Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-01-20
The Governors Message.

Cipdliy W tut Dtdtc lIudiiOOo, uCaiiuS
with the subject in a strong and con-
vincing manner, and bringing testi-
mony to prove all questioned propo-
Sitions.
The facts stated in the message
will, no doubt have a tendency to
set at rest a subject but little under
stood, though largely discussed in
every campaign in our State, viz;
the origin, use and size of the State
debt. In 1870 the report of the Au-
ditor (Republican), shows that the
State had used $50, 900 of the school
money simply by taking and using
it. When the Democrats came into
power this deficit was at once repaid.
This SUM while being used by the
Republican administrations was not
accounted for as the constitution re-
quired, nor was any interest paid on
it to the school fund. The extraor-
binary appropriations necessarily
made to complete the asylum at
Weston, the capitol, the penitentiary
and other public institutions have
been greater, with the regular
charges on the Treasury; than the
revenues from State taxes. To meet
these charges money has been bor-
rowed from the school fund, for
which the State has executed its ob-
legations and upon which the inter
est has been regularly paid. The
amount of the debt at this time
amounts to about $4,000. With
the completion of the capitol and
other public works, now about done,
this debt will probably be extin-
guished during the next year or
two.
The message shows also that the
valuation of personal property in the
State is So 600, 900 less in 1881 than
1871. And while we have made such
wonderful progress In the past ten
years our property values do not APP
pear to have increased in proportion
which leads the Governor to re-
mark:
"These figures would seem to in
dicate that the large immigration to
this State in the last ten years, has
added nothing to our personal prop
arty
This cannot be true; we have all
around us the evidence Of growth
and prosperity. The last census tes-
titles to the large increase of agricul-
tural productions. In the mining
districts there is also a large increase
of production. Railroads have been
built to mining districts, affording
means OF transportation to market
not only of our minerals but also of
which heretofore has been
valueless. The subjects of taxation
and their values today are greater
than in any former year. If our rev.
enue officers wO uld perform their du-
ties, no such exhibit would be made
as disclosed in the foregoing tables"
Notwithstanding the assessments
have evidently been imperfect the
taxes would have been enough to
have meet all treasury charges had
not the hospital tax of 5 cents been
taken off. This was done in 1874,
just after the panic, when distress
was generally prevalent. Had that
tax been allowed to remain the rev
enues would have been sufficient to
have met all charges and prevented
any shortage.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
The buildings are now completed
and will accommodate all who are
entitled to admission. There are 635
inmates SO were discharged cured
dusing the year; go died. The aver
age cost per capita per week was
$2.lS4. The appropriation asked for
the next two years, including every
thing is about $97 900
DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND.
The average number in attendance
during during the year 1882 was los;
there are so applications for admis-
sion on file, and 81 others in the
State who have not applied. The
present buildings have been over
crowded during the year, and $4,000
is asked to build an additional build
ing. S2S,O 900 per year is asked for
the next two years.
PENITENTIARY.
There were l85 persons confined in
This institution on October /, 1882.
October /, 1881, there were POI in
or. nc tbic number 70 xUara n 10