The New York herald., 1870-01-05

best system Tor managing the canals SO that che
State ana the people everywhere may realize " the
fullest extent, now and hereafter the great advan-
tages they were designed 10 secure experience mas
shown that they Cannot. under exssing laws, pe so
managed to insure best results FOR the state
or Tor those who are engaged and interested In the
business OF transportation rhe contract system for
repalrS has proved d failure and renew my recon-
mendaliun o. last year tnat IL De abolished.
Various objections nave been and may continue to
be nterposed TO other Methods and ~ may be dlii-
cult TO secure agreement IN the Legislature uDon
any specho plan of management.
In view OF this Possibility and as the constitution
provides that the canals shall remain the property Of
the state and be under iLs management forever Ire.
spectuliy recommend That discretionary po wers
the fullest extent permitted by tae Constitution,
over the canals and everything connected with the
working OF them, be conferred upon the Canal
Board, 10 tue end that they may adopt the best prac
tlcal plan or combination or plans. They are u con
sntutioaal body which IL seems 10 me may be
properly charged with such responsibility ana
duty. In their hanos tile slate might be enabled 10
realize ali tho benefits o; bu1n the coatrac. anu SUI
perntensent systems and he saved from the evils
incident TO either alone ILeJ conld establish anu
enforce such police regulations as would project
those engaged in Navigation against the oDstruc-
tons and deays Jo which they are now often need
lessly subjected. Jhey could contract LOT repairs
when III their judgment it was most adysapie anu
they could have ork done under supefintenuents
when they considered the interests ol the state
would be thereby subserved They cohid use what
Ia gOOd and reject what is bad ia any system; and
Knowing as tney are bound to know. The whole
work and necessities. could through the proper
officers secure the best practical results with the
lowest possible expenditures
IL seems very certain that important reductions
that sucn reductions should be made. am informed
that the Canal Board Will recommend lower rates,
and ask the prompt concurrence OF the Legsla-
ture.
The state Engineer win. in his report recommend
certain specific improvements. ask for his recon-
mendations your most favorable consider alton.
KDuCATloN.
1 submit the following statement In relation to
common schools Tor the year ending september 30,
1867
Total receipts from all sources, including
balance on hand at the commencement
l.,
Total expenditures. DISEASES
Balance on hand dm............. - sl,42so24
More than So 090 900 was paid teachers wages.
and nearly 600 for school houses sites repairs
and furniture. The exact figures VIII appear by the
report OF the superintendent OF Education.
There are IN the state nearly 900 children
Of school age about 0Gl COO Of whom attended the
pubic schools during some portion OF the year,
while 10000 were attending private schools.
Six normal schools are also IN ful operation, the
attendance ON which, IN tue aggregate, amounts to
4,2O0.
and the estimated value OF these with their sites, Is
more than SIS. 0U0 0O0.
These iacls snow the great proportions to which
common school system has grown. There may
be defects In 1t, but taken as 4 whole II commands
and receives the hearty commentator ana the
cordial support OF the great body VI the people
Under our form OF government In which the voice
OF the people so potential the State has direct
interest IN SO educating the masses that they may
lnteligenty understand their duties as citizens; aud
no tax should be pad more cheertully tian that
which enables ALL without reference to station or
condition 10 acquire the iudimens OF good Eng
lish education. The Legislature should do all III It's
power TO sustain ard perfect system which aims 10
accomplish this result.
The condition OF the colleges aud academies OF the
State VIII appear from tue annual report OF the
Regents OF the University.
STATE PRIsoSs-
The report OF the Comptroller viii show. In detail,
the expenses and earnings OF the several state prs
ons during the past year ana give the necessary ex
plantations thereof.
There have been, during the year. mutnous dis
turbances among the convtcts. and the expenses OF
the prisons continue TO be largely In excess or the
earnings renew the objections made IN my iast
annual message 10 the contract system for the
ployment OF tue prisoners labor Ii Is vicious
one and should be abandoned.
