Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-10-14
The Governors Message.

intended to publish it entire, but the un
usual interest of local matters at this tiu,e
precudes the attempt.
/ The Governor estimates the present pop.
ulation of the Territory at 10000, which
is being rapidly augmented, making the
necessity for wise legislation imperative.
The financial condition Of the Territory
is represented as not encouraging. The
Territorial Auditor reports the unpaid
taxes of the current year at s4s, 45s, upon
an assessment of sll,5S2,s9O, inclusive,
however, of the delinquent taxes of the
former year amounting to sl3,6o7. The
unpaid warrants aggregate S27, 1889, sum
nearly equaliug the total amount Of taxes
to be collected this year. The whole sum
draws interest, aud the debt must of ne
cessity steadily increase aud its payment
become more difficult, under the present
system. The Legislature is urged to so
amend the revenue law as to afford relief.
The reports of the local Land Offices
follow, and these statements compare ia.
vorably with those of two years ago. The
total number Of acres disposed of during
twenty months from January l, 1868, to
August 81, 1869, were 253, 722 acres, while
the number of acres disposed of during the
twenty-four months following, were $685.
949, an increase of 100 per cent. 270,l55
acres, or nearly onc-half of that amount,
have been taken up under the homestead,
donation and presumption laws, while Of
the lands disposed Of during the preceding
twenty months, only 9l,644 acres we're
taken up under those laws. The Survey.
or General reports the number of acres
surveyed during the year ending June 30,
1870, at 304 ,4S3; during 1871, at 39l ,259
number Of acres returned and approved
since the close of fiscal year, 176, 429
amount previously surveyed, 5,25s, 604.
The total amount Of surveyed lands in the
Territory aggregates G,l3O,SG6, or about
one seventh of the whole area.
His Excellency compares the present To-
cation Of the Insane Asylum with its for
mer condition, and expresses the belief
that the change will result in benefit to
the inmates. The cost of transferring the
patients to Stclacoom was $3.50 in currep
cy.
He quotes the letter of the Acting Sec
rotary Of the Interior in relation to the
Penitentiary building, which shows that
the delay in awarding the contract is &C.
casioned by the inadequacy of the appro-
priation to erect such a building as the
law contemplates An additional appro-
priation is confidently anticipated at the
next session of Congress, and the work
commenced at an early day.
The propricty of memorialzing Congress
for an additional grant of land to aid in
carrying on the University, is suggested,
the income alone of the lands derived from
the sale to be applied to the support Of tie
institution. In connection with the sub
jcct Of education, the appointment of a
Superintendent of Public instruction is
urged to secure uniformity in our school
system. .t ao.
The Governor recommends the appoint
ment of a Board Of immigration, to consist
of three or five good citizens, whose duty it
shall be to furnish officially such informa.
ton as is desired by parties contemplating
settlement in the Territory. A good sug-
gestion, and one we hope the Legislature
will duly consider. 81. .a,r , .....
lie recommends the collection and pub
LEGATION of the decisions of the Supreme
Court, Ia" fat take" for the Governors pet
Printers, out of which probably enough
can be sared to run loyal organ another
year provision for reasonable number
Of special terms of court, at which defaults,
settlement of issues, and all other matters
except trial of causes on their merits could
be disposed Of; also to afford compensation
to judges attending to business distant from
their residences. I'D % ~ ''.'...
Our mills and factories, he represents as
in Furnishing condition. Thirty seven
saw mills have, during the year, used 1885,
357, 927 feet of saw logs OF this number,
twelve mills on Puget Sound have used
1875, 46O,S15 feet, and manufactured ILL.,
OCT 1927 feet of lumber. ...t ..3s E.
He represents that nine vessels have been
built on Puget Sound the past year: One
ship, two steamers, FIVE schooners and one
sloop, with an aggregate tonnage Of L.
377.l6, and declares his conviction to be
Al~k