Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-01-16

These several institutions and safe interests, Ii
addition to their
which your candid confederation Is respectfully %
Ths sola!et.' Orphans Home. At winon., W.
closed on the 10th Of May last, the number OF IN
| mates having been 80 reduced by discharges % t
render ~ fanher continuance unnecessary, Tn
board OF trustees still retain ea Of the orpnaus Il
until they become self supporting. and five Q
whom are pursuing other studies In the State Uni
| vsrsity. The uuexpended balance OF the last Up
propriation will 1t 10 thought, be amply sutacien
for al eds Of these wards OF the state. tota
number OF about one hundred and forty orphan
were provided ut the home during its continuance
and now, =, tho work 70 virtually ended the state y
to be congratulated on the good work accomplished
" y 49,, prpARrMrNr REPORTS.
direct your attention with pleasure to the prac
m>tion pertaining to their respective Department.
which Will be found IN reports Of the secl etar!
Of state, attorney general insurance commissioner
state librarian, aujatant. general aud secretary o
tho State historical society. All th>se ports EN-
brace restina statements relative to public in
terests and bear witness to the faithful perform
ahceof the duties assigned the officers named.
tistics it will be seen that the total number Of
farms ii the state is reported At 6Osi6 covering
total titled area Of S,%9,l64 acres. Nine year,
OyCREoSS
BY comparing these with similar returns for 1869,
when tho number Of farms was 1856 and the cul-
tivAted acreage l,863,3l6. The area in wheat thu
past year Is reported 1T 1855 acres upon which
tho GrOwing grain gave such extraordinary promise
until maturity justin an estimate Of " OOO, 900
bushels as the wheat yield OF 1873. Unfortunately,
at the critical lipt pilg period an Alt rnation OF
kernel to such extent - to destry half the crop
in both quantity and value throughout the great
wheat growing section Of the state. In two-thirds
the state the eld il estimated At ten bushels and
In the remainder thirteen bushels per acre, making
. total product Of about %, 000, GOV bushels.
The crop OF oats exceeded an aver age yield, be-
ing estimated at l6, 900 bushels while tho pro-
duct of corn WAS the largest and oest ever kno IN
in the state approxmating la,OUo,0Oo bushels. The
report shows . gratifying increase In the culture
of what ia known as the minnesota early amber"
sugar cane, giving promise Of valuable results.
The syrup produced in 1877 was reported at 14O,lo0
gallons. which, with an enlarged growth of
by the product Of tse past year. Striking evil
dente Of tho expanding theatre Of agric lure III
this state IS found i'll this transactions Of the sew
e1sl United States land offices. and The sales OF
state and railroad lands during the past year,
which reach grand aggregate Of 2,344, 246 acres,
being more than double the quantity disposed Of
IN 1877. which, in it's turn far surpassed any prior
absorption Of public lands being chiefly in small
parcels, by actual settlers, indicates large perma
nent and desirable addition 10 the population Of
returns Of vital statistics give total Of A.:
births aud $3.50 deaths. showing both an increase
Of the former and decrease OF the latter. and OK.
hitlns the extrat rdinary ratio OF 3.3 births to
death.
RAILROADS..
The report Of the railroad commissioner shows q
gratifying increase both in the extension aud con
strrction of Lew roads and increase OF traffic
The number of miles added to our rail Dad sys.
tenn within the year 1878, was 375, making total
of 2,6V8 miles. The gross earnings OF roads in
Minnesota for the year endi ng June 81, 1875 were
81 4sl.l t9. against s., 4v8U39 the year before,
were s, 95ss7l, against 1885, gain Of nearly
100 per cent. .Ihe lumber of passengers carried
In the " ar reported l59O6A9 the total number
Of miles travelled by al se Ing e427ss gan an in
cent; and in total miles of about 12,C0U,UOu. The
@cns of gram carried were against
an increase Of 6 per cent. The total tons OF
freight were 2,4 $3.50, against IL, 1928 the year
befcret gain Of As per cent.
The sale of railroad lands in eleven months of
1878. to December lst were $40 acr'e, against
22ss acres in corresponding period OF 1871.
the railroads $l65, in 1878, against $l35
in 1877; an increase of nearly $4,000.
