Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-01-29
sPECuAI. MessAssE OF TME

sPECuAI. MESSAGE OF THE
ROVEDNOR.
centl.m>n Of The S.nats and House Of Rep
rssentafirs
There are few subjects Of special inter
est to which desire TO call your attention,
and which wish to make the BASH Of some
recommend atious for leg slative action.
The successful settlement of the claims
Of our State against the General Govern
ment. has placed our finances in most sa'- .
isfactory condition. Col. De1ey, b. whosr
faithful services 50 large sum hss ps."
placed In our treasury. ought TO fees''o -
thants Of The Assembly, ara e".,
ton more nearly c0fHtnt usnrn'e - -" :,
uab.e results ne has been ins..u'''' -
c.feclirR. Tbs good iofiua9 VIZ" -.
DID nis connection with TINS m4tees'
80. ;nd,cs,e, the adsisab,liy o! empoH-
f.an. ,.,... i, com pleto It's Gnsl ssttlemen,.
s..e I'D therefore recommend that lac be
.,,,horired 20 prosecute the work 10 its con.
eIusion; and moreover, taai he be SLOWED
. certain Der cent upon oil claims to be re-
covered. in addition to the compensation
he now receives.
/ The development Of our agricultural and
mineral resources Is largely affected by the
completeness and extern. OF our facilities Tor
transportation. This fact renders II i'm.
perativc that the State pursue liberal ana
even generous policy in dealing with this
class Of corporations.
The DUBUQUE snd Sioux City Rail Way
0smpsny having failed to comply with shc
ssos nsial conditiors upon which their land
grant was conferred, would unite with ny
predecessor in recommending its resump-
ton b., tho State. When that shall have
!, been done. let il be bestowed upon some
a Company affording tho most induo'saoie
assurances of rapid and energetic extern
sior of the road Whatever corporation
snail be invested with this valuable grant,
let the conditions of TINE be made especial
I ly prominent, 80 that the fertile region
which has SO long awaited tho completion
f., of this line, may be placed In early com
nunication with the great markets OF tht
interior and the East
o The Act Of Congress, approved May AZ
' 1864. conferred upon the State grant o
= land 10 aid in the construction Of rail
:. way from point at or near the foot OF Mai
street, South McGregor, In . westerly di
!, rcc,ion by tho most practicable route on o
: near the ADD parallel or North latitude.
This grant Of land was conferred npon
corporation known Is the McGrsgor West
" ern Railway Company, but no patents hsv
n yet been issued TO them BY the Secretary .
re the Interior, on the gsound that the cond
ID tons OF the grant have not been complies
with by the company. This action Va
y taken only after . careful examination
r the subject by . competent officer Of ID
Department. Discla:ming any other lee
or ing than IN earnest desire for tho promo
ton Of the interests of that section aiiccse
" BY the non fufiilment of those tsrms, ane
N consequently, Of the State. cannot pei
" ccive how the action Of the Secretary coul
a. have been Otherwise in the prcmises. tn
:. line Of road now constructed does not stal
- from the designated point. and does not RI
~ in the direction proposed by the law Of Col
OF gress. While road from Mc,aregor to 8
~ Paul 10 q most commendablc enterpris
>. and merits, as il receives, the gratitude
Northern Iowa, a sense Of geographic
. propriety forbids us to harbor tho idea thu
70 such road comedies with the AID pavall
r or secures the object intended in the Ian
.. grant.
" Tho company. then, which was the ben
6eiary Of the grant having failed TO execu
Il. in good faith the trust rcpossd in them.
:, deem it the early duty of tho State to T
W. sumo it and hold it for the benefit Of son
OF corporation which will undertake and Pre-
70 scut. the work, in accordance with the IL
n ter Of tho law, 10 its early and fn,l conpl
ton.
Whatever may be the authority Of Il
OF State over railroad corporations alread
IL, formed and grants already coded, it is pla
hat IN ,he disposition OF those which ms
hereafter revert to tho State, regulation
.es may be imposed Tor the protection of the i
a, ;eres,s o. the people s,ainst the imposition
of monopoly. Fully conscious OF the da
oi gcr OF establishing any restrictions tendir
u, 10 discourage these valuable enterprises.
Of am nevertheless persuaded 10 recommen
"A the insertion OF a clause in every futui
grant PROHIBITING DETERMINATIONS in the q
~ rsngcment Of freight tariffs and fares in til
State. While the people demand railroad
a they also demand Jus, and equitable rat
of transportation. Reason would seem
% indicate that tho expense of transpcrtati,
~ should be pro rata. With some modit1c
ton of this rule in tho case of short tran
- fers, il could work no injustice, for it won
W simply subject railroad companies to q
~. same law OF compensation which prevails
all other avenues OF labor.
SCHOOL puRD.
ns Tho guardianship Of this important I
Is tcress has become matter Of the grave
d. concern. The necessity for legislative .
ton upon tho subject is amply demonstr
ted by the facts presented in the last repo
oo Of the Auditor OF State, a necessity TO whit
% my predecessor has already called your .
" tention. 1t is with the deepest regret tn
~ have eccn the income of this invslrs.,
fund wasted away undo :sDs,.1aoi
o management or - - toe iujudiciou
% thor;tie. s-.r.. criminal neglect of the au
: .Ana @rtving it in charge.
~ Tho State is the natural guardian Of thi
70 fund. In the highest sense Il is respons