The discipline OF the prisons has been seriously
arected by legislation which has deprived their OIL
GERS OF nearly all discretion IN regard TO punishment
! think the cnlef officer OF each prison should be
clothed Will. the fullest discretionary powers IN re-
lation to the character ana amount OF punishment,
subject TO the restriction that II shall DC inflicted only
submit to the Legislature that the subject OF pri-
son management has become one ol very great con-
sequence and demands earnest attention More con-
centrated responsibility Is needed as well pr0tec-
ton against frequent Changes Of administrative
officers. 1t ls douDtfui whether such results can be
attained without an amendment oi the constitution
making an entire change IN the SYSTEM
The commissioners appointed by me, pursuant to
chapter aus OF the laws Of 1869, to select site and
submit plans for the construction and management
OF q State penitcntiary Will, am informed, make
Their report 10 The Legislature at an early day.
| nave visited during the year, ali the state pris-
OF convicts who desired TO present applications for
executive cemency. The total number OF appica-
tlons for pardon ana Communication OF punishment
presented personally or IN writing. and examined by
me. is about 800. Eighty-slN pard0ns and twenty
combinations have been granted. full statement
OF the names and OF the reasons III each VIII
be transmitted royou hereafter
SALT SPRINGS.
The quantity or salt inspected from the On0ndaga
salt springs during the last fiscal year was
1854, ,G5l bushels, decrease OF production, com
pared with the previous year, ol z5s,s63 bushels
The revenue 1or tile year, IRON all sources was
Ss553l; the expenses, 6,3ll; the net revenue
celved by the state being S39.22u.
The numper OF insurance companies subject 10 the
supervision OF the Insurance Department was. on
the ISL or December, 1859, 2J2. or these many are
interpretations created by other States or by foreign
countries. doing business within THIS State, The
total amount OF stocks and mortgages held by the
department for the protection OF policy holders OF
life and casualty insurance companies OF this State
and OF foreign companies doing business within II.
Is s6 1856 092. OF these the value OF S4O6l l42 III Sc
curtes is neld for the protection generally OF policy
holders In lire insurance companies OF this stare
For the protection Of registered policy holders eX-
clusvely there hand securities 10 the amount
of ss37,O0o.
During the last fiscal year there have been re-
turned. destroyed ard cancelled, by the Bank De-
partment. S55,3i6 Of the circulating notes oi the
banks of this State; OF which amount SAC, 36i were
the notes OF Incorporated banks, aud $685. ,962 were
the notes OF banks organized under The General
Banking law The amount OF state bank circulation
outstanding the 30th OF september last was
ST. $685. ,059. of which $l,3s6 SOB notes OF bank
ing associations and individual bankers organized
unoer the General Banking law ana 81 l242l l5b were
notes Of incorporated banks The whole Of the Tor
mer ana So12,O.2 OF tne latLer are Sc
cured BY bonds and mortgages, govern
ment or State stocks aud cash deposited
with the superintendent OF the Bank Depart
ment, leaving but Ss70,0S4 OF unsecured circulation
outstanding, large portion or which, 1t IS pre-.
sumed, has been DESTROYED and the remainder is
always redeemed presentation by the representa-
tives OF the banks which issued the same
The total amount " securities held by the super.
intendent OF the Bank Department al the close OF
the fiscal year S30j8, 1876, oil which 81 Us. 51I
were hed for banking associations and individual
bankers S39 260 for Incorporated banks and S525.-
1913 for Incorporated trust companies. a detailed
statement OF these securities VIII be fulnd IN the
annual report OF the superintendent OF the Bank
Department.
Fiity-seyen banks are now dong business under
the laws OF this STATE out. Of coui5e Issue crcu
ating notes. OF these six have returned TO the Sthe
system lrom the national, under the PROVISIONS OF
the enabling act of 1867. several other national
banks are reported as having In contemplation
similar change OF organization.
one hundred and tweniy.eig savings banks are
now organized and doing business IN this state.
with aggregate OF assets exceeding $50 600
The magnitude and the importance OF this inter-
est seem to demand more intimate guardianship