The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-01-22

prosperity Of the nation.
lsgned) U. s. GRANT.
Executive MANSION. Jan. IA. 1875.
SOVEREIGN COMMONWEALTHS.
The Condition, Financially and other
wise Of IN Dozen or So OF Them Guber-
Material Messages, and their Recon-
mendatiOns.
The present is q busy season in the
lawmaking line. There are now in
session more State Legislatures than
were probably ever convened at one
and the same in the history of the coun-
try. OF course all the Governors have
observed the time immemorial custom
OF communicating to these bodies their
views and recommendations regarding
such legislation as they think the
exigencies of the times demand. We
append very brief resume of the more
important contents of such of these
docums nts as have come under our eye
INDIANA.
Gov. Hendricks, in his message to
the Indiana Legislature, states that the
assessed value of the taxable property
Of the State in 1874 was 1854, 857, ATS,
which was an increase of more than
three hundred million dollars since
1872. There are 265, 900 persons in
the State who are subject to q personal
or poll tax of fifty cents each. The as
sessment of property, and the personal
or poll tax, constitute the important
sources of revenue. The total receipts
for State purposes during the year were
1898, 091. 81. At the close of the year
ending Oct. 81, 1874, there was in the
treasury S244, 203.7S. The total State
debt amounts to SLIP, 755 II. The
permanent school fund is SO, I'll, 319. 60.
There was received and disbursed
during the year, for the support of
schools, S2,211, 32813. The cnumera
ton OF 1874 of children between the
ages of six and twenty one years, shows
the number of 654, 1854; the number
enrolled in the schools is 499, OLA, and
the average attendance upon the schools
has been 81, 272. Twelve thousand six
hundred anil fifty five teachers have
been employed. The State charitable,
educational and reformatory institu
tons are representa- to be in pros
porous condition.
MAINE.
Gov. Dingley's message furnishes
gratifying exhibit of the financial COZ
dition of the Pine Tree State. The
war left her with debt of about IS, 5OO,-
600. This debt the people of Maine,
with steady determin alton, early took
measures to reduce. In this they have
succeeded so well that they have al
ready been able to pay off SO, 900, 900 of
the principal, besides meeting 81, 0OO,-
900 of interest. At the present rate the
entire debt would be extinguished in
about fourteen years more.
NEW YORK.
The message of Gov. Tilden to the New
York Legislature places the receipts
of the year at S26, 465, 370; payments,
$40, 636, 30S, leaving balance of nearly
81, 900, 900 the funded debt is $50, 000,-
600. The reduction of the debt last
year was $6,000,000. He discusses at
great length the transportation prob
lem, aud says the State must protect
the Erie canal. While not seeking to
make money from it, he urges the
per fecting of the canal by enlarging its
capacity, so that it shall practically
cheaper and facilitate the exchange of
commodities between the East and
West. He advocates the deepening of
the canal to seven feet, believing that
to be the best means of facilitating
navigation by boats, whether steam or
not.
PENNSYLVANIA.
Gov. Hartranft states that during the
past year the State debt of Pennsyl-
vania was reduced 81 $50, 1856. The re-
ceipts were $7,697, 119, the expenditures
are Sc, 500, SOS, leaving in the Treasury |
81 ,094, 551. The total State debt is |
S24, 56S, 635, from which should be de-
Quoted SO, 600, 900 of bonds in the sink |
ing fund. The revenues of the State
have been decreased 81, 900, 900 by the
repeal of the tax on the gross receipts
of railroads, the net earnings OF cor
porations, and on cattle, and farmers
The Governor calls atten
ton to the want of skilled labor, and
the establishment of
schools where boys can be instructed in
trades, and approves OF compulsory
education.
MINNESOTA.
Gov. Davis states that the total re-
,eipts of the State Treasury during the
past fiscal year we're 81, 331 .21O; the
ST, 14S,059. The recog-
nized bonded indebtedness OF the State
IS $3.50, 900.
The Governor regards the Railroad
aw of last session as practical sue
cess. Under the rates prescribed by
he Railroad Commissioners, the reduc-
ion en- passenger fares and freights
md lumber passing over the railroads
n the State will amount to about
$500. 900. He regards it as practically
settled that the State has the rights to
regulate railway freight and passenger
charges.
NEBRASKA.
Gov. Furnas' message states that the
population of the State has doubled in
the last two years. The estimated pop.
nlation is now $780, Total debt of
The State, S4O2, 954. Delinquent taxes
due the State, over half a million dol
lars. Total valuation for taxable pur.
poses $50, 900, OOe; while the value of
FROM, foxofinp 30 |