Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-04
THEGOVERN0R'S MESSAGE
THE GENERAL CONDITION OF
THE STATE.

1he Public FInan anees-COmptrolIer
Generals RepOrs-PubIIc Schools
Railroad COmmIssIOn - AgrfcuI.
tural Commission - The PenIten.
! Ifnry-state Univers1ty-The Asy-
Iums.
In transmitting this my final message TO the |
legislative branch of the State Government; in |
| compliance with the requirements of law and |
custom, perform the cuty with the deepest of |
grautude 10 the Giver OF all good, and with |
elated feelings in view Of the state of our be- |
| loved Commonwealth. We have never had |
oeItsr reason Tor congratplation at our present
CONDITION, or for hopefulness Of the future of |
| the state, than we claim at this time In our |
recent history our retrospect has often been of |
tne seddest, while the prospect had but scanty |
The strain to which our powers of endurance |
and reeuperation were subjected, was such as |
/ TO dlspirit TIE most hopeful and resolute and |
our dellverance from the ordeal that threaten. |
/ ed TO overwhelm and destroy us. seems to have |
oeen achieved by wisdom above that Of man.
,,ied mllnout tI arrogance or vaiuglory let us re-
| 1oice that under the signal blessing of Provi |
denee we are pressing on to take our place |
! ABREAST OF the most advanced States In Christ |
endon, ana with an intense love of the arts of |
| peace and generous emulation of older and |
more favored commonwealths we are estab- |
nshlng and diffdsing among our citizens the |
most potent and beneficial agencies and |
| methods for the development of the highest |
| civiiz alton 1850
We may justly claim for cur State that in |
| every department OF our industry our people |
| are prospering and advancing In our aericul. |
| ture-in our mining operations-in the intro |
ductlon and multiplication of mechanical es-
| taonsnments-in the wonderful extension of |
| our lumber iaterests-in the marked inaproye- /
/ ment In the healthfulness of our State we find /
| lation. e'''U
And superadded to this cheering summary |
| OF material advantage and promise we NAV /
@ Lencltate ourselves upon the general peaceful |
/ ord nfnrn sF-.a
| throughout the State. With a very few hut /
unhappily marked exceptions. The public |
ITsanGullllty has been undsturbed by outbreaks |
| OF violence, and there seems to be pervading /
spirit or conciliatiOn which has successfully re.
sisted all unfriendlv Influences
Inc reports which are herewith transmitted |
TO the General Assembly are of unusal interest |
ana fullness, and would, if sent to your honor |
aole BODY without comment, give complete |
review OF the public interest.
L therefore do not deem Mt to m alra
| any extended observations on what is so fully
| and satisfactorily presented by each officer of
tne government; In the details presented of the /
operations OF their special departments and |
Will In as summary a manner as possible, refer
TO the subjects discussed in each report
THE STATE FINANCES.
The State Treasurer reports the total amount
| IN the treasury from October T. 1881 to SEN
| tember 30. 1882. the fiscal year Just closed to
be ~ 4O3 916 81, and the disburs ments Sl713-
| oGI r. Iea Leaving balat ce of S690.472 49, of
which $2I5OO0 consists of bonds paid by the
purchaser OF the Macon and Brunswick Rail-
road. OF these securieties $4,000 are State
bonds and S16O,OO0 United States registered
Oonds. Inc cancellation of the State bonds |
will extnguish that much of the public debt
The disposition of the United States registered |
bonds is matter for the action of your body.
Inc state Ce0t is 49, 624 1875, with an annual in
| terest OF S645,440. The details of the receipts
and expenditures are given in the Treasurer's
report with satisfactory fulness.
THE COMPTROLLER GENERALS REPORT.
The comprehensive report of the Comptroller
a cyro ifufn
general condition OF affairs in the State The
property of Georgia has increased from last
year $l6,255 $50, the whole amount OF taxable I
properly being returned at $2S7, ,249 4O3 The
Comptroller states that for the next two years
the same low rate of taxation of three mills
on the dollar, that we now have, will suffice
for expenses The increase last year was
1887 oil, the whole growth Of wealth in two
years running to S35, 1884, 76l, giving additional
revenue, at the present tax OF $lO5 ,s9S The
polls returned we're 236,447 The tax levied
was So g, ,l07 70, and tax collected S74l. .829 so
leaving the remarkably small sum of S64.
