Litchfield enquirer., 1867-05-09

sand six hundred and sixty-four dollars (S13, ,926, ,664.) The grand list of 1865 was, in round numbers. two hundred and seven
 ty-six millions of dollars, and, with this in
 creased valuation, amounted in 1866 to
 something over two hundred and ninety
 millions, including the taxable polls.
 in view of the large amount of our public
 debt, am constrained to urge upon your
 consideration the importance of observing
 the most rigid economy in each and every
 branch of the public expenditure, that the
 credit of the State may be preserved, the burdens of taxation frightened, the interests of the laboring classes subserved, and the T time hastened when Connecticut shall once
 more be placed in the proud DO
 sition, which 1t has so long been her his
 toric boast to occupy, Of q State free from debt.
 THE SCHOOL FUND.
 The amount of the capital of the School
 Fund, according to the last biennial exam !inatiOn, made ln September, 1866, was two millions forty-three thousand eight hun dred and thirty-five dollars and forty-seven
 cents (S2, O43, 635.47). 4 considerable DOT tion of the fund heretofore loaned in the
 States of Ohio, New York and Nfassachu
 setts has been collected and re-loancd in
 this State, under the discretionary power given the Commissioner by the last Goner- al Assembly to call in such foreign loans for re-lnvestment at home. The whole amount of the principal received into the treasury during the year and reloaned in this State, was one hundred and twenty four thousand twenty-one dollars and forty two cents SPA, 4,02l.42). The amount paid
 on the orders of the Comptroller, for the
 benefit of the several school districts in the State, and for salaries and expenses during
 the year. was one hundred and thirty-tive thousand three hundred and seventy-tive
 dollars and sixty-three cents (Sl3o, ,3l7':. G3) :
 with surplus remaining of fifteen thou
 sand seven hundred and fifteen dollars, scb-
 joct to future orders
 The whole number of children entitled to
 the benefit of the fund by the last returns,
 was one hundred and twenty thousand eight
 hundred and twenty four, and per capita
 dividend WAS declared of one dollar and ten
 cents for each scholar enumerated For the expenses of managing the School Fund,
 and its present condition as compared with
 previous biennial statements, together with
 the disposition made of the Agricultural
 College Fund, would refer you to the TO- port of the Commissioner, which will be
 su omitted for your inspection
 RATE OF INTEREST
 ? The Legislatures of Massachusetts and
 Rhode Island having recently changed the
 laws of their States relating to interest, so
 as to admit of higher rate than six per
 cent, where the amount is specified by contract, and the legal rate of interest in New York bring seven per cent, it is a question proper for your consideration T whether our laws should not be so modified , as to conform to our monetary surround { ings, and thereby prevent the diversion oi capital from the State
 RAILROADS.
 : The condition and management of the 7 railroads in the State appear to be gener-
 ally satisfactory. The. number of passan-
 gers carried on the several roads during the
 year is considerably in excess of that given . in the report of the Commissioners for the I year previous, while there has been an in = crease in the net earnings of the roads, f The number of casualties is especially s small as compared with the number of pes { sengers carried and most if not all the Q roads, have been managed with much i greater regard to the security of life and : the general comfort of passengers than for l Enerly. The commissioners will recommend : in their report some slight notifications in . the laws relating to these important thor : oughfares of the State, which will undoubt 2 ediy receive your proper consideration. l HUMANE INSTITUTIONS.
 , Onr Institutions for the relief of the sui U fering and unfortunate, continue to hold : : warm place in the affections of our people ! They are ably conducted, and have pursued a their beneficent work during the past year . with gratifying results.
 Acting on the report of the Commission T created in 1865, the last General Assembly ! provided for the establishment of Gener @ al Hospital for the Insane of the State, ana
 appointed a Board of Trustees with author ! ity to select suitable location for such an T institution. This duty the Trustees have u discharged and Middletown has been fixed t [ upon as the place of location. An ap. propriation of thirty-five thousand dollar was made to carry into execution the pro T visions of the act, and workmen are now ' engaged in the erection of a suitable edifce
 for the accommodation of two hundred pa . tients. An additional appropriation vii A be asked for the efficient prosecution of the 7, work, and in view of the pressing demand U foa such an institution, would recommend . that the needed appropriation be made r REFORM SCHOOL.
 From personal observation I am satisfied l. that the State Reform Schoolis an econom ical and we'll managed institution The re port of the Trustees shows it to be in { e fiourishing condition, and free from debt . The present number of inmates is two hun I dred and siAty-four, which is fully equal tc l it's capacity of accommodation. The fac
 that there bas not been death among the pupils during the past year, shows that the sanitary management of the school is in the 9 highest degree efficient, This institution : is accomplishing an important work, and should receive all needed encouragement and aid from the State. 4 small appropri- ation will be required for repairs and i'm t provements in the buildings, and I would t recommend that the same be granted The last General Assembly appointed three Commissioners to inquire into the ex- 2 pediency of establishing an Industrial In stitution for young vagrant and vicious girls similar in character to the Meriden school for boys. This Commission will report in favor of establishing such an institution, and have no doubt the subject will receive from you the consideration due to it's very great importance.