Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-01-16
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Synopsis OF the First Annual Address
OF Gov. Pierce to the DakOtaians.

Synopsis of the First Annual Address
Of Gov. Pierce to the Dakotaians.
Gov. Pierces message is rather lengthy,
touching upon the subjects usually
treated in such papers. The governor
begins by review of the school system
of the territory and recommends u
change in the existing laws concerning
the issue of school warrants. The debt
of the territory was stated to be s392, 500,
beng the bonded debt for tho erection
of public institutions. The amount of
cash in the public treasury is $2lS.0CO.
The expenses for the past two years
were 100000. The message called at
tention to the late county seat troubles,
and recommended legislation to guard
against similar difficulties in the future
and the severest punishment where the
public property il interlered with by
mobs. The cost of the capitol building
was stated to be Sl45,OUO, paid for by
Bismarck and donated as free gift to the
territory. Bismarck, he was as.
sured, expected no return on the
money, and he should approve
OF no measure which should refund from
the territorial treasury. The buildings
were all paid for from Bismarck's sub.
scriptions except $4,000, and he recon-.
mended that Authority be granted to
sell lots at price below the appraised
value to meet the obligation. Seven
hundred and fifty lots, twenty acres on
which the capital is built, and 100 acres
south of the city remain the property of
the territory, aside from lots sold and
money applied to the building. He took
strong grounds in favor of division and
admission, and expressed confidence
that congress could not refuse Justice to
half million people. The governor re-
views the school system of the territory,
recommends change in the existing
laws concerning the issue of school war
rants. He compares the cost per week
of each convict in Sioux Falls peniten.
tiary with that in the Vermont state
prison, the former being $2.25 per day,
and the latter $l.57, los being the mum.
Der OF convicts in each. and. is
of the opinion that sufficient pro
vision has been made for the accom-.
mediation of conyicts for the next two
years. The amount asked for the main.
tenaRce and Improvement of the hospital
for the insane-S63,5 ,500-can, in his
opinion, be materially reduced, and that
the furnishing of the Yankton hospital,
for which an appropriation of $4,000 is
asked, can be deferred two years. He
recommends the appointments of ter.
ritorial librarian, examination of private
banks, the establishment of school oi
mines and revision of incorporation and
insurance laws. The appointment of ar
efficient grain commission with ampl.
powers is urged upon the attention ol
the legislature. In the matter OF the
organization ofnew counties his opinion,
differ materially from those of hi
predecessor. He recommends that in
stead OF fifty votes being requisite to tn
application for the organization OF
county 100 should be required. The mes
sage closes with the following earnest a.!
peal for temperate and Judicial legisla
ton:
need scarcely remind the legis!stur
that We are at the critical period whe
harmonious, digniied and well.cor
sidered legislation will do much TO ai
lvanes tho Interests Of Shs territory. 70