Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-09
sEoM TEE GsvnSeR-
8essaee from Gov. sqsirs 10 the kxfs-
iative Assembly er the Territory.
Delivered &C the Sspstsi
Rsr. sih. Iass.

Dtffv<fea ~ tne sspftsf
Dec. sth. 1855.
Gsnflen<n Of ths L,qaiatiSs As,susbls
Yeo are sssersAIed AZ = time vhsn u
nation has donned ia sn.blsms Of b
resvsment BY reason % the death of 70
Viee-Prs sidsnt Of the United state
Our sfficss are drsped and the asa {
oor capitol IL At half mast IN honor {
the meDoy Of Thomas A Hfndriek
As upon the Atlantic shore, 30 here. np9
the great Iendioeked sea % tee Notts
west. the loyal American heart best
with patYioslc and reyereutisl s1rrOE :
the sudden demise 81 that Distinguish
leader and statesman vho held tue eel
ond place in the Ri;t Of the people.
SalntinR you A. she legislative bod
of the Territory, convened 10 pufs1anc
of las, 70 becomes my daiy % oOtnnu
nioate to you the condition and compai
alive Advancement Of the Territory, an
10 suggest such CONSIDERATIONS ~ ma
tend TO promote the public Telfare-
Lookise back over the tao yssfs Ehie
have elapsed since the meeting OF 10
preceding Assembly, ne note much 70
which 20 be thankful 10 the nd OF Ma
tons. 10 this short space OF time on
population has added forty psr cent .
IL Numbers; railway building has nearil
kspt pace With the increase In popnis
ton; our hnsacial condition has i'm
proyed: the acreage Of wheat ~ vastil
greater; and the yield psr acre OF TIA
crop the present year 10 unparalleled II
the world.
The uost valuable veins Of coal ye
worked have been reached by railway
and the output OF coal IL rapidly IN
creasing.
Important discoveries Of iron anC
other ores have recently been made
Stock raising. dsirying. fruit cnilsr'
and hop farming have all been success
folly conducted.
Numerous manufacturing enterprises
have been started; our great mills ar
ssuding oareoss Of lumber to distsn
foreign ports; and commerce. nov land
ths te. Of China apon our shores FOL
transportation by rail 10 the Atlantic
States.
POPULATION.
The census returns Of the Territory
are VIGOROUSLY incomplete and canno
be taken a. a true and sufficient exhibi
of the actual population. For example
A communication signed by all the OF
ncers OF Lincoln county claims that
correct census would increase tne 70
ported population Of that county full
Forty per cent. the lay IL manifestil
imperfect, because there Is no penalty
attached 20 non compliance Herewith
The csusus returns made by toe Tern
tory in 1888 snow the total population
st that time 10 have been 9,5B. Tn
returns of tho census taken by m
county assessors Ia the spring OF lsh-
show the census then to have beeI
l2s. 438. an increase during the tvo year
of 3o,y30.
The Territorial Auditor writes me q
follows: Had the census been prOperi
taken, ander An ado quste Law. the popu
l.liou for 1895 would nave certainly boel
shown 10 be above lI5 90"
In oorroboration of the Auditor
op,nion 10 Should bs stated that th
election tables Of 1884 snow a total vot
sof 1882. Of which 1865 are fsmsles
leaving total fsale vote of 33,4+. Is
the census Of 1880 (bofors the law en-
franohisibg womea was passed it WA
established that the ratio Of population
10 the voter vas 40. thls woai
give us q popul ,tion. ~ expressed by 10
vote OF 1884, of l57 80 ~ that tim'
And inAsmaoh "a y CONSTANT stream q
immigration has been pouring into th
Territory for one year since that vot
was taken. there Is y strong Frobabilit
that our present population actuall
amounts TO 1900 persons.
FINANCES.
The rate Of tsxstion for TsrritoriI
purposes 10 y mills ON the dollar, an
the total cash revenue derived from "a
ON property for the n months endin
June 30. 1856, Is $lsl. 450 80; and tot.
disbursements during the same petio
amount TO Sl37, l66 a.; leaving a n
excess of receipts over expenditures ,
&44,2S4 ~, TO which may be added n
cash In the treasury on Sept. 30, isS
leaving on June 30. 1885. cash bAianS
In the Treasury of $72 597 "a, exclusi'
of the sum of Ss503 81 collected und,
especial tax levied for building a ne
Territorial peniteatiary.
THIS exhibit of the financial cond
tion of the Territory Is certainly yer
gratifying. aud Indicates its assure
prosperity.
Ten years ago the Territory was $22
100 ia debt and paying heavy rate G
interest thereon. The revenues wei
then insufficient to meet current e,
penses and accommodating interest, an
the late Of taxation At that time W.
four mills ON the dollar. Since l81
there has been no Indebtedness. Lii
eral appropriations have been made fC
humane objects and the proper admir-
is.ration OF the laws.
Taking into consideration the amour
Of Territorial funds still In the hands Z
collectors. and the semi-annsai install
ment Of taxes reported from railros
companies aud not vet paid over. th
Territory may now be said to stand frs
from any financial obligation and wit
an availaels sarplos Of nearly tlG9.0C
at ite command.
The total assessed valuation Of prot
srty In the Territory for the year rs
was $DSS. asa, and for the year 1885
was t6o, asa. t37. The decrease is cause
by the snfinkaec in property valuation
and by the non listing and non. asses,
ment OF railroad property within Il
Territory; as. for example. In the tv
counties OF King and rhurston alou
there is decrease. heoanae OF the aboy
reasons, Of about 5000 90 In proper,
vaiaatioas
The ress m that railroad property va
not assessed 10 brcsuss Of tbe srrttafi.
Law, passed 10 isSs. providing that raj
road companies shou a be taxed on the
Rsoea earnings.
The Territorial Auditor estimates tina
we're the total property in the iestitor,
including railroads. lissed st its tru
cash value. IL would at q iow estimaI
am ,unt ~ fli5.oon.oOo.
Our financial affairs are 90 clear an
simple that you ell not have difficult
In deciding npon &ts Of taxation Z.
the years 1856 aud 1851.
IL 10 believed thai With the ustur,
and inevitable growth Of the ferrito,
IN wealth. the amount of Assessed Walt
alton of property {, xciadine railroad.
during thsee years will. at q los sst
mate, equal u NOT exceed t60. 900 o.
Therefore. II voe soatinas Toe press
rate Of ~ mills, Won vail have a Gro,
revenue Of fisoooa
BY the present lac the railroads cav
tax OF per sent n9an their gross carr
tngs. " shsss grass earnings amour
30 tSsa0oo per amman, as estisp. ate
by the Aaditof, the total revenue fro,
this scafce vili reach t;s ool, enc TAR
OF which voald iaurc ~ the rrrf,,or
az large, thns mAkias its total gro.
revenue $iIa,ooo per AMMAN for tae ne /,
txo years
Certain allowances aud abatement
muss be deducted from this sun on a.