The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-01-17

80 :E.t'l !tt9T ~ A1AI icAVs at.t
PRISON p a.thor,ties; Ii other states, Tia have
9f proper sitey the labor Of our conyicts could
DC employed in the erection Of new prison
buildings, with great advantage and economy.
This has been done in other States with the
best results. The Connecticut State Prison
ana the Penitentiary at Albany; n. r, were
ago, and have proved to be as well, and safely
constructed as any prisons in the country, The
selection of sightupon or in close proxin
'ty to building material is requisite both to
avoid the cost Of transportation and to insure
the safety and best services Of the constructing
conVlcts. Accordingly after mature examina-
ton Of the relative advantages afforded in dif-
lerent sections of the State, it is my conviction
that by the selection of a site near the granite
quarries at Sauk Rapids, and convenient to
supplies Of superior timber, substantial build
lngs..could be erected of the solid stone there
tageous circumstances. 'This,I think, both Be-
cause Of the facility with which: the superior
granite could be made available by the labor
OF convicts, and because. Of the con1enfent,
central and safe: situation there presented.
Another consideration not unworthy of atten
on relative to the employment of convicts in
hat kind Of labor, is the tact that both by
reason OF its rude character, and the locality
where it is proposed to be prosecuted, It will
tend to relieve the skilled and lighter laboriof
honest workmen in industrial centers from
that th. competition with the results Of the en-
serious grievance. l recommend that
at least the preliminary action required In SO
important matter receive your early atten-
ton. Should the services of the convcts be
required before the termination of the present
contract controlling them, such labor could
doubtless be obtained from the contractors at
less rate than would be necessary for the
compensation of ordinary workmen. '.''t
The suit against the contractors for nom
payment OF rent and convict service, which
was pending when last communicated with
you, remains unsettled. It was decided against
the State in the District Court, bnt on an ap-
peal the Supreme court reversed that de-
cision upon the ground that the inspectors
exceeded their powers in contracting to fur
n1h more accommodations than the State then
possessed. The 1nspectors,it will be seen, rec
ommend compromise.
The report of the Trustees for the Insane
shows that the number of patients in the hos
pital has already reached 579, and that the
full capacity of the Institution, permanent and
temporary, is limited to 600. This leaves a
margin but for 21 patients, which the trustees
state will be filled in three months. The ur-
gent necessity for immediate action looking
to the erection of another hospital was shown
to the last Legislature, but the neccesssfy
steps for the purpose were not taken. The he
cessity for action is now still more imperative
and as the preliminary selection of site COM
bining so many requisites, will absorb much
time, the matter will admit of no futher delay.
This requirement and that of the State Pris-
on before referred to, must of necessity take
precedence of the claims Of all other institu-
tons. The report embraces various sugges-
tions to which your attention is asked, es-
11x,f fhaf off To 1ol,n
the mode of appropriations.
DIsHoNoRED BONDS.
I feel impelled by the convictions upon the
subject expressed in my preceding messagestO
renew my recommendation for an carly set
tlement' Of the Indebtedness represented by
our dishonOred railroad bonds. The measure
proposed for this purpose by the last legisla-
ture, and submitted to the people in June last,
was rejected, as you are aware, by an over
whelming popular vote. This resulted, I am
persuaded from prevalent misapprehension
respecting the real nature and provisions Of
the proposed plan of adjustment. should be
sorry indeed to be forced to the conviction
that the people by this act intended other
than their disapproval of the particular plan
Of settlement submitted to them. For in my
opinion no public calamity no visitation Of
grasshOpperS, no wholesale destruction or
insidous pestilence, could inflict SO fatal
blow upon our State as the deliberate repudi-
alton of her solemn obligations. 1t would be
confession more damaging to the character
of government of the people than the as
saults OF its worst enemies. With the loss of
public honor little could remain worthy of
preservation. Assuming therefore as gladly
do that this vote Of thepeople indicated pur-
ply to condemn the proposed plan for its pay
ment. shall be happy to cooperate in any
practicable measure looking to an honorable
and final adjustment of this vexed question
That we are indebted for our proud progress
in all that constitutes prosperous State,
chiefly to the incalculable advantages afford
cd by our railroads, will be conceded by all.
That the early construction of these railroads
was chiefly due to the issue of these bonds. is
equally known to all conversant with the
facts.
When therefore the purpose for which the
debt was incurred has been achieved, it seems
clear that mere informalities, if any such were
nation of issues between honest parties. But
even if wefailcd to receive full value for the
bonds, can we afford to force concessions on
that account? Would the inconsderable sum
to be thus gained prove fair compensation
for the damaging imputation upon the fair
not comport with the honor of a reputable
sovereignty to take the initiative for the par
tial payment OF obligations to the full pay
ment Of which she has solemnly pledged her
faith and credit, she may not necessarily incur
discredit by the acceptance Of such abate-
this account the rejection of a proposition OF
rare liberality volunteered by the holders of
these bonds is deeply to be deplored. The
manifestation however of an honorable pur-
pose to meet the just obligations Of the State
can hardly fail to elicit new propositions for
which is the earnest desire Of all good citizens.
pARIs rypOe1rrON ' '''
feel it alike pleasure and duty to invite
your attention to the importance Of securing
9 proper representation of the products Of this
State at the Industrial Exposition. which will
among the desirable results to be fairly expect
ed from such a movement is the opportunity
which will be afforded to repair in some degree
the consequences of the lamentable failure of
our State to take part in our own great Nation
al Exposition in 1876. Upon material basis
that the results obtained justify ample
expenditures for a full presentation Of wares
and products to be exposed to such world
wide observation as is obtained at these exhi-
bitions. And it is quite as much the quality
as the volume of the immigration that should
states to attract population to their territories.
But for the unaccountable blindness of our leg
is1ature of two years ago, Minnesota would
have secured fair share Of the wealthy
English stock breeders who were lured to
Kansas by, the Incompatible display Of, her
products at the Centennial Exposition, and who
have proved SO valuable an acquisition to that
enlightened young State. But it hardly be-
comes us to limit our estimation Of these dis
plays to calculation of the material gain to
be expected from them. The civilizing amen
tiles resulting from these contests of commipg.
ling nations for supremacy in; peace rather
than war, should invite the desire for an hon.
orable share in them on the part of all enlight-
ened communities. cordially invite you to
supplement the action recently taken: lby
Congress to this end, by such aid in further.