The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-01-14
MESSAGE
OF
CHARLES NJ. CROSWELL
Retiring Governor OF Michigan.

Lee lature n the close of his official term the
condition OF the State, and TO recommend such
measures as to him shall seem expodent. In
the discharge of this duty | shall coniine myself
to summary Of the ituation of our public
affairs during my administration, and sugges-
tons for such changes as may have appeared TO
me in the course OF my experience to be bene-
fi4l or necessary. l shall leave it to my sue
cessor, who Will directly share with you in the
respon Utilities of legislation, to indicate meas
ures of future policy.
CENSUS.
The census of 1881 shows Michigan TO have
q population of 1,6s4, 90 inhabitants Less
than half century has transpred since the
State was admitted into the Federal Union.
Within that time it has increased in numbers
more than nine-fod, and III population now
outranks all It's sister States save eight while
the productions OF its fertile SOIL the treasures
of its mines, the avails Of It's forests and fish
cries, and tue immense commerce tributary 10
il from the great lakes and from it's numerous
hines of railway travCrSing il iii every direction,
have given it comparatively still higher posi-
ton III the scale of material wealth. The State
IL strong strong III numbers, strong III re-
sources, strong in its educational ana humane
institutions, strong in it, respect for public viz
tue in Its devo ion TO liberty and union, and
strong in the hold it has upon the affections Of
the people.
1t is expected that the new census will give
as increased representation III Congress, and
upon you will undoubtedly devolve the duty OF
making rearrangenlt mt of the Congressional
and Legislative districts conforming to the new
enumeration and SO adju ted that the tcrrii DRY
in each shall be contiguous and contain AZ near
"a may b. an equal number of inhabitants
This duty is an important one, and should be
30 discharged that the people of all parts of the
State may have Just rruresCntaton.
uARvEsTs.
The biennial period intervening since the last
session of the Legislature has been one favor
able in general health. in wcalth-producing hlr-
vests and III prosperity begotten OF revivlng
industries and renewed confidence III every
department of commerce and trade. The
resumption of specie payments has given
Us staple currency, promoted acti,-
ity in the exchange of products, stIm-
ulated the investment of capital i'll bene-
hcial enterprises, and caused all advance IN the
rate OF wages and tine value of property, with
assurance that we are TO have q permanent and
sound financial policy. This important
measure, accom- llshed without disturbance in
business clrclcs, has proved one OF great fore
sight and wisdom, attended with the most
sautary benefit TO the INT, rests of industry
every where throughout the country.
Our harvests within the past year yielded
80, 9S3,340 bushels Of wheat and II similar pro-
portion OF other cereals and fruits In the
same period We have produced 49, 900 gross
tons Of iron ORE II $40 MT tons of ngot cop
per, 2,676 5SS barrels Of salt, So 600 net tons of
COhl, J,OOZ,UOt Oh NOOi, O,SUU,VU',UUU
feet of lumber, aud other products in large
quantities, which swell the total yearly earn
lngs of the State TO IL sum estimated at $780,
0O0,000. OF the raw material thus pr duced, Il
considerable portion has Ecen within the State
converted into articles Tor use and consumption.
FINANCES.
The treasury tx III healthy state. The CO sh
on hand Sept. 30, 1873, was S400, $40. 35. Tie
receipts from all sources for Il e two years end
ing Sept. 80. 1882, aggre gate S5,019, 1874 81
The total expenditures tor the same period
amount to -, $40, S32.01. Tho balance In the
treasury on the 3Nh day OF Sc TENDER last was
1875, 643O1. For the first time in great
many years we close the fiscal year with money
In the treasury suificit mt TO meet all the apprU-
pr1atons, and With u balance 10 the credit of
the general fund. Tie current talk about
large surplus of unappropr ated mouey
heretofore lying in the treasury is an
error. There never has been dollar
OF such money that has not been raised
for specific purposes, and If the appropriations
made by the Legislature had all been called for
soon after the time fixed for collection Of state
taxes, the treasury would have been exhausted
and considerable defic shown for every year
except the present one. Thus there WAS de
felt Sept. 80, 1874. Of S}i3, All at the same
date in 1875, deficit of 1892 S5l. 81 ut the
same time i'll 1876 deficit of 1875. 1873. s3 ; at
the same TIME IN 1877. deficit OF 41.19l, 5i4.-
81 at the same time in 1878, deficit Of S63i =
570.94 at the same time III 1879, deficit of
sos, 7425l, and in 1881 tie balance cham o.,
and for the first time We have a surplus il the
treasury.
Legislative appropriations extend over
period OF Two years. and when
money raised for definite purposes. such
IA the building of State institution
or the payment Of its current expenses comes
into the treasury, ii Is on y drawn out from
time TO time rs work progresses expenses are
incurred. Now it constantly happens that APP
propliitions are not drawn soon as CONT M
plated. Constructor may he del yed, payment
prolonged, or other contingencies arise which
cause por ION Of an appropriation TO remain
In the treasury longer Tn N expected Mt the
time 1t was made. 1t Is the aggregate of these
nnexpended appro prlations that make up this
remainder which the State loans OH call ut 8
per cent. 1t ia not surplus funds, but money
appropriate and not called for, which the
treasury must be prepared to pay over when
ever demand, based upon proper vodchers il
made So long as our finances are III sound
condition there will be III III balance of money
in the treasury without which the State would
be unabk to promptly meet It's obligations or
maintain its credit.
BONDED DEBT.
IL gives me treat satisfaction TO announce
that we have money in the treasury more than
sufficient 10 pay the On ire bonded Debt of the
Stat. The revenu" derived from the sinking
fund and made appi able TO the payment or
amount largely in excess or the sum required
TO cancel /, and all obi ,atious of q j. charac-
ter would have hCen paid aud taken up bei ore
this time II tn v could have been obtained even
at a cons derahe pr. mi m. But ms the bonds
have not matured { holders decline 10 acc, ut
payment although coupled With IA liberal offer
IN the way of lonns. Tho total amount of the
bonds thus o1tst hiding il 1906 1881 of
these S15, 1897 prs' past due aud draw no IN
terest aud 1891 ,O01 fan due in 1888 and
S299.000 IN 1890 We may justly indulge in a
little honest eXultoton that provision has tbus
been made for the pavment of every dol
lar of our bonded obligations. This derir-
able cousumm ton virtually removes n load of
debt which wls stesdy drjin upon our re-
sources, annually exac,ing large tribute in
the shape of interest. II * to be hoped that
this virtual discharge o. all these interest
bearing obligations may mark the lightning Of
period when there shall be no necessity for
the existence Of such thing az bond of the
State
IL Will Lc perceived that after providing for
the full payment of tho bonded debt there is
left OH amount Of S3lS sos u in the treasury
from the nvais az the sinking fund TIE con-
stitution requires thai the sur lus after the