Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-16


refer you with pleasure to the interesting state
msnts and ample exhibits embraced in the fifth
nuAl report Of the State Ash commissioners showing
both Sn increased number Of nah distributed and D-
or aaed facilities for hatching and handling the larger
stock for 1879 The report sets forth the labors and
-waats % the -eommissloners, and the encouraging
prospects Of the enterpse, to which your attention
These several institutions and state interests In adj
dition to their current maintenance request appro
or lo 70
The Soldiers Orphans Home at Winona was closed
on the 10th of May last the number of inmates hay
ing been so reduced by discharges as TO render It's
further continuance unnecessary. The board Of
trustees still retains ten of the orphans In charge to
Ave of whom it il afording partial relief until they
become self-supporting, and hve OF whom are pur-
suing their studies In the State university The
expended balance Of the last appropriation WILL It Ia
thought. be amply sufficient for all needs OF these
wards Of the State. total number of about 16O
orphans were provided for ut the Home during its
continuance, and now that the work is virtually
erded, the state is to be Congratulated on the good
work accomplished wFYa8 n1EEe
DEPARTMENT REroRTs.
Idirect your attention with pleasure to the pract
cal suggestions and the detailed and ample informs
ton pertaining to their respective departments which
will found In the reports of the secretary CT state
attorney general, insurance commissioner, state
librarian, adutant general and secretary Of the State
estng statements relative to public interests and
bear witness to the faithful performance OF the du.
ties assigned the officers named.
STATISTICS.
From the report Of the commissioners Of statistics
It viii be seen that the total number of farms in the
state is reported at sl6 covering total titled area
Of 429 164 acres. Nine years progress in agricul
tural development may be seen by comparing these
with similar returns for 1869, when the number OF
farms was 10 ass and the cultivated acreage 316
S44 acres, upon which the growing grain gave such
extraordinary promise until near maturity justi-
fed an estimate Of 47,O0OOO0 bushels as the wheat
yield for 1878. Unfortunately, at the critical ripen
ing period alienation OF suItry showers and
blazing heat shriyelled the kernel to suoh extent
as to destroy half the crop in both quantity and
value throughout the great wheat growing section OF
the State. In two-thirds of the wheat lying in
the southern portion of the State, the yield is esti
mated at ten bushels and in the remainder thirteen
bushels per acre, making a total product of about
$50 900 bushels.
The crop of oats exceeded an average yield, being
estimated at 16 900 bushels while the product of
corn the largest and best known in the State,
Rpproxlmating TO 13,tW0000 bushels. The report
shows gratifying increase in the culture of what s
known as the minnesota Early Amcer' sugar cane
giving promise Of valuable results. The syrup pro-
duced In 1877 reported at 14 $50 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 expanding theatre Of
agriculture in 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,
which reach grand aggregate of 1884, 246 acres,
being more than double the total quantity disposed
Of In 1871 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 and de-
srable addition to the population of the State which
is now estimated at about 1850 The returns OF
vital statistics give total Of 2799 births and 6,59s
DEATHS showing both an increase of the former and
decrease of the latter and exhibiting the extraordi
nary ratio Of S.S births to one death.
RAILROADS.
mn.
gratifying increase both in the extension and con.
sructiou Of new roads and increase of traffic. The
number Of miles added to railroad system, with
In the year 1873 was 375. making total of 2.60e
miles. The gross earnings Of roads in Minnesota
for the year ending June so, 1875 were S74sl, 1ss
against $5,4O8,039 the year before, Q gain OF
over two million dollars. The net earnings
were $2sSs,sn against $1,b42,5s6, gain OF
| nearly 100 per cent. The number of pas
sengers carried in the year reported $780,
| the total number of miles travelled by all being
gain in number of passengers of 35l, 226
or about 80 per cent; and in total miles of about
l2OOO,OOO The tons of grain carried were $50, 1874
against 1856 8O; increase of 69 per cent The total
tons freight $780, against LIT $685. the year be-
fore; gain Of 45 per cent. The sales of railroad
4SOs 800 acres, against 223639 acres in oorre-
spending period in 1877. The revenue which the
State derives direct from the railroads $685. O0C
1875 against $lS5Sss in 1877 an increase of near
| ly $4,000. E.. .~
A 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 5000 per mile
which ia about oneha the prevailing cost six year.
| ego. t.-g.
