The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-01-11
TIRE GOvERK0R,y MESSAGE.

Paul papers so, wo are compelled t
condense it and give the main point
only.
The Governor opens with reference
to the large majority by which he wa
reelected ; then speaks Of the growth
of the State during the past two years
our population having increased $4,000
souls agsregat;ug a total of hslf a mil
lion i; while no miles of railroad hav,
been completed during tho same time
making now 1850 miles, and agriculture
and the mechanic arts have kept pace
With the advance Of these more conspic
uols events.
The misfortune Of the year, abroae
IN other parts Of the Uui1u and 10 ou'
own State are referred to at some
length. The contributions received to,
the relief IF sufferers on tie frontier
have amounted to Sl4,O76.35 in cash
clothing, provisions, &c about ST., 900
Ho recommended tn, Legislature &c
provide means by which settlers who
have lost everything may be supplied
with seed grain.
The total receipts during the fiscal
year ending Nov. Both, 1871, were
S9l3,136.54 the total disbursements,
S7l6,956.l7 ; leaving general balance
of $l96,1e037 to the credit of the
different funds.
The recognized bonded indebtedness
OF the State at the commencement OF
the year was s350,000. These bonds
were purchased by the permanent fund
and are held by it at the present time
The constitution requires that all bonds
issued by the State shall be redeemed
within ten years from the date thereof;
therefore the wa, loan bonds ($l00, 0OO)
must be redeemed on or before the first
of November, 1872. At the close Of
the year the sinking fund tor their re-
demptlon amounted to $S6,778 80, (re-
ducing the debt to SS243 ,23l l1).-
The fund will be sufficient to redeem all
the bonds at maturity.
There has been expended from the
Treasury from '66 to II inclusive, for
the erection Of State buildings the
sum of 1861, C55.06. Of this amount
the State borrowed S250,000; the
s431,o55, was derived from
taxes, and the general receipts OF the
treasury.
The assessed valuation of all taxable
property 10 the State, as returned
for 1870, vas sS6,840,9l0. On this
amount was levied
For State purposes. 434 70l IS
For Common Schools. ...............". 825,74s 80
For Town, County, and other mu.
nlclpal purposes. ........... ,523 306 IL
Total levy for all purposes s2,7ss.75e 40
The total amount of taxes delinquent
at the end of the year was S375.256.50.
The State Auditor estimates tho lax
able valuation OF all the property in
the State for the present fiscal year at
$90,000,000-a increase of about
On this amount tax Of
five mills IS levied, to yield $450,000.
This sum will be aided to By revenues
derived from railroads aud other sources,
SO as to make a total of $66,943.
The expenditures for tue coming year
are estimated at $5Gl,156, leaving a
balance at the ond Of the fiscal year of
SG6,944, from which the succeeding
Legislature and the State Institutions
must draw their current expenses du-
ring the early part Of the next fiscal
year, and until other provision can be
made fer them. Alter these demands
ore ans Vered, nothing will be Left
AS the people voted down the consti-
tutional amendment at the last election
providing for the Borrowing Of $780,
900 for the erection and completion Of
State buildings, it is a troublesome
question as to how this work is to be
prosecuted. Additional taxation must
ho provided for or further operations
suspended. The different public in.
'titutions ask for appropriations to tho
amount Of $4,000.
The reports Of the Auditor and
Trea'ufer show that every department
is solvent, with prosperous financial
outlook for the future. They join in
recommending some change in our tax
laws which will Secure greater equality
in our assessments. Appraisments now
vary from 25 to so per cent of tue
actual value Of the property. The
Governor suggests that either Assessors
be appointed by the State Auditor, in.
stead o! being elected or that that i.
be made the duty of town boards to act
upon each assessment, the Assessor to
be member of the board for this pur.
pose. lie further suggests that peril ,pf
the main feature OF these two systems
might be advantayeously united, the
Assessor representing the interests Of
the State and the town board acting a.
a check upon any disposition he nigh,
manifest to ignore local interests or the
operation Of local causes that mis ht leg
itimatcly be considered.
The Commissioner of Statistics re-
ports continued improvement in tn
character Of the annual returns OF agri
culture. After c,reful calculation
for few deficiencies tho following i:
educed as close approximation to tn,
total results for 1870;
Acres Cultivated. Bush. Produced
Observation-Disclosures. l,Osl 1888 16,2s3,12