Litchfield enquirer., 1868-05-14

four hundred and fifty five dollars and nine ty-four cents, ($713, 455. .94,) against four hundred and ninety-nine thousand one | hundred and fifteen dollars and nine cents, ($499, 1l5 O9,) at the close of the previous fiscal year.
 The disparity in the statement as to the amount of the reduction of our State debt during the fiscal year ending April 1st, 1867, as given in my last annual message, and the statement in this, will be reconcii- ed by an examination of the Treasurer report for that year, in which it appears that $4OO, ,0O0 co of the claimed reduction ] was in State bonds, purchased and placed to the credit of the Sinking Fund, to dis 1 charge corresponding loan from tIIat fund. This manifestly did not reduce the State indebtedness. The actual reduction, or the actual means to effect reduction, con sisted of the $171, ,60OOO in State bonds purchased, and subsequently destroyed, and the difference between the amount of cash on hand to the credit of all accounts on the 1st day of April, 1866, and that on hand to the credit of the same accounts on the 1st day of April, 1867, which was $145,- 470 TO-:
 The increase in the valuation of the tax able property of the State. tho past year, IS considerably greater than that of the previous year, amounting to sixteen mill ion two hundred and ten thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven dollars, ($l6,- |2lO, ,02.OO); but the reduction of the poll tax from twenty-one million four hundred and ninety-six thousand four hundred and eighty-fiv dollars to fifty-eight thousand two hundred and forty seven dollars, caus- es falling off in the totol of the grand list as compared with 1866, of five million two hundred and twenty-seven thousand four hundred and eleven dollars, ($5, ,227, All. OO.)
 SCHOOL FUND.
 The amount of the capital of the School Fund, as appears from the last biennial schedule and inventory, was two million forty-four thousand thirty-fye dollars and forty-seven cents, ($2, CA ,O35. A. of which, one million seven hundred and ten thous- and six hundred and fifty-two dollars and sixteen cents, ($1,7l0,652 16,) was invested on bond and mortgage The balance of the fund, with the exception of two thous- and two hundred dollars in unproductive lands, is in bank stock, State bonds, and cash ill the Treasury, or the hands of the agents. Of the principal of the fund, there has been re-loaned on bond and mortgage, the past year, one hundred and thirty-eight thousand nine hundred and fortytwo dollars, $13S, ,94200.l part of which amount, however, was in money not received into the Treasury, but made up by change of loans rendered necessary by changes in the ownership of property. The amount paid out on orders drawn by the Comptroller during the year, for the bene- fit of tho public schools, and for salaries and expenses, was one hundred and forty six thousand eight hundred and ninety dol lars and twenty-two cents, ($146, 800. 22.)
 The number of children entitled to the benefit of this fund, according to the last enumeration was one hundred and twenty. three thousand six hundred and fifty, and a per capita dividend of one dollar and ten cents was made for each scholar enumera- ted. This dividend was somewhat larger than the actual receipts of the fund War ranted, but it was made in anticipation of realizing considerable amount from un- paid claims, in suit recently decided The steady increase of children in the State will, of course, necessitate corresponding reduction in the pro rata dividend, as the capital of the fund can suffer no diminu- tion by reason of this increase. The fund is made Q sacred and inviolable trust, and it's management must be such us to pre- serve the capital intact, limiting tho divi-
 
 ment of this fund, and tho disposition made of the Agricultural College fund, I would refer you to the detailed report of the Commissioner, which will be submit ted for your inspection.
 sioner, 1t will be seen that there are only ho,,l &ko Ao4o doing business under charters granted by the Legislature, and that their aggregate capital amounts to $1,6l0 0000O. There are ffty-four Savings Banks in the State, whose successful management is shown by the gains in their deposits the last year, amounting to $5, 103, ,O7O.67 The whole amount of deposits in these institutions, on the 1st of January, 1868, was $36, ,2S3,- 46O.s1, against $31, ,lSO, ,3eo.11 on the 1st day of January, 1867. J.. ,a t..a ... .-. RAILROADS. .s@
 The report of the General Railroad Commissioner shows the condition and management of the several railroads in the State to be in Q high degree satisfactory. There has been a large increase in the number of passengers transported over the roads tho past year, the aggregate being nearly million and quarter in excess of the previous year. The whole number of passengers was only fraction under seven millions, with the loss of but one life, by any casualty that occurred during the year Considering the frightfulloss of life by ac- cidents in some of the other States, we may attribute our immunity in this respect to the superior management of our roads, and the sagacity and foresight of those who have this great, interest of our State in charge. The gross earnings of the rail- roads during the year, amounted in the ag- gregate to something over eight millions and half of dollars, being an excess of over half million as compared with the previous year; while the whole amount of expenditures was about five million nine hundred and ninety-four thousand dollars. The Commissioners report is very full and complete, and the several suggestions and recommendations it contains, will no doubt receive your favorable consideration.
 HUMANE INSTITUTIONS. 'r The humane institutions of our State still continue to perform the noble mission of humanity and charity assigned them, and are happily fulfilling the expectations .oi our people. Under the direction of those who are qualified for their work by nature, experience, and eminent ability, they are lvearly dispensing their rich blessings upon the unfortunate classes of our community | flsr= = lI i