The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-02-10

With the establishment OF this school,
good teachers, now our great necessity,
/ viii be secured, and the success of pop
ular education in Tennessee assured.
OUR MINERAL RESOURCES.
The importance of thorough geolog-
zeal survey of the State is matter of
great interest TO our people, many of
whom are already appraised OF the fact
| that, within the boundaries of Tennes-
see there are more extensive deposits of
| iron ore in juxtapositiOn with stone-coal
and limestone, than any State in the
Union, and that iron of every description
can be produced at less cost in Tennes-
see than in any other part of the world,
and yet, for want of proper survey Of
the State, it is impossible to make an IN
! telligent and reliable exhibit of our in-I
comparable resources. The work here
tofore done in this direction, in conse-
quence of the insuf1ciency Of the appro-
priations, was incomplete and unsatis-
factory, but it is believed that a thor
ough survey would cause the surplus cap
ita1 Of our own citizens, now invested In
stocks and bonds, to be employed In
manufactures at home; and whenever
we can demonstrate TO iron manufaetur-
ers of other States that the advantages
offered by Tennessee are superior to
those now enjoyed by them, no Difficult
ty will be found in attracting their capt.
tai and machinery. / recommend that
the Legislature take such steps as may
be necessary to ascertain the probable
cost of thorough survey of the State,
and if the work is authorized, it would
he well to direct the Geologist to collect
specimens of all the minerals OF the State,
and to deposit them, suitably labeled, in
the Capitol.
APPROPRIATIONS.
The Comptroller, in his report to my
predecessor, calls attention to the re-
quirements of the Constitution, that mon
ey shall only be drawn from the Treas
ury in consequence of appropriations
made by law: Constitution, Art. 2, sec.
"A; and also to the requirement in the
Code, that the Comptroller shall, at stat
ed times, report "the unexpended bal
ances Of the several appropriations.
Notwithstanding this provision in the
Constitution, with a legislative construe-
ton clearly indicated in the Code, it is
believed that specific appropriations are
the exception, and that for many years
the public moneys have been expended
without the authority contemplated by
the Constitution. If that instrument is
obeyed and estimates required from the
Executive offices, the Legislature is en-
abled to see what amounts may be nee
esSary, and can place a check upon ex-
penditures by prescribing limit beyond
which they shall not go. The mere fact |
that an appropriation is to be made re-
quires investigation of the amount nee
essary to be set apart for the purpose, |
and promotes inquiry into former as well
as present expenditures, while the sys- !
tenn now practiced does nothing to in |
sure a faithful performance Of this i'm
portant duty. Under the present system |
the Comptroller complains of the extent |
of the discretion practically left to him. |
He is to examine and adjust all accounts |
and claims against the State which are
by law to be paid out Of the Treasury: |
Code 207, s. 81. With proper system |
it is believed that nothing could be the |
subject of a warrant but such as had been |
included IN some appropriation made by |
law.
SOURCES OF REVENUE.
New sources of revenue cannot be ere
ated, nor can established ones be made |
more productive by legislation, but the |
burdens of taxation can he equalized, |
and every species Of property be made to-
contribute. 1t is believed that there are |
many corporations in Tennessee, includ- |
ing the railways, subject to taxation that |
aid in nothing to the support of the Gov |
eminent, and while l recognize the fact |
that there is no real antagOniSm between I
these corporations and the general pub |
lie, such legislation should be adopted as |
will cause them to bear a reasonable |
share of the public burdens.
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURE.
1 recommend the amendment of the act |
creating this bureau, so as to require of |
the Secretary the collection, classified |
ton and publication of a full statistical |
report Of the material interests of the |
State, with special reference to transport |
tation, manufactures and trade. Such |
report would be of material assistance in !
furnishing correct data for future legis- |
lation on questions relating to the assess !
ment and taxation of certain property, |
and would furnish character of infor- |
nation invaluable to persons looking to |
our State as a future home.
RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
The improvement of the Mississippi, |
Tennessee and Cumberland rivers should |
be urged upon the Federal Congress. |
They all drain vast territory, rich in |
everything that contributes TO the wealth |
of State, and if their navigation was |
made more reliable, a new and great |
source of wealth would be opened to |
Tennessee and the other States border |
ing these rivers, and do not doubt but !
that material increase to the population
of these States would promptly follow |
their improvement. The appropriations |
heretofore made have been of considera- |
BILE benefit, but what is now wanted, is |
such an appropriation as will enable the |
officers in charge of the work to prose- |
cute it to completion at an early day.
IMMIGRATION.
This is question of great concern to the |
people of Tennessee, and while our State /
possesses unsurpassed attractions to the |
immigrant, in elm ate, fertility of soil, |
cheap lands, with vast mineral resources,
we have failed to advertise these advan-
tages, and / submit to the General As |
sembly the propriety of such practical |
legislation on this subject as will enable |
the Commissioners of Immigration to |
bring this subject to the attention of the !
world, and recommend that you indi-
cate in some form the desire of our peo-
pie to welcome the honest immigrant, /
without regard to his nationality, relig-
ion or politics.
HOSPITALS FOR THE INSANE.
I transmit the biennial report of the /
Trustees, Superintendent and Treasurer
of the Tennessee Hospital for the Insane;
this report exhibits the operations of the I
institution for the past two years and is
commended to your thoughtful cOnsid-
Grafton.
SOLDIERS OF THE MEXICAN WAR.
I call your attention to the fact that
the services of these veterans have, as
vet, received no suitable recognition:
and l recommend the adoption of a joint
resolution asking the Federal Congress
to place the names of the survivors and I
the widows of those deceased, upon the
pension rolls of the Government The
grand results that followed the achieve
ments of the gallant soldiers of the Mex
lean war, are now so apparent that no
reason can be assigned for longer with
holding from them this simple act of
justice.