FoREsTRx.
From oficial reports it appears that 2s.310 acre.
have thus far been planted to forest trees IN on
State, of which 1850 acres were planted the pas
year.
Although the comprehensive effor.s to clothe tn,
nakedness Of our vast Draries has not met with m
entire pracicabty. In this result what was five year.
| ago mooted question Of serious import is SO fa
determined, that the larger portion of State ii
/ being transformed from treeIess, unnhabitablt
areas into productive and populous plains. augmeut
| ing the prosperity of the State and country.
| IMMIGRATION.
Pursuant to act of the last legislature two
appointed from each Congressional district to &C
/ in conjunction with myself as State Board Of Immi
grafton The gentlemen appointed rendered ntelIi
gent and Jealous service tow I'd the end contemplated
After due consideration it was deemed that q wild
and systematic dissemination Of facts touching thu
advantages OF our State embodied IN concise ana
readable FORM afforded at once the speediest cheap
est and most effective means toward the end sought
Accordingly the board made prompt provision to-
the publication Of pamphlet which had been care
fully prepared by its secretary and arranged at thu
same time for its wide advertisement and the publ
| cation of summary of it's contents through thu
agency OF the American Newspaper Union. By THU
means so extraordinary demand was stimulated fo
Information Of our State that edition of $1,000 COP
les Of the pamphlet was quickly disposed Of and two
subsequent editions were absorbed with equal rapid
ity making total circulation of 10000 copies. To
1 ward this result was enlisted the efficient COOP
/ Grafton of several OF the leading railroad com
panies, by whom the expenses and advantage
| were shared. Owing to the depressed industries
which filed cities throughout the country with id
workmen and idle capital, it seemed advisable Il
limit the small means at command of the board chiea,
TO present effort to attract immigrants from th
several States of the Union, but revvng home indus
try and the circumstances strongly tending to q re
neWa OF emigration from Europe, render it advisable
enlarge operations to correspond with the extend
| lieve that large edition Of our immigration pam
phlet in the German and Scandinavian and othe
languages could now be circulated to good advantage
and that renewed efforts to attract emigrants from
various countries Of Europe would be well repaid
The simple and inexpensive mode Of making widel,
known the advantages we offer to persons in search
of new homes has unquestionably lent great acceler
| alton to that common movement from abroad which
is peopng our vast prairies and developing our re
sources. invite your attention to the report of tn
board and solicit such further support at your hand
as the importance and value Of its labors seem t.
require.
PUBLIC EXAMINER.
The Legislature, by an act approved March H. 1878
created the office Of public examiner and defined IL
duties to be the exercise Of constant superviso,
over the financial condition and management Of tn
various State institutions and county offices as wei
ks Of moned and RaviEgs associations organized I'M
der the state laws. The first report of the officer ao
pointed under this law will be laid before you, and
bespeak your candid and earnest consideration of it
comprehensive statements and exhibits. Aff,irdn.
as it does ample evidence of the tireless abors of
conscientious officer, Of his power Of exhaustive re
search and clear analysis well as of dangerous er
rors IN existing financial methods and dscernment
practical remedies, cannot doubt you will join M
in the conviction that the pubic is to be congratat
cd both upon the est blishment of the Office and tn
character of its incumbent.
huch care aud delay were necessary to properly al
an Office demanding so many and varied qualiiica-
ons as well to bring its provisions practical
operation. in consequence Of which but seven months
are embraced in the period covered by this report
Yet i'll that brief space the examiner has gained q
comprehensive knowledge of the different duties i'm