2S4 10 to represent both the cost of collection
and the lnsOlvent tax. Among the iuterasfing
statistics disclosed are that the increase in
manufactures during the year was SI,061 795;
property. S4.S3l, 1856, and a like ratio Of i'm
provement in many other particulars, demon.
strating the gratifying development of the
State.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
There has been steady growth in our nub-
llc scnooS, as Is demonstrated by the report of
the State School Commissioner herewith sub
mitted. The school attendance for the veor
1851 was not given In the report Of that wear
as the statistics had not been obtained In
l6sO the attendance was 236 ,533-whites l5N 1874:
colored, 06399; increase ever 1879 9O6 Tn
1881 the attendance was 244.197; whites, 1853 1856;
colored, 91O41; increase over 1880. z 7664 The
attendance of 1882 cannot be given, as the
school work Is in progress now. The entire
sum- including poll tax appropriated
IN 1881 for the common schools was
SStS,6H ~. Under local laws there was
making the entire amount for the sun,
port of these schools in the State from ali
sources, S49S,533 rs. The State appropriation
paid per capita on school population s4 cents;
on enrolment, 81 49; on average attendance
SO 43. On the basis of both State and local
school fund.viz $49s,53s 28-the per capita
estimate is 81 10 on school population: 70 OF on
enrolment, and So 80 on average attendance
In the year 1882, the State fund. estimating
the poll tax the same as the last year. will be
SA1, ia So. If the amount raised under local
laws be the same as last year-Yiz IA s55 e6
the whole sum raised in the state would be
S575.g7O "a. or over $77, 600 increase. This would
give per capita on school population 81 10: ON |
enrolment, 81 25 and on average attendance
So rs.
The school law requires that arrangements
shall be ma5e in every county for keeping
schools in operation at least three months Of
the year as condition precedent to drawing I
the pro rata of the State school fund These |
arrangements were made in every county in
the State by having parents to enter into a
contract to supplement- the amount paid by
DeOni0 |
commonwealth have enjoyed the benefits of
the common schools, and every child has had
the privilege OF entering and remaining for the
term.
The State School Commissioner recommends
an increase of appropriation to run the schools
Tor SIX months and also to conduct teachers |
Institutes, where Instructors can be trained in
teaching. An account is given of the institute |
work already accom- olished this year. The |
further recommendation is made for the estab-
lshment or one permanent normal school for |
training white teachers, end it is suggested |
to convert the college at MilledgevilIe into
such school, and use the public buildings at
that place in connection Herewith.
The educational machinery OF a. great State !
ike georgia Is among its most vital and COM |
plicated interests. We instinctively look to the
school mouse and the temple for the most reIia- |
BILE helps to an advanced and prosperous state
of society. 1t is Of the first conse quence to our
people that our resources for the encourage
ment Of learning and the promotion Of an en- |
lightened public opinion shall not be misappro-
priated or wasted With the utmost satisfac- |
lon bear testimony 10 the zeal, unwearied
industry and enlightened methods of our State |
School Commissioner. The official career of |
Dr. Orr, while 10 has achieved marked benefits |
for Georgia, has won for himself a distin-
gulshed name and one that reflects honor on |
the State
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
would invite the careful consideration of
the Legislature to the accompanying report of |
the Railroad Commissioners. The establish
ment OF this department of the State Govern |
ment was preceded by very thorough and |
able discussion, and it would seem that II was ,
demanded by matured public opinion. bear
willing testimony to the extensive research. |
great ability and impsrtiality Of the Board of
Commissioners. From the character of the |
work which this Commission was organized to |
execute, It was natural to expect no small de- |
gree Of opposition and friction in the orders
that it might issue and the judgments it might
pronounce. The degree Of this opposition, |
however, we may conclude from the
demonstrations made, &has not been as
violent or extended as we might have
reasonably expected. The Georgia Railroad
and Banking Company has made a case in
volviDg the jurisdiction and powers of the
Supreme Court and which will settle the con-
stitutionaity of the law creating the Commits
sion, The board is represented by gentlemen |
OF wide and unexceptionable reputation for
integrity and ability, and it would seem to be |
the part OF wisdom and justice to give the |
Commission fair test, ana to adjust our esti-
mate of its value to the State by the results of
its administration. Before dismissing this sub I
ject, feel it to be my duty to ask the General !
Assembly to take into consideration the re-
commendation OF the Commission in regard to ,
the salary OF the Secretary Of the Commission. !
Major Bacon has acquitted himself most
creditably in the discharge of his duties as
Secretary, both by his ability and industry, aud
/ would add my recommendation that he I
should receive a salary more Commensurate [
to the amount and cha acter of his services
THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
The State Commissioner of Agriculture has !
made report which is herewith transmitted !
to your body, embracing the operations Of two :
years OF his department from October ], 1870,