The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-01-20

raising q bountcous supply of bread
stuffs, but by erecting manufactures
upon her streams and coal-fielJs to
consume the immense surplus of her
rich soil, and thus diversity industry.
build up towns, add to the value of
our lards, lessen the cost OF exchang-
es, and bring the producer and CON
sumner nearer together.
l submit for your consideration
the propriety of q law exempting
from taxation for term OF years at
least portion of the investment in
certain classes of manufacturers.
AGRICULTURE.
The last General Assembly passed
law for encouraging the growth of
forest and fruit trees, and hedges
The wisdom of this action requires
no justification. I recommend that
you follow it up by making provis-
ion for obtaining and distributing
pure forest tree seed. 1t could be
done through the Office of the Secrc-
tary OF the State Agricultural Society
or some other existing channel
Many of our farmers are located or
situated so as to render it dicffiult for
them to obtain trees from nurseries,
and arc thus deferred from making
improvements in this direction. The
provisions proposed would exactly
meet the wants of this class, and be
a benefit to all.
During the year 1863, the alarm
ing prevalence Of the disease known
as the Spanish or Texan fever among
the cattle driven to market in States
east of us, induced the cattle commits
sioners Of the State of New York to
issue a call for convention to con-
slider the subject. To this Conven-
ton, which met at Springfield, ILL.,,
December l, 2, and 3, 1868, l appoin-
ted Prof. Norton S. Townshend, of
Agricultural College, commissioner
on the part of this State. AT this
convention, an outline of bill to be
recommended to the several States
was agreed upon. The report of the
commissioner will be laid before you.
TAXATION AND REVENUE.
The aggregate valuation of the
State in 1869 was $294,532, 252; an
increase since 1867 Of S3S,O15 ,06S, or
1882 per cent. 1t is unnecessary
that l should remind you that this
sum, without doubt, represents less
than one half the actual value of all
the property, in the State. Some
remedy for this practice of underval-
uation is desirable. [ would sug-
gest, as step in that direction, that
the State and county boards of
equalization be empowered to ad-
just valuations, as well as TO equalize
them.
l especially commend to your at
tention the observations and sugges-
tions Of the Auditor OF State in refer
ence to double assessments, and the
present cumbersome mods of keeping
tax books. The recommendation OF
that officer suggests plan which
seems to afford a remedy for an evil
OF great magnitude.
Among the prominent topics for
consideration, at the present session,
will be that of the proper mode OF
taxing the property of railroads. The
law now in operation on this subject
was originally enacted, doubtless,
with the two fold object of obtaining
a simpler basis for taxation, and OF
encouraging the then struggling rail
road enterprises. / submit to the
judgment of the General Assembly
whether some modification ofthe law
might not now be made, with the
view of obtaining from these roads a
moro nearly equitable proportion OF
the public burdens, and yet SO adjus.
ted rs not TO Cripple any or1hese en-,
terprises. respectfully invite your
attention to the observations and
recommendation Of the Treasurer Of
State on this subject.
SWAMP LAND.
l recommend that tho most strin
gent provisions be made by law in
regard to the disposal of swamp
lands of the several counties. The
sales of these lands should be widely
advertised beforehand, not only in
the particular locality of the lands
but also in the leading cities of the
State, that full opportunity may be
given to all desiring to become pur.
chascrs, and that tho lands may
yield the largest income obtainable-
fear that o different policy in the
past has lost to the counties multi
piled thousands Of dollars, and that
the grant, from this cause, has failed
to great degree, to be of any ben.
eft to either State or county.
sCtooL-FUND AND scHooL-LANDs.
The permanent school fund, accor.
ding to the books Of the Auditor OF
State, amounts to 1892 ,626.04, hav.
ing been increased during the last
two years, by sales and re.sales OF
schooi-land, S441,2l2.57. The inter.
est, apportioned during the same
time, amounted to S406,007.14. The
State is required TO keep good the
principal of this fund, and in case OF
loss, to make it up from tho State
treasury. This requirement is an act
of justice to the general government,
the donor of the lands from the pro.
ceeds of the sales of which this fund
is derived, and to the youth of the
State, tor whose education the gilt
was made. Fully to comply with
such requirement, without loss to the
State, demands that the fund be pla-
ced under the supervision of officers
of the State, who are directly respon-
sible to the State, and of whom an
account of the condition of the fund
may be ascertained whenever deman,
ded. Atpresent there is a large def
cheney in the permanent school-tund,
which deficiency will not become any
smaller except at the expense of the
State treasury. | am satisfied that
no business man among the members
of the General Assembly would allow
his own affairs to be conducted in the
manner in which this fund has been
managed.
| am, constrained, therefore, to re-
new the suggestion / made in Il spec.
al ..3 l, l..