Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-01-22
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
The First Communication Of Gov. John A.
Martin to tho Kansas Legislature.

To the Sena' e and House of Representatives:
Before the Legislature again assemblies
in regular session, Kansas will have COM
pleted her first quarter of century as .
State in the Union. Admitted on the
18th of January, 1861, just on the out
break of the most vital and tremendous
conflict the world has ever known, the
history of Kansas affords a signal and
illustrious example of the growth and
development of an American common
wealth under the inspiration of free Re-
publican institutions. The thirty-one
counties organized at the date of its adj
mission, have increased to eighty-twC,
and the population of the State, then but
little in excess of one hundred thousand,
is now fully q million and a quarter.
Then, only 406, 46S acres of its vast area
of productive soil were under cultivation,
and the leading crop products of the
State aggregated only 1874, l73 bushels of
wheat and 6,150,727 bushels of corn.
During the year just closed, 9,45S, 737
acres were under cultivation, and the
leading cereal products Of the State az
gregated 4S ,050,43l bushels of wheat and
l9O,S70,6S6 bushels of corn. In January,
1861, the assessed value of the property
of the State aggregated only $N,774 1873;
now il aggregates $237 ,020,391. Then
only 2l7 school districts were organized,
3l9 teachers employed, and the school
property of the State was valued at only
$lO,432; now, there are nearly 1000 or
ganized school districts and 6,6O5 school
houses; 8,342 teachers are employed in
our public schools, and the school prop
erty of the State aggregates in value S.
71a,5S2. Then, there was not mile of
railway within the boundaries of Kan.
sas; now, there are 4, 1850 miles of rail-
way in operation, the assessed value of
these roads is SIS, 455, 9O6.S So; and sixty
nine of the eighty-two organized, and
four of the thirteen unorganized coun-
ties of the State, are traversed by one or
more lines Of railway. In 1861 the live
stock of the State comprised only ,3344
horses, ! 1896 mules, 93,463 cattle, 1885,.
294 swine. and 1860 sheep,-a total of
27l,166 head. Now, there are are in
Kansas 46l, 1876 horses, 64,SS9 mules, l.
85S,S25 cattle, 1858, l44 swine, and ,2O6,-
297 sheep-a total of 5,544,39l head.
The total vote of the State, ia 1851, was
only 14,47l; in 1864 it had increased to
81 1856; in 1868 to 1864; in 1872, to lOO,-
ia; in 1876, to Ia, ITO; in 1880, to DOL
236; and at the last election it reached a
total of 265, 1884.
The marvellous growth and prosperity
these figures reveal are not only gratifying
to the pride of every citizen of the State,
and honorable to the men and women
whose industry, energy and intelligence
have wrought this miracle of develop
ment, but they should admonish you,
gentlemen of the Legislature, of the
larger and graver duties and responsible
ties devolved upon you by the greatness
of the State you represent. To you is
committed the sole power of making
laws for the preservation of public order,
the protection of individual rights, the
promotion of the general welfare, and
the punishment of outbreaking crime;
aud in your hands rests all authority to
levy, or to control the levying of taxes
for the support of the State Government,
the education of our youth, the proper
care of the unfortunate, and the building
up of those public institutions of learn
ing, of charity, and of reform or punish
ment, which are essential to the we'll
being of civilized society.
STATE FINANCES.
The reports of the Auditor and Treas
urer, showing the financial condition of
the State, are full and satisfactory. The
credit of Kansas has always ranked high,
and the outstanding bonds of the State
command large premium.
The total bonded debt of the State, on
the LIST of January, 1856, was $685., 500.
OF this amount, the permanent school
fund held $544, 500; the University fund,
$4,000, and the sinking fund $6l,OO0-a
total Of $6l4,5OO Only 1921, 900 of our
bonds remain in the hands of individ.
uals or corporations. The cash in the
Treasury belonging to the sinking fund
is $l3, 2O35S.
During the two years covered by the
fourth biennial report of the State Treas
urer, viz, from July LIST, 1882, to June
3Oth, 1884, the receipts of the Treasury
Gncluding a balance of $644,323.76 on
hand July LIST, 1882 aggregated $4,5S8,-
46O.5O. The disbursements drring the
the same period were $685., 948 43, leav-
ing balance in the Treasury, June 3Oth,
1884, of $754,5l2O7.
From July LIST to December 31st, 1884,
the receipts of the State treasury were as
follows: From tax 1928, 1888; from
principal of school lands $l1S,S11.29;
from permanent school fund bonds paid,
$33 $50. 35; from interest on sales of school
land, $67, 1885,, 80; from interest on perma-
nent fund bonds, SIS, 26S.68; from other
sources, $l64,94944. Making an aggre-
gate of $742, 301. "a, which, added to the
balance on hand June 80. 1884, makes q
total of s., 496, S13.6l. The disbursements
during the same six months aggregated
81 lis, 469 SO, leaving in the treasury at
the close of business on the 3lst of De-
cember last, the sum of $3O8, 1885,
divided among the several funds rs fol-
lows General revenue, $90.74193; Capt.
tol extension fund, $2,679.45; sinking
fund, $13, 2O3. SO; interest fund, SAT ,O51 .08;
permanent school fund, $17, 3S4.76; an
nual school fund, $S5.O9S5O; University
permanent fund, $9,652O6; University
interest fund, $4,474.O9; Normal School
permanent fund $470.l1: Normal School
interest fund, $1,723.14; Agricultural Col
lege endowment fund, $4,258.48; Agri-
cultural College interest fund, 81 ,S3303;
military fund, IS. 22465 Railroad Com
missioner fund, $3,O53.64; railroad fund,
$S,101. 80; insurance fund, S., 42642 library
fund, $2,195O0; veterinary fund, $772.34.
Amounting in the aggregate, as stated,
to sos, s4S.65 unexpended balances and
uninveeted funds.
The bonds and securities in the treas
ury at the close of business, December
31st, 1884, were as follows: Permanent
~ i