Nebraska advertiser., 1861-12-12
NO. %.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
''''''''' - 'aadf and ao..s Of R.pr...a,ai,...

quent session, It becomes my duty 70 commu-
nicate to you such information as may havs
come into my possession. as the Executive,
which may facilitate the performances Of y0ur
Legislative duties /; and also to shan ~
you the responsibility of your position, ~
calling your attention to such matters Of pub
llc importanee as may, in my judgment, re-
quire action at your hands.
In addressing to you this. my first official
communication, would be remiss ia duty,
were not to congratulate you on the auspi-
ciOus circumstances under which you havs
convened, and to unite with you in an ex-
preston of gratitude to the Supreme Ruler Of
the Universe for the blessings which He has
vouchsafed to US as a people, in warding Of
pestilence and famine,-in giving Us almost
uninterrupted health, a fruitful. season aud
abundant cFOps,-in restraining the savagsa
and giving US pace throughout our borders
in protecting us thus far from the horrors Of
civil war around our own fresides, and con-
tinuing to Us civil and religions freedom.
In legislating for the Territory, and mould
ing its institutions, you should bear in mind
that however small the population and inter.
est you represent may appear, when compared
with older communities, you are laying the
foundation for populous, wealthy and pow.
erful State, that may be affected for good or
evil. for many years, By the charac,er Of your
laboB.
Nebraska Territory was organized ia Nay,
1854, but the first Legislature Of the Territory
did not meet until January, 1855. At that
time, according to a census ordered BY the
then acting Governor, the whole number Of
inhabitants in tue Territory amounted to about
2,700 or, to be more explicit. 1892. Our
population has increased from that period until
the present as steadily and as rapidly as the
most sanguine could desire showing, when
the last enumeration was made, that we had
increased more than ten fold in q little over
five years; /; and 1 can see no reason why this
rapid increase may not continue for many
years to come, enabling us, at an early period,
to add another member to the family Of the
United States.
A mere glance at the map Of the country
will convince every intelligent mind that the
great Platte Valley which passes through the
heart, and runs nearly the entire length Of Ne
braska, Is to furnish the route for the Great
Central Railroad which is to connect the At
lantIc with the Pacific States ana Territories.
Through Nebraska must pass, within a few
years, not only the travel and trade between
the eastern and western portion Of our own
country but also, much of the trade and
travel between the Old and New World
The intelligent and far seeing Telegraph CON-
pany have made this discovery already, and
have located their Pacific Line and staked out
the very route where they expect soon to be
followed by this great highway Of commsrcs.
But Nebraska does not depend alone uTon
her geographical position for her prosperity
and wealth. She possesses a soil unsurpassed
in richness and beauty. well supplied with in-
Vulnerable springs of the purest water, and q
climate insuring almost uninterrupted health
for both man and beast. Its manifest, there.
lore, that this must soon become one Of tho
best grain-growing and stock raising countries
on the globe. It's capacity 10 sustain animal
life, on a gigantic scale, is placed beyond all
doubt by the presence Of immense numbers Of
deer, antelope, and millions of buffalo, sup
ported by the spontaneous vegetation Of our
prairies and valleys, unaided BY cultivation or
tho care of the herdsman A country which
sustains such vast herds Of wild cattle, in a
state Of nature, possesses the elements Of ex.
hauStless wealth, and must, in time, become
pOpuous and powerful State.
This period may be FASTENED by the char
acter of our legislature. You should endea-
vor as far as possible, to render y b-aska o
desirable place for homes for an industrious,
intelligent and frugal people. To this end
you should encourage the construction Of
roads, bridges, highways, and railroads, and
the introduction aud construction Of machinery
to supply the varied wants Of the people with
in our own limits. You should, as far rs pos
sible, project the natural growth Of timber, COT
which in many places there is found to be .
deficient supply, guard against its unnecessary
destruction. and stimulate its cultivation. In
many parts Of Europe, and in some Of the
older communities in this country, the culti-
vation of timber has been fully tested, sud
timber crops thus produced, have been found
to be very profitable. In my opinion, the
people Of the Territory ought to be advised
and stimulated to engage in this work on an
extensive scale; and the sooner they are in
duced to set about it, the sooner our vast
prairies will be put in a state Of cultivation,
and be made to yield profit to the owners,
and prove Il blessing to the country at large.
1t will be our duty as far as possible, to
protect the interests of the Agricultural elas-
ses, by such legislation as onr rapidly chang
ing condition NAV demand, by encouraging
the production Of approved varieties Of grain,
grasses and fruits; the Introduction Of i'm.
proved breeds Of stock and BY directing at
tention 70 such branches of husbaDdry as
may prove most lucrative to our citizens. In
this connection I would especially call your
attention to the subject of wool-growing. In
my Judgment, many parts Of this Territory,
particularly the high and rolling lands, are
well adapted to sheep-raising, and / suggest
whether it might not be well to encourage
their importation by some special provision Of
law.
In Saline and Lancaster counties, in this
Territory, are found numerous and valuable
sal; springs, which, if properly worked, would
not only furnish salt for the people Of the
whole Territory, at much lower rates than it
can be brought from the States bps would
afford employment for very many Of onr in
dustrious citizens. These springs. with the
adjacent lands. have been reserved from sale
by The General G ,vernment and no legal use
or disposition e;m be mlde Of them by the
people Of the Territory. recommend, there
fore that you mem0rialize Congress OD this
subject, and ask that these springs. with the
reserved lands, may be placed under the con-
troll Of our Legislature, or that Con Srsss may