The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-01-12


rer will show that the sum received INTO
the State Treasury during the last two i
wears exceeds S3,30000O. OF this, the re- |
venue fund for paying the general eXpens-
es of government, and subject, also, TO all |
OF a general or special ma
ture. amounted to less than 100000. IN !
dispensable Improvements in the process
of construction, important institutions re
qliripg constant support, must all be fed
from this source; while alongside accuuu-
lates an enormous fund, devoted to special
objects, the chief Of which is the extin-
gaishment Of debt, which we are compel
led 10 force into presentation for payment.
There is no ground for estimating any
increase III the revenue fund during the
coming two years, while the calls for and,
ali urgent, and most OF them reasonable
viii far exceed the fund from which they
must be drawn. hope. gentlemen, that
YOU will be a6le to devise some equitable
solution Of this difficulty. Much of it, 10
do,,bt originates in the defective nature
of our revenue laws, and more, perhaps,
!, the INCOMPLETE execution of those laws
Inv the county officials. Let me recon-
mend TO your consideration the suggestion
contained IN the Auditors report upon
this subject Could partial reiunding of
our debt be practicable, in such a manner
as to save TO ourselves the differences
growing out Of such q transaction. it would
aid us much in the management Of our
resources
The development Of the AGRICULTURAL re-
sources Of the States demands the respect
full consideration OF the Legislature. We
are, and must long remain, essentially an
agricultural people. Wonderful as the
productions OF our soil have hitherto been,
mere glance at the vast, Unbro!len prai-
! ries of our State is sufficient TO demonstrate
that we h; VIC scarcely more than begun to
produce No equal contiguous area, so
well adapted to producing the prime ne
cessities of human life, can be found be-
yond our borders. As the representative
of this great industrial interest, founded on
similar associations in the various counties,
is the State Agricultural Society, now just
entering upon the ninth year Of its exist
ence. The annual exhibitions, the bien-
NAL publication of lis transactions, its mu
scum, library and correspondence, are so
many channels for the diffusion OF useful
knowledge to the farmer and mechanic
The true economy of legislation, having
for its object the fostering of this and SINH
lar enterprises, viii not admit Of question.
During the last summer, the alarming
prevalence. ii several OF the eastern States,
of PieurO Pneumonia, or Cattle Disease,
and urgent appeals addressed me by lead
ing agr!culturalists, induced me TO appoint
q comissioneT to enquire into the same, and
report such precautionary measures as
might be available IN protecting the State
from its visi.a;ions | Therefore authorized
DR. Mcfarland Of Morgan county 10 iRves-
tigate the subject and communicate to me
such information rs lie could acquire from
personal examination in the infected local.
ties. and from such other sources as were
.cithin his reach. The results Of that oX-
animation were made public in my procla-
nation Of I'D june, 1850: and l recon-
mend an appropriation sufficient 10 deIray
the expenses attending said commission.
The Geological Survey Of the State, insti-
tuted some nine years since, has been
steadily and i1appcars faithfully executed.
The report Of the State GeOiOgist gives
| evidence Of competency. labor and acura-
! cy. Certificates Of gentlemen, eminent in
| science, indicate that q valuable addition
/ has been herein made 10 geological lnowl.
| edge, and testify TO the method and care
/ with which the commission has been con-
/ dUc;cd. The publication Of this report, in
! q form commensurate with the Importance
/ attached TO it by those competent 10 judge
/ would throw much valuable light upon the
mineral resources Of the State-demon-
! stIating the vastuess OF out hidden wealth,
and, by interchange with similar rublic&-
| tons add largely to .Ac facilities OF our
State library,
\ personal inspection, during the past
season, Of the Penitentiary, now erecting
at Joliet. enables me to speak in emphatic
commentator Of the quality Of the work
| already done aud To cypress '-a,- "".-ti-i ->:nA
in the Iudlcicus and humane supervision
which is exercised over the conyicts there
confined. y large appropriation viii 1e
demanded 10 complete this prison, which,
when finished. can hardly be surpassed III
the country, either in the perfection OF IT'S
| design or lne substantial manner OF it
| construction. And here let me suggest,
/ not in reference 10 this, but to all appro
| priations YOU may see tit to order, that care
be taken, where large amounts Of money
are to be issued during an extend period
OF time, that the appropriations be 50 re
stricted as to prevent the accumulation q
too large number OF warrants against al
Unprepared treasury 70 the amendment
in the criminal law, urged by the superin
tendent Of Tie penitentiary, your careful
attention Will be directed
The condition OF our charitable institu
tions, so far as their reports have reached
me. realizes our highest expectations
! Those OF our unfortunate fellow-citizen
, helpless, Or partially so, from deprivation
of sight or speech, or hearing, or aiiiicte'
by that still more grey!Ous calamity. los
or derangeTne Mt o! intellect, demand thu
3 utmost consideration and sympathy; which
, ! | am happy to say, has been freely render
ed in the past. not only by munificent ap
preparations Of money and iudicious appli
cation Of the same, but also shown in th'
! IF and
> officials The reports, in detail, from thes
institutions viii convey to you bette
idea or their situation than ! can rende
| in this general communication. That o
the Blind As} lam shows that appropria
tons of the two years past were amply SUI
ficicnt, and no additional special AID is re
. CURED. The Insane ASYLUM desires
5 small amount, to conclude Improvement
: almost completed, and which unquesrior
ably are requisite; and, also Il much large
sum to carry on works now in partia
state of advancement While it is muc
10 be desired that all these charitable f;
silities be perfected, these matters mus
be determined by you, on a comparison G
the eXegcncies of the case with the abilit
y OF the treasury. The report from the Dea
g and Dumb Asylum has not been received
but | have reason to believe that the gem
raj condition Of this institution is satisfa
5 tory
2 The Illinois and Michigan Canal make
10 good exhibit OF its affairs during the pa:
3 two years a steady and reasonable rev
- nue., some useful and permanent improv
It fnents, and a gradual decrease OF its deb
It which has been reduced, from canal +
4 ceipts, since its opening, III lot6, as show
e in the present report, 50 ,0S5, 1888.
a our present banking law was adopte
II in ISL Under it, Mt the present tim
e one hundred aud ten banks are in oper
ton, having a circulation OF 81, $50, SO
secured by deposit with the Auditor ofSi
9SG,97l. Fly far the greater portion OF I'll