The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-01-12
Governors Message.

EE The message OF Governor LOWE
to the Legislature, which convened last
Monday, is quite lengthy document,
making some nine columns, in small
type, in the Dubuque Times. 1t is de-
voted entirely, however, to State affairs,
and is what it should be, a very clear,
candid, full, and explicit exhibit of State
matters. AS the message is entirely too
long for our columns, we shall endeavor
to give a brief synopsis of it.
The Message opens with considera-
ton of the financial difficulties of the last
two years, which have greatly decreased
the value Of property in the State. In
view of this he thinks the legislature
will be appealed to strongly for remedial
legislation, and advises the giving Of
protection against unreasonable and un-
just sacrifices, in manner that shall
guard both parties. He congratulates
the people. however, on the present i'm
proved monetary prospects.
He refers to the late State Census, the
taking of which cost the State but $618.
IL. 1t fixed the population of the State
at GAG. 532, being 1913, 168 more than the
population of 1856; and he thinks that
by the time the Federal census is taken
the present year. the population will
reach 100000. We had under cultiva-
ton over 100000 of acres, and with a
very unfayorable year we cut 100000
tons of hay, harvested over 100000
bushels Of wheat, cribbed over %, OOO,-
600 bushels of corn, raised 500, 900
bushels of potatoes, manufactured near
ly half a million gallons OF Sorghum
sold beef cattle and hogs to an amount
exceeding five millions of dollars, and
exported wool and lead to the value of a
million and a quarter.
He recommends the legislature to avoid
the evils of hasty legislation, and says
important omissions and mistakes have
occurred in engrossing and enrolling the
bills passed at the last session.
He considers the affairs of the State,
from the exhibit of the Auditor (Which
we have heretofore published } in pros
porous condition. and says be has no
knowledge of any State in the Union
whose ordinary expenses, when viewed
in the nature of our political organiza-
ton and the extent of our population and
territorial limits, will compare more f.v-
orally, or whose people pay lighter
State tax, than do ours. The ordinary
expenditures for the two fiscal years
amount to S3G6,l9S 81, whilst the ex-
traordlnary expenses for the same period
amount to S2l2,l57 As, making an az
gregatc of S578,256 O2.
He next touches upon educational mat
ters, and says the present school law has
in the main been generally satisfactory.
1t has been altered by tie Board at its
recent session, and the Governor homes
the Legislature will find it best to make
10 material alteration, but urges that the
Jaw be passed upon as soon as possible,
IN order that it may be published and
circulated in pamphlet form, and thinks
that every head of q family in the State
should be supplied with copy. In this
connection he speaks of the Five Per
Cent. Fund This fund is derived from
sales OF public lands in the State, the
General Government. at the time Of the
States admission into the Union, agree
ing opay s per cent on the net sales OF
public lands in the State in consideration
OF not taxing the lands while they were
in the possession of the government AT
that time but few military warrants were
outstanding. but shortly after there were
;arge amounts voted to officers and sol
d;ers in tho Mexican War, and great