Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-01-10
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House
Represent0fires

milton to the Divine Hand that has led our
State safely and prosperously through the
wear that has closed. While nature has
oeen oenignant In bestowing healthiul sea-
sons. and abundant crops, aud In with.
holding her destructive agencies. the h.
huences that affect the complex relations
OF individuals and society to each other
have all been tending to the improved con-
dltions OF both. However slow their action
may appear, the forces are at work that
VIII attach our people more strongly TO
their State. restore the activities of in-
dnstry and trade, give plentiful occupa-
ton TO labor, tenant deserted homesteads,
and cause new homes TO arise on our soil
DO not use the language OF thoughtless
| compliment In expressing my belief that
all the Offices of the State have been faith.
fully administered during the year. Every
department and institution has diligently
and prudentIy performed the duties incum-
| bent on It,
VIII first call your attention to
THE stare TREASURY.
The receipts Of the Treasury in 1877
were 81 ,ao7, ,73s -
ei,6G2. -
Expenditures for the year 1877,
were 81 8-l soT "a
SAsh on hand Dec. 3lsf. 1s!,, was 1908 %
81 Goa lG05i
The receipts were derived from the follow
Ing sources
State taxes. ss7I,s7s4o
souhty taxes, 9,l32. IL
Tax on savings banks, aO; lCsi ~
lax on railroads, ayu,S ~
Tax on insurance companies, IL g:,p -
Land Agent. I6 sOI ~
Aiscellapeous sources, 5SJ9Ost
The difference between the amount of
cash on hand on the first day of January
and the amount on hand December 3lst.
shows that the receipts for the wear were
not sufficient TO meet the expenditures for
the year by the sum Of sl63 $50 81 This
result Is accounted for by the reduction OF
the rate OF State lax from four mills In 1875
% tnree ana .erset9yriihfir II ireesipts II from tb
tax on deposits IN savings banks, and of
s@.333.2@ IN receipts from tax on railroad
companies, from the receipts OF the previ-
Gus year. The tax on insurance compan-
les yielded s5367 OF more than in ls-G.
Last year s15,5U0 Of the State debt maturrd
and was'pald. The sum OF 81. 600 of the
state debt Is required TO be paid this year
There Is very small amount of State
taxes due in arrears. aud the unusually
large amount OF $40 900 OF the tax OF ls-7
has oeen.paid and is included in the amount
cash reported on hand In the treasury.
Assuming thst rh. raaai,..- 49,
rent year will be equivalent 10 the amount
OF the tax levied for 1877. SG15. l13 80. and
that the receipts from all other sources
Will be the same a- last year, namely,
s335 .Si9 IS, we have, Including the amount
o; $3.50 ,532.92 cash on hand. as our total
resources for meeting the expenses ot the J
current year, 81 2iI $50. % or sl3O,O7l fl
less than the eXueuliflirps
This bare statement Of the conditions
and prospects Of the treasury Is enough
without argument to prove that rigorous
economy must be practiced in al depart
requirements and pressing need- that the
rate OF state tax should be Increased To
three and thrce-fourths mills. aud that
ample authority should be given the Treas
uIer 70 borrow money In case OF eXIgenCy.
The gross State debt on the first OF jan
uary, 1877, was $500, 400. IL has been
reduced since by the payment ut maturity
OF S+6,5OO, and is nov s5S73,9CO The
sinking fund has been increased sl20, AZ
y, and now amounts to s9ll ,i36 o. The
deductions of the sinking fund leave the
net Indebtedness S&,962.46i.
After March lst oi thi, wear, when So
600 will mature, no part OF the public debt
is due until Aug. 18th, 1850. when $50. 900
will mature. An act approved Feo. 2ith,
1875, directs the Treasurer to extend and
reuew the bonds maturing at the latter
date-Among others-by substituting
therefor bonds bearing interest AT the rate
OF six per centum per aunum. payable to
the amount of two hundred thousand dol
lars IN 1890, and to the same amount each
year therea(e The new bonds are TO be
executed and issued only as they can be
substituted for at least an equal amount ot
..ns~ a. na.N nDall. al han
which they are intended TO renew and ex-
tend"
IL Is somewhat uncertain whether the act
requires that the exchange shall be made
according to the par value or the market
value OF the bonds. recommend that the
act referred TO be so amended as to make
the rate Of interest payable on the bonds to
be issued. five per centum per annum, ill.,
stead OF six per centum, aud TO direct the
subs titution OF them at their market value
for the maturing bond at their par value.
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
The volunteer militia force of the state
was Increased the past year by the admis.
sion OF the Richards Light Infantry OF
Gardiner. and is now composed OF the
First Regiment Of Infantry three unattach-
ed companies Of infantry and battery of
light artillery.
III gives ut ~ III TAT
ification at the fine appearance of these or
ganizations on the occasion of the encamp-
ment at Augusta, in the month of August
last. They exhibited a high degree ot
proficiency In discipline, drill aud the per-
fOrmance Of camp duties; such Us can be
| attained Ouly when officers and men are
thoroughly imbubed with an earnest SOL
dierly spirit and the purpose to profit to
the utmost by their opportunities for i'm
DrovememeLt.
The good condition OF the militia is at
| tributable in great measure to the fact that
| most Of the officers aud many OF the rank
aud file have been taught in the sternest
school of sodiership, and know what CON
| stitutes the essential instruction OF "A sol
der. and that the object of military IS
| tabishment is not holiday pageaniry.
The encampinent was in every respect IA
| successful one. The intense heat that
prevailed during the entire period OF it,
| continuance, combined with the hard work
| Of drill and camp duties. tested the foIti-
tude OF the command and lent to the occa
sion something of the character of actual
service. Good order was maintained ard
The few cases Of disordy conduct that oc-
Cured were pro mptly punished. II is
hardly necessary for me to declare that l
| consider the Volunteer Militia a credit to
| the CtHtc, S3IudUic ia ltecu anu ds uedus
of acquiring that knowledge OF arms which
free people should possess. and worthy
to be we'll maintained and provided with
every reasonable facility tor Improvement.
An addition has been made to the Cadet
organization by the formation OF com
pany from the boys Of the high school at
Augusta. 1t was wise act on the part OF
the State to authorize the formation of
these companies and the issue OF arms to
them. Restricted to the students of col
leges and high schools, a. it has been
deemed advisable they should be, they
serve q double purpose Is auxiliaries OF
school instruction, by promoting physical
strength and manly bearing, and the good
habits Of attention and prompt obedience,
and also As . means Of extending and dif.
fusing knowledge Of the military art.
Several cadet companies were present
| during the sncamnment In resnnaae to the