The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-04
MESSAGE OF GOV. KELLOGG.

The message Of the Governor congratulate
the members of the General Assembly on pre-
vailing peace and good order. abundant crop
and increase Of exports, hopefully anticipating
revived prosperity.
He notes the benefits resulting from 7
financial measures adopted as amendments t
the Constitution, by the operation Of which
the debt is reduced 'to point admitted!
within the power of the State to meet, princi
pal and interest, at maturity" A contingen
debt OF s21 200. 900 has had its quietus, ant
been "burried beyond resurrection" Tht
credit of the State can no longer be tampered
with. The rate of taxation is limited, ani
expenditures are limited to what such taxa
ton will yield. There can be no more float
ing debt. He states that warrants in excess
of revenue we're issued under the Warmoth
administration to the amount of over 81, $50,
OOO and that the Legislature Of 1865 67 ap-
propriated $4,000, 900 over receipts. The
State and city debts are both limited. He
hopes for reduced taxes and enhanced value
Of property as results Of these measures.
He devotes to the State debt what would
make solid column Of the BULLETIN, giving
what he says is "full and complete exhibit
Of our condition and resources" TIE
bonded and floating debt at the commence
ment of his administration was 1924. O93, 4O7,
besides contingent liabilities amounting to
$2l, 090 500, making . total of SAG, 1873, 9O7.
The funding bill and constitutional amend
ments wiped out the contingent debt Bonded
debt Jan. l., 1874, s22, 43O, 800; warrants
81, 100. 453; total $24, 22l, 553-th interest on
which was 81 ,493, 1853 per annum.
The total bonded debt of Jan. !, 1876, was
$1S,472, 443; total bonded and floating debt at
the same date. $l9,061, 645.
Taxes have been reduced from twenty-one
and half mills to fourteen mills. The erpepdi-
lures Of 1870, 1871 and 1872 were 500 900, 213,
while those OF 1873. 1874 and 1876 were
So, 72O, $50.
He dwells at some length on the Supple
mental Funding Bill, notes the character Of
the security given for the payment Of the in
terest and principal of the new State CONSOLE
dated bonds, the limit of the State debt to
Sic, GOO, 600, the limit Of the State tax to
twelve and half mills, exclusive of school
tax, now two mills, the nullity OF appropria-
tion in excess OF revenue. and the late ad-
vance in the market Value Of State bonds.
He recommends q joint resolution urging
Congress to assume control of levees, and
IS ;~,to ~ 49,
which $780, 600 of acres Of cotton and sugar
ands would be reclaimed.
The Levee Company, its relations to the
State, the work done by it, the amount paid,
,tc., take up considerable space, but the inter-
sting facts have been heretofore presented
n other documents.
Employment Of convict labor on the levees
8 recommended, the number of able bodied
naie convicts being $40, and "not likely to
finnish" Il is estimated that 500 convicts
q 200 days will build 100000 cubic yards Of
evee, at cost of l7.1O cents per yard.
A Board of Public Works consisting of
hree or five members is recommended, with |
hief engineer and two assistants. The mat
er of the levees is urged upon the General
,ssembly as Of paramount Importance.
Lengthy comments are made on the rail
Dad interests Of the State, with regrets that
ne old New Orleans, Mobile and Chatta-
ooga Railroad Company had barred the way
railroad connection between New Orleans
nd Texas and failed to comply with any Of
8 obligations to the State.
The Texas Pacific Railroad land grant, un-
er bill originally presented by Gov. Kel-
,gg while in the United States Senate, and
hich became q law in subsequent session,
referred to in connection, and the later
rant of 100000 acres to the spurious and
ow defunct New Orleans, Baton Rouge and
icksburg Railroad, are referred to.
The completion Of the Texas Pacific from
hreveport to Fort Worth, three hundred
tiles is noted, and regrets are expressed that
lbsidy aid for the construction OF the road
i'd branches is not probable, with the advice ,
lat "we use all possible Efforts to help our.
Ives"
The energy, enterprise and vitality of the
sw Orleans and Pacific r silroad Company
9 commended, and great confidence ex-
essed in the early com pletion Of this road. {
has been graded from Alexandria to Cotie,
distance of fifteen miles. The Governor is ,
the opinion that when the road is made to ,
meet New Orleans with the Texas Pacific ]
.ilway, Congress will not hesitate to trans $
to it the 1900 acres of public land already ]
anted for that purpose.
A large part of the message is devoted to
9 affairs of New Orleans. Believing the
ancial condition of the city to be such as to
Il for Legislative relief, he promises opera Z
n in any proper measures of lifting her S
of her embarrassments. The total bonded Q
BIT for June 80, was.s23 2ss, 900 assessed \
ue OF taxable property 1924, 5s2, 900; taxes : :
srdue and unpaid s2,352 49, estimated 1
,enues for 1875 2,349, 1872 adopted esti- i
.te Of expenses for 1876. the same sum, D
wing not provided for in past due interest,
trent interest police and schools for 1873