Morris tribune., 1881-01-13
BIENNIAL MESSAGE
OF JOHN s. PILLSBURY,
Delivered before the Minnesota Legislature
January 6, 1881.

Delivered before the Minnesota Legislature
January 6, 1881.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of Represen-
gladly welcome you to the first Of the biennial
sessions which have been prescribed by our
amended constitution. With single exception,
there has not before been interval exceeding one
year between legislative sessions since the organi-
zation Of our State government. The longer period
now afforded for testing the wisdom OF legislative
enactments and the better knowledge OF their char
acter necessarily derived from longer experience Of
their practical operation will, 1t is hoped insure
more intelligent apprehension both of their merits
and defects and induce at once more thorough cor
receives and more cautious changes in all measures
looking to the public welfare. For this
reason, and in view of the broader field
and larger interests which q decade Of remarkable
progress has contided to your charge, the legsla-
ton you now propose will claim your most
thoughtful attention. The two years which have
elapsed since your last asSembiage have witnessed
continued and accelerated revival Of industrial
prosperity, undated progress in the construction
Of railroads and in their facilities for transporta-
ton, q constant accession of population and a
steady absorption and cultivation of the pub
lie domain. To these causes Of encouragement
may be added the satisfactory condition of our
various public institutions and the general health,
comfort and contentment prevalent among the peo-
pie at large. 1t is perhaps scarcely less source of
satisfaction all things considered that the lessons
of experience regarding our mistaken system of
agriculture continue, seemingly, to be emphasized
by the kindly forces of nature. For three
years in succession, while all other crops
crops have been produced in lavish abundance, the
single cereal to which two-thirds Of cultivated
area is devoted has alone suffered such diminished
yields in the greater part of the State as scarcely to
have covered the cost of production.
The result of persister ce in this course mnst be
obvious. But am glad to believe that the costly
and reiterated warning is at last beginning to be
needed. The crying need of our agriculture is that
Its products should be diversified and that its varied
resources should not be restricted, but enlarged.
There is no reason why industry, wisely directed,
should not be even more surely rewarded in hus
bandry than in other pursuits and it is especially
desirable that that primary culture of the soil.
which is necessarily the foundation of public
wealth, should not be shorn of reasonable
profit to the cultivators by instruction Of effort
This error corrected, there is little to impede our
healthful progress.
Indeed, the signs of the times are au-
spicous Indications multiply that the coun-
try is entering upon new of prosperity. The
financial policy of the government is wisely assured.
New credit is Quickenng the pulsatons of industry
IN all branches, while sound currency will contrib
ute TO their healthfu regularity These the hope
tul prospects, nevertheless which apt to lure
energetic people into the contraction of debt and the
Indulgence of those eXtravagant expenditures which
ripen sooner or later into financial disaster. Indeed,
there are unhappiy evidences already of renewal
OF these lavish habits of personal indulgence which
have so often ended in general ruin. have before
taken occasion to deprecate this tendency, and
deem it of the highest importance that san
guine people should receive new warning against
repeating the mistakes of the past. Since our ex-
istence as State have experienced most of the
alterations of fortune to which individu is or com
munit!es subject; have felt the entities Of
war and the blessings of peace:w have realized the
pinchings Of poverty and the exuberance of plenty
and between these have fluctuated the
deceptive promises of hope and the
depressing dread of adversely. As the out
come of all We to-day a condition Of
affairs n my judgment sounder in basis and richer
In promise than has ever before been presented &c
the people of our State nation. Approaching
our blessings if we shall now learn from the past
how to use wisely our present advantages, we may
reasonably count upon better results for the future
Thus admonished and encouraged, with profound
gratitude for all the favoring and Christening dis
pensations of Almighty God, let us address our.
selves to the discharge of the duties before us, witt
an earnest purpose to meet the larger demands ant
graver responsibilities now involved in the consd
Grafton of public affairs
The reports of the several departments and State
institutions which will be laid before you will &C
quaint you in detail with the condition of the vari
Gus public matters requiring your attention.
STATE FINANCES.
comprehensive exhibit of the financial situa
ton is afforded by the report of the state auditor
from which is obtained the following general state
meut:
RECEIPTS.
1879. 1880
Cash balances November 80. s4s,4s9 20 s122,O2S 4;