Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-06
STATE SURVEY.


 Several of my predecessors have called the attention of the General Assembly, in differ ent years, to the subject of an official survey of the State. It is the fact that the only considerable portion of the State which is accurately mapped is the coast line, and this has been done by the federal government in it's coast survey. No trustworthy map of the interior of the State exists In such as have been made-and all that have been made have been private enterprises, with commercial end in yiew-the positions of towns and vil- lages, of natural features like streams and hills, and the courses of roads and railways, have sometimes been miles out of the way and have never been without serious inaccuracies. I most earnestly urge you, now that the question of our boundaries is in a way to be definitely settled, to take measures for proper State survey that shall at least give us proper representation of our State do- main. It will be wise expenditure of mon ey, for which those who come after us as well as this generation, will be thankful.
 THE RE-APPoRT1oN11ENT OF SENATORIAL. DIs- TRICTs.
 The return of the occasion for new cen- sus and the completion of the enumeration under the charge of the federal government, bring to your consideration the subject of the re-apportlonment of the senatorial districts of this State In the plan of government de- signed by our constitution the Senate was in tended to be the body of popular representa- tion. The lower and larger House was, for historical reasons, founded upon the exist ence of townships. It was provided that the basis of representation in the Senate should be adjusted from time to time as the popula- tion of the State changed, the times for such adjustment being made to correspond with those times when 8 new census should be taken. Fifty years ago the first apportion- ment was made under this arrangement, but, notwithstanding the very greatest changes have since taken place, not only in the ag- gregate population of the State, but especial ly in the distribution of that population no Legislature has, at any of the decennial per iods intervening, seen fit to change the basis of representation.
 Whatever may have been the reasons for this delay, it would seem as if they could no longer exist. The changes of half 8 century will be found, upon examination, to be so great, and consequently the old distribution will be found to be so uniust and so mani festly to nullify the intention of making the Senate that branch of the General Assembly which shall represent the people, as to de- mand the change in all fair minds. do not intend to argue the subject at length but only to bring it to your attention, and to mention some of the more notable facts con- sequent upon the continuance of the old ap- portionment, confident that 1t only needs serious consideration to convince you of the necessity of action by this Assembly, in this year.
 The population of the State by the census of 1880 is 622,683, as against 2S7, 7,675 in 1880, the census on which the present appor- tionment is based. The increase of popula- tion, however, would be no obstacle to the continuance of the present arrangement if this increase had not been remarkably varia- ble in different parts of the State. The whole character of the population and of the occupations in which they are engaged has during this time undergone an entire revolu- tion. Consequently the centers of population have shifted and the density of population has altogether changed. Districts which were substantially equal fifty years ago to-day show difference of 4 to 1; others have grown SO as to present differences of less degree yet quite enough to make equality of representation absurd. Six districts with combined population of 83, 800 balance in the present Senate six other districts having population of 281, 500, while ten districts with population of All, 700 can be out-voted by eleven districts which have population of 199, ,O00. When it is taken into considera- tion how utterly powerless actual and even large popular majority may be made in the lower House, by reason of it's peculiar con- stitution by townships, it will at once be seen how necessary reform in the only body which can be changed has become, if we are to con- tinue under what is more than the semblance of representative form of government.
 CONCLUSION.
 l have endeavored to present to you a con- else statement of the condition of the vari- ous departments for which you are to legis- late, and the topics of general interest to the people of the State upon which you will prob ably have to deliberate and to act. While in times like these of peace and of present and expected prosperity there is nothing to be decided which is critical in it's nature, yet it is by the wise use of the legislative power from year to year, in just such times, and by the gradual removal of abuses and correction of defects, before they become crying evils, that the occasions for critical action are avoided. I hope that the work of this session will be of this quietly progress sive and reforming character, so that our State may continue to be the abode of peace, ] induStrv and cnnfentnoeut