The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-15

HoutS ana ample eSLlDtS embraced III the 1fCn
nual report of the State fish commits sioners showing
both increased number Of fish distributed and in
Or ased facilities for Matching and handling the larger
stock for 1879. The report sets forth the labors and
wants of the commissioners, and the encouraging
prospects of the enterprise, to which your attention
is requested.
These several institutions and State interests in adj
dition to their current maintenance request appro-
priatlons for various purposes specified, to which
your cordial consideration is respectfully solicited.
The Soldiers Orphans Home at Winona was closed
the 10th of May last the number of inmates hav-
ing been SO reduced by discharges to render its
further continuance unnecessary. The board of
trustees still retains ten Of the orphans in CHARGE to
five of whom it is afordipg partial relief until they
become self-supportrg, ard five of whom are pur-
suing their studies in the State university. The
expended balance of the last appropriation will it is
thought, be amply sufficient for all needs of these
wards of the State. A total number of about IS"
orphans were provided for at the Home during its
ended the State is to be congratulated on the good
work accomplished.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS.
direct your attention with pleasure to. the practi-
cal suggestions and the detailed and ample nforma-
ton pertaining to their respective departments which
will be found in the reports of the secretary of state
attorney general insurance commissioners, state
librarian, adutant general and secretary of the State
Historical society. All these reports embrace inter
esting statements relative to public interests and
bear witness to the faithful performance of the du-
ties assigned the officers named. ranges
From the report of the commissioners of statistics
it will be seen that the total number of farms in the
State is reported at 60,Sl6 covering total tiled area
OF 3429, l6i acres. Nine years progress in agricu-
tural development may be seen by comparing these
with similar returns for 1869, when the number of
farms do $50 and the cultivated acreage 3l6
The area in wheat the past reported at 1884
344 acres, upon which the growing grain gave such
extraordinary promise until near maturity as iust-
fed an estimate of 47,00o0O0 bushels the wheat
yield for 1878 Unfortunately at the critical ripen-
ing period an alienation of sutry showers and
blazing heat shriveed the kernel to such extent
as to destroy half the crop in both quantity and
value throughout the great wheat growing section of
the State. In twothirds of the wheat area lying in
the southern portion of the State the yield is est-
mated at ten bushels, and in the remainder thirteen
bushels per acre, making total product of about
26, 100000 bushels.
The crop of oats exceeded an average YIELD being
estimated at l6SDO0OO bushels while the product Of
the largest and best ever known in the State
approxlpating to 13,OOO,0OO BUSHELS The report
shows gratifying increase in the culture of what is
known as the minnesota Early Amner" sugar cane
swing promise of valuable results. The syrup pro-
duced in 1877 was reported at 1415O gallons which,
with an enlarged growth of the cane, will be found
to be greatly exceeded by the product of the past
year. Striking evidence of the expandiug theaTe of
agriculture this State is found in the transactions
OF the several United States land offices and the sales
OF State and railroad lands during the past year,
being more than double the total quantity disposed
of in 1877 which in its turn, far passed any prior
year in magnitude of land transactions This absorb.
ton of public lands being chiefly in small parcels by
actual settlers, indicates large permanent aud de-
srable addition to the population of the State which
is 20 estimated at about 765,00. The returns of
Deaths showing both an increase of the former and
decrease of the latter and exhibiting the extraord-
nary ratio of 3.3 births to death.
RAILROADS.
The report of the railroad commissioner shows =
gratifying increase both in the extension and con-
struction of new roads and increase of traffic. The
number of miles added to our railroad SYSTEM with
| in the year 1873 375. making total of 2,6Os
| niles. The gross earnings of roads in Minnesota
for the year ending June 80, 1873, were S74s1 1s9
against S5,4o8,059 the year before, gain of
over two million dollars. The net earnings
were S2a5S,S1 against $1,542,b36, a gain of
nearly 100 per cent. The number Of pas
the total number of miles travelled by all being
o164S797, gain in number of passengers of ISL 226
or about ~ per cent; and in total miles of about
12O0O,O0o The tons of grain carried were 65O 1874
against 1886, 84; increase of So per cent The total
tons freight 2496,559 against 177923 the year be-
tore; gain OF A. per cent. The sales Of railroad
we're $4,000 acres, against 22s,639 acres in CORE.
spending period in 1877. The revenue which the
Stale derives direct from the railroads $165 900
IN 1875 against $685. in 1877, increase Of near
ly 100000.
noteworthy fact touching our railroad develop
ment is the greatly reduced cost of construction.
Exclusive Of rolling stock The average cost of
standard guage is now less than $500 per mile,
which is about onehalf the prevailing cost six years
ago. .. -
From official reports it appears that 2s3l0 acres
have thus far been planted to forest trees in our
State of which 1850 were planted the pas
year. - =,
Although the comprehensive efforts to clothe the
nakedness of our vast praires has not met with I'M
varying success enough has been achieved to prove its
entire practlcabity In this result what five years
ago mooted question of serious import is so far
determined, that the larger portion Of our State is
beiug transformed from treeless, uninhabitable
areas into productive and populous pains augment
ing the prosperity of the State and country.
IMMIGRATION. sr
Pursuant to act of the legislature two
were appointed from each Congressional district to act
| In conjunction with myself as state Board of Imm
grafton The gentlemen so appointed rendered nteIi
gent and Jealous service I'd the end contemp
After due consideration it was deemed that wide
ana systematic dissemination of facts touching the
advantages of our State embodied in concise and
readable form, afforded at the speenest cheap.
est and most effective means toward the end sought
Acco ding the board made prompt provision tor
the publication of a pamphlet With had been care.
fully pr pared by its secretary and anged at the
same time for its wide advertisement and the publi-
cation of summary of its contents through the
agency Of the American Newspaper Union. By this
means 80 extraordinary demand was stimulated for
information of our State that edition of COP
les OF the pamphlet quic ky disposed of and two
subsequent cd tons absorbed with eanal randi
ity, making total circulation of 7OMO copies. To.
ward this result emil ted the efficient COON
GRAFTON of several the leading railroad com
pani-s, by whom the expenses and advantages
We're sha' ed. Owing to the depressed Industries
which filled cities throughout the country with idle
workman and idle capital, it seemed advisable to
limit the small meaus at command of the hoard cheHv
TO present effort to attract Immigrants from the
several States of the Union, but revvIng home indus
try and the circumstances sro"gy tending to q re-
newa of emigrat on from Europe render it advisable
to enlarge operations to correspond with the extend
ca te to be thus presented There is reason to be-
leve that a large edition OF immigration pam.
phlet in the German and Scandinavian and other
languages could now be circulated to good advantage
and that renewed efforts to attract emigrants from
various countries of Europe would be we'll repaid
The simple and inexpensiv mode of making widely
known the advantages offer to persons in search
of new homes has uestionably lent great acceler-
is peop ng vast prairi-s and developing orr re-
sources. invite your attention to the report of the
board and solicit such further support at your hands
as the importance and value of its labors seem to
require
PUBLIC EXAMINER.
The legislature, by an act approved March H. 1873
created the office of public examiner and defined it's
duties to be tho exercise of constant supervision
over the financial condition aud management OF the
various State institutions and county offices as well
as of moned and savings associations organized un-
der the state laws. The first report of the officer ap-
ron ed under this law will be laid before you and I
beApeak your andd and earnest consideration of it's
comprehensive statements and exhibits. Aff,prdinR
as 1t does ample evidence of the recss labors OF