The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-15
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
MESSAGE OF GOV. SWIFT TO
THE LEGISLATURE.
Delivered January II, 1854.

Delivered January ii. 1864.
Gentlemen Of The Senate and House 0f
Representatives.
In complying with the constitutional
provision requiring the Governor to 'com-
municate to each session of the Legislature
such information touching the state and
condition of the country as he may deem
expedient," the hand of an affecting Prov
idence has prevented my devoting the usu-
al time to the treatment of the numerous
topics involving the interests of new and
rapidly growing State.
/ am happy to be able to congratulate
you that our young State has continued,
during the past year, to enjoy, in full
measure, the remarkable prosperity which
has characterized the loyal section of this
Union, while engaged in the stupendous
conflict which has drawn so fearfully upon
its resources, and engulphed SO much of
it's precious blood and treasure. Though
more than one-ffteenth of our whole pop
ulation, by the census of 1860, has been
sent to reinforce the armies of the repub-
lie, and several counties have been depop.
ulated by the Indian raid, there is good
reason to believe that the numbers thus
temporarily withdrawn from the State
have been more than made up by immi-
grafton and natural increase, and that our
population, which in 1860 numbered 172,-
O22, is now not less than 225,OOO.
Agriculture, which was the interest
most directly assailed by the war, is also
the first to enjoy its compensations. I'm
migration has more than repaired the
thinned ranks of our husbandmen, from
whom our volunteers in the field were
chiefly supplied, and with the introduction
and more general use of agricultural ma
chinery, has probably prevented any dim
mutton of the area under cultivation. And
it is wonderful evidence of the latent re-
sources of our soil and climate, that, in
spite Of drouth of unprecedented dura-
ton and severity, the years crop is esti-
mated at about two thirds of the average.
About 100000 bushels of wheat, and
half that quantity of corn, oats and pota-
toes, respectively, are estimated as the
product Of the year. The higher prices
of grain would undoubtedly have made up
for the deficiency, if the cause which pro-
duced it had not Obstructed the navigation
of our principal rivers, and thus partially
deprived US Of our only channels Of expor-
tation
The same extraordinary cause has ope-
rated injuriously upon the numbering in
terests of the Safe. Seventy-6ve million
feet of logs cut during the winters of 1862
and 1868, are estimated to be lying in the
shrunken streams that traverse our north
ern forests, awaiting the long delay ed rise
of water to float them to their destination.
The surveyors of logs for four districts
report their operations during the past sea-
son as follows:
Logs scaled in the First District,
(StlllWater) q, ,Ol3. '46 II.
Logs scaled in the Second District,
Logs s' scaled ~ in the Fifth District,
(Wabashaw) )..:...........:.. sos, ,34S IT.
Logs scaled in the Seventh Dis
trict, (Winona).. ............. 29l ,6Ol II.
No reports have been received fiom the
remaining districts.
For three quarters of century Mime
sofa has been the seat of flourishing fur
trade, and though the expulsion and re-
moval of two of the Indian tribes from
our midst, and the extension of settlement
and civilized industry over their ancient
hunting grounds have greatly curtailed the
sources of local supply, a considerable
trade has of late years sprung up with the
Hudson Bay Company's settlements be-
yond our Northwestern border, the re-
ceipts of peltries from all sources during
the past year boing estimated at $500, OOO
In general it may be said, that notwith-
standing slight checks arising from tenn
porary and accidental causes, and ethe
public burdens and private sorrows which
the war inficts upon all, at no previous
period OF our history, has more pros
porous activity pervaded all departments
OF industry, or have the comforts of life
been more generally dffused among all
classes OF our population.
This general prosperity has given new
impetus to our railroad enterprises, while
the failure OF navigation in our large riy-
ers has developed new necessity. and
furnished a powerful argument, apprecia.
Bile by every citizen, for their speedy COM
pletion. l am happy to note the satisfac-
tory progress in construction of some of
our principal land grant lines, notwith-
ing the scarcity and high price of labor.
The st. Paul & Pacific Railroad is now
completed, and the cars are now running
from st. Paul to Anoka, distance Of
279 miles, and is graded for SO miles
farther, while the iron, am assured, has
been purchased to complete the track to
Watab, 80 miles from St. Paul, by the 1st
Of next August.
The Winona and st. Peter railroad is
completed and in operation from Winona to
St. Charles, a distance of twenty-nine