again call your attention to the propriety
Of entirely disconnecting the Office of Superin.
tendent of Public Instruction from all control
over the School money and School lands.
The five per cent. fund arising from the sale
of public lands within the State, has always,
until the past year, been distributed by the
Superintendent among the several County
School Fund Commissioners, under what was
supposed to be the requirements of the laws of
this State. The amount of $226, 800 Sc re-
ceived from the General Government as the
five per cent. accruing on the 3lst of Dccem-
Der, 1854 has, / learn, been partially distrib-
uted among the County School Fund Commits
sioners, and partially loaned out by the SUI
perintendent of public instruction but, as
conceive, wholly without authority of law
This is too important and too large an interest
to suffer any doubt to exist as to the proper
disposal of the fund, or rs to the powers,
rights, and liabilities of any officer connected
with it. therefore commend the subject to
your immediate consideration.
States as the proceeds of the sales of the pub.
lie lands within our limits, from LIST January
to 31st December, 1855, si85, 785 81.
STATE LAND OFFICE.
/ also have the honor to transmit to you the
report of the Register of the State Land Office,
and take pleasure in calling your special at
tentiOn to the suggestions of that officer. The
operations of this Office have been quite res
ponsible and laborious, and the benefits arising
from it have far exceeded the expectations of
those who were instrumental in its creation.
DIES MONIES RIVER IMPROVEMENT
On the third day of November last receiv-
ed the resignation of the Hon. w. Mckay, as
Commissioner Of the Des Moines River Inn
removed, or is about to remove from the State,
and it is therefore presumed that no official re-
port will be received from him.
On the 18th day of November I appointed
Edward Manning, Esq, of Van Buren, County,
the successor of Mr.. Mckay. Mr.. Manning
has not yet entered upon the duties of his Of
fee, and may not be able to submit report to
the General Assembly until near the close of
the session.
I.received on the Sd day Of last October from
w. C. johnson, Esq, President of the Des
Moines River Improvement and Navigation
Company, request that would examine into
the affairs of that Company, or cause them to
be examined by q committee whom might
appoint, and proffering to pay all expenses
that might be attendant thereon. Although
the Governor of the State had no authority to
appoint such a Committee, yet the necessity
for such an investigation was SO great that
should have exercised the power but from my
inability to procure the services of the most
desirable persons for the duty.
It is due to the people of the State and to
the members of the Dies MOines River I'm
and Navigation Company, that the
rights and relations Of the Company to the
State should be definitely ascertained and dis
tinctly understood. To this end it is recon-
mended that a commission be appointed, with
power to administer Oaths and to send for per-
sons and papers, with instructions to inquire
into all the transactions of former Commits
sioners and Registers of the Des Moines River
Improvement to report as to the character
and validity of any contracts that may have
been made between the State and persons or
companies for he improvement of the Des
Moines River, and especially to report with re-
gard to the transactions of the Des MOines Riv-
er improvement and Navigation Company.
Until such investigation is made and report
it is recommended that all action
on the part of the State in connection with the
Des MOines Improvement and Desmoines Riv-
er lands be suspended.
transmit herewith the biennial report of
the Des Moines River Improvement and Nayi-
cation Company, and the accompanying pa.
pers.
STATE INSANE ASYLUM.
The report of the Commissioners appointed
to superintend the erection of State Insane
Asylum at Mt. Pleasant, will inform you of
the progress that has been made, and Of the
amount of appropriations that will be required
to complete the work. III.
l cannot too strongly urge upon you to
make liberal provisions for the early compile
ton of this institution.
In adopting plan. for the building, the
Commissioners have availed themselves of the
most enlightened experience of the country,
and it is believed that when completed accord
Ing to the plan and specifications, it will be at
least equal to any similar institution in this
country or In Europe.
An Act Of the General Assembly will be re-
quired, providing for the government of this
Institution when completed, authorixing the
selection Of superintendents, officers and SER
wants, and specifying in what manner and on
what fnr1r,a Y,oVSOno NAV ha admitted Tn tho