The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-01-11

less than half township of land, it is unable
to support the burden Of county Organiza.
ton. 1t seldom makes return of votes, has
paid no State taxes since it's organization, re-
turns no county officers, and probably has
none. 1t is evident that the county should
never have been created. The territory now
comprised in Manomin, should be annexed to
one OF the adjacent countless and l trust you
will provide for the annexation by such means
as you shall find necessary.
The annual report Of the Warden of the
State Prison exhibits the economical manage
ment of that Institution during the past year,
Notwithstanding the increasing number of
criminals.
From oversight no appropriation was made
for the salary OF the Warden for the year
1860; this, with small balance for clothing,
bedding, &C., and for salaries of guards, will
require the appropriation of one thousand
four hundred and ninety.two dollars, which
should be made at an early day.
There are cells provided for twenty two
cOnvicts. Fifteen Of them are occupied, and
the balance may be before the next session of
the Legislature. 1t will therefore be your
duty to consider that provision shall be made
for the confinement of the convicts when the
present limited accommodations shall be ex-
hausted. The number of cOnvicts in confine-
ment, it should be stated, has been increased
eleven since the last year.
1t is possible a few thousand dollars Judi
ciOusly expended may furnish all the increas-
ed accommodation required, say for period
Of five years, by which time, unquestionably
the increased population, wealth, resources
from swamp lands, &C., will enable the State
to have an ample and appropriate structure
erected for its wants.
The provisions, of an Act of March 9Th,
1860, imposing upon the Warden the duties
previously devolving On the Warden, Deputy
Warden and Clerk of the Board of Inspec-
tors, though dictated by a commendable wish
to ecOnOmlse, does not tend to the security
siOnally be absent or may be unable from
sickness to attend to his duties, and he should
be able to leave competent person in charge
without calling away one Of the guards from
his own duties. The Inspectors unanimously
recommend return of the former system.
The very Ineligible Report of the Adju-
tant General will exhibit the number of men
subject to military duty, and the number,
description and condition OF the public arms
OF the State. The suggestion of the report
in regard to more suitable place of deposit
for the arms, l commend to your notice, and
you will also, at this time, doubtless, see the
of enquiring whether anything
more can be done by legislation to constitute
a more efficient Militia. We are far from
usurping conspicuous part in events, but
we ought to be prepared to meet the larger
States with our full proportion of efficient
soldiers in the defence Of our common coun-
try.
The subject of immigration will continue
to be OF great interest and Importance. Ii
the finances Of the State would justify it, the
project OF bureau specially organized to
promote the settlement of the vacant lands,
and the peOpling of our growing towns, would
be worthy OF very serious consideration. At
present, however, 1 believe the best encour-
agement of immigration we can afford, will
be the faithful collection of the statistics of
the State, and liberal distribution of the
reports of the Commissioner of Statistics as
immigration documents. In this regard,
that bureau is worthy of your fostering care.
The Report of the State Librarian shows
the additions made to the Library since the
last Report, and the books taken from the
Library and not returned, from its establish
ment till date of report, as far as the records
contain the evidence Many of the most
valuable works, and scores of miscellaneous
books OF ordinary value were lost in years
preceding our becoming State. Partly this
was the result of too liberal law relating
to the loaning of books, and partly to an ad-
ministration OF it even more liberal. The
suggestions of the Report for notifications
OF the law are in my opinion commendable
and the increase OF book cases and shelves
desired, appears to be necessary.
The delays in placing in the hands of the
people the published enactments of the
Legislature has been subject of complaint;
and when it is considered that some of the
laws of 1860 were not distributed until
within month of the meeting of the Legis-
lature of 1861, there is just cause for COM
plant. In the printing of the Journals,
also, there was similar delay In neither
case, however, must do the publishers the
justice to say, was the fault entirely with
them.
La this connection let me call yonr atten-
tion to the fact that in the present condition
of the country it is absolutely due to the ne
cessities of the people that the item of
printing, in the expenses of the government,
should be made to conform to the over
whelming necessity for retrenchment. You
will see that the printing for the session of
the last Legislature amounts to the sum of
about twenty thousand dollars, or nearly
One-tifth of the annual cost OF the State
Government. o..t. l.....
The trade through Minnesota with North
western British America, is fast becoming an
item of the first magnitude. A steamer
already plies regularly upon the Red River,
and the gentlemen interested Immediately
in that trade, assure me that in the coming
season another will be placed upon those
waters-to be succeeded, doubtless, ere long
by the extension of steam navigation,
through the great rivers west Of Lake Win
nipeg, to the base of the Rocky Mountains
Stage coaches, as comfortable as any in
the older States, convey passengers with
ease and regularity, from our own settle
ments to Selkirk; and the journey which
three years ago occupied month, is now
accomplished in ten days. Organized lines
of transportation, by steam and wagon, have
replaced the rude vehicles by which the Red
River traffic was formerly conducted.
The facilities for speed and cheap commu.
nication thus afforded, are rapidly develop
ing the most intimate and important rela-
lions between us and our Northern neigh
bors, and our business and social intercourse
with them is steadily on the increase.
During the past season, the large freights
of the Hudson Bay Company were diverted