This growing revenue and the taxes accroing
from the rapid transfer Of railroad lands to indi-
viduals, constitute an increasing annual income
and requires the watchful care of the
TO secure it to the state.
velopment ia the greatly reduced cost of con-
s,ruction. Exclusive Of rolling stock the average
eest OF standard gauge is now less than 900 pei
mile, which is about one.half the prevailing cos
six years ago.
From official reports it appears that %, 80 acre.
have thus lar been planted to forest trees in ou
state, OF which 1850 ac' es were planted the pas
year.
Although the comprehensive Efforts to clothe III
nakedness of our vast prairies have not met will
unvarylng success, enough has been achieved t.
prove it's entire practicability. In this lesul
vi at was five years ago mooted question OF seri
Gus import is so far determined that the large
portion of Our state Is being transfer med from
treeless, uniDhabitable areas into productive an
ropu'ous p'aius, auementing the prosperity Of tn
state and country.
IMMIGRATION.
Pursuant to act Of the last legislature tw
! persons we're appointed from each congresslona
district to act in conjunction with myself % stat
board of immigration. Tbs gentlemen SO appoint
| toward the end contemplated. After due con
| sideration it WAS deemed that wide and system
attic dissemination of facts touching the advantage
form. afforded at once the speediest CHEAPEST and
most effective means toward the end sought, ant
| accordingly the board made prompt provision
for the publication of q pamphlet which had beer
at the same time for its wide advertisement and III.
publication OF . summary of it's contents through
| the sgency Of the American Newspaper Union. b.
lated for information of our state that edition
81, 0O9 copies Of the pamphlet was quickly disposed
of and two subsequent editions were absorbed win
equal rapidity, making total circulation Of 70,0ut
| the efficient cooperation OF several O.
| the leading railroad companies by whom
the expenses and advantages we're shared
Owing to the depressed industries which f!let
| the cities throughout the country with idle
workmen and idle capital 1t seemed advisable t
limit the small means at command Of the board
Chiefly to present effort to attract Immigrant
home industry and the circumstances strongl!
| tending to a renewal Of emigration from Europt
rendered It advisable to enlarge operations t.
presented. There is reason to believe that
large edition of our immigration pamphlet II
the German, Scandinavian and other language
could now be circulated to good advantage ant
| that renewed Efforts to attract emigrants from
various countries of Europe would be well re
paid. The simple and inexpensive mode Q
making widely Known the advantages we offer t
persons In search Of new homes has unquestion
ably lent great acceleratiOn to that common
movement from abroad which is peopling GU
vast prairies and developing our resources.
invite your attention to the report Of the boar'
and solicit such further support at your hands a
the importance and value Of its labors seem Il
require.
PUBLIC BANNER.
The legislature, by an act approved March II
1873, crested The Office Of public examiner and dc
fined it's duties to be the exercise Of = constan
supervision over the financial condition an,
management of the various state institutions an.
county Offices as we'll - moneyed and savings as
sociations organized under the state laws. tn,
first report Of the officer appointed unoer this Law
will be laid before you, and bespeak your candle
and earnest consideration Of its comprehensive
sta ements and exhibits. Aford1ng ~ it doe
ample evidence Of the treless labors Of conscien
| tious officer Of his power of exhaustive research
and CHAR analysis well Is Of dang errors IL
existing financial methods and discernment Of
practical remedies, Cannot doubt you will join
me in the conviction that the public is to be con
graduated 10th upon the establishment of the
| Office and the character Of its incumbent.
Much care ana delay were necessary to properly
All An once demanding SO many and varied quail.
ications, we'll TO bring its PROVISIONS in prac
tcal operation, in consequence Of which but seven
months are embraced in the period covered by THU
report. Yet In that brief spa1e the examiner haa
gained comprehensive knowledge Of the different
| duties imposed upon him, and has condensed into
convenient shape MAS Of information Of the
multitudinous details falling under his observe
ton, which will prove iLvauable % . basis and
guide for intelligent legislation upon those sub.
jects. Having fsmiliarized himself with the merits
and defects Of the existing conduct Of county af-
fairs, the Examiner has, after careful study and
consultation with experienced OH ,ias, elaborated
IN improved plan for the more complete control of
taxes by gusrded system Of receipting for their
payment, to which your careful attention 10 in
vlted. Oogent@ feasonD are educed for his belief
thst this Improvement would constitute the gvorud-