Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-01-24
e0vERSoR's MESSAGE
Ths First Communication Of Gov. John A.
MARTIN 20 the Kansas Legislature.

To he S5Tld-e and House Of Representatives.
Before the Legislature again assemblies
in regular session. Kansas viii have COM
pleted her first quarter Of a century as
State In the Union. Admitted on the
18th Of January, 1851, 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-tWO,
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, 468 acres Of its vast area
Of productive soil were under cultivation,
and the leading crop products Of the
State aggregated only 194, 173 bushels Of
wheat and 6,15O,727 bushels Of corn.
During the year just closed, 9,45S,73
acres were under cultivation, and the
leading cereal products of the State ag-
gregated 48, 050,43l bushels of wheat and
100, SO, 686 bushels of corn. In January,
1861, the assessed value of the property
of the State aggregated only 81, ia, 1873;
now it aggregates 1921 ,O2O,39l. Then
only 2l7 school districts were organized,
80 teachers employed, and the school
property Of the State was valued at only
$l0,432, now, there are nearly 1000 or
ganized school districts and sos school
houses; S,342 teachers are employed in
our public schools, and the school prop
erty Of the State aggregates In value So,
1852. 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 S28, 455, 9O6.86; 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 2O,344
horses, ,496 mules, SO ,463 cattle, 1885,
294 swine. and II, 500 sheep,-a total Of
27l, 166 head. Now, there are are in
Kansas 46l, l36 horses, O., $50 mules, i,
858 S25 cattle, 1858, IA swine, and ,206,-
297 sheep-a total of 5.54489 head.
The total vote of the State, Ia 1851, was
only IA Al; in 1864 it had increased to
q, S35; IN 1868 to 1864; in 1872, to 100,-
TIA; in 1876, to IA ITO; in 1880, to 201,-
236; and at the last election it reached a
total of 265,684.
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 f1f NJ Xiv
and 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 a large premium.
The total bonded debt of the State, on
the 1st of January, 1885, was 1886, 800.
OF this amount, the permanent school
fund held $544, 800; the University fund,
$4,000, and the sinking fund $6I,0OO-a
total of 1914, 500. Only 1921, 600 of our
bonds remain in the hands Of indiVid-
uals or corporations. The cash in the
Treasury belonging to the sinking fund
is SIS, 203.58.
During the two years covered by the
fourth biennial report of the State Treas
urer, viz, from July LIST, 1882, to June
30th, 1884, the receipts Of the Treasury
Including a balance of 1914, 323.76, on
hand July 1st, 1922 aggregated 81, $685.
460.5O. The disbursements during the
the same period were So 1886, 948.43, leav-
ing a balance in the Treasury, June 3Oth,
1884, of 1854, 5l2.07.
From July LIST to December 3lst, 1884,
the receipts of the State treasury were as
follows: From tax 1928, 1883; from
principal of school lands Sis, 8l1.29;
from permanent school fund bonds paid,
$50, 552. So; from interest on sales of school
land, $67 1856, 80; from interest on perma-
nent fund bonds, SOS, 268.6S; from other
sources, $l64, 1904 Making an aggre-
gate of $742, 301, "a, which, added to the
balance on hand June 80, 1884, makes a
total of 81 ,496, 813.61. The disbursements
during the same six months aggregated
81 lis, 1895, leaving in the treasury at
the close Of business on the 3lst OF De-
cember last, the sum of $3O8, 343.65,
divided among the several funds as fol-
lows: General revenue, $50. 74l. SO; Capt.
toll extension fund, $2,679.45; sinking
fund, SIS, 200. 90; interest fund, SAT ,051.O8;
permanent school fund, ST., 3S476; an
nual school fund, $85.O9S.5O; University
permanent fund, $9,652O6; University
interest fund, $4.474.O9; Normal School
permanent fund $47011; Normal School
interest fund, 81, 1854; Agricultural Col
lege endowment fund, 81, 258.48; Agri-
cultural College interest fund, 81, S83.OS;
military F1ud so 224 AZ. Railroad Com
missioner fund, $3,O5S.64; railroad fund,
S, 1OI. SO; insurance fund, SIS, 1852; library
fund, s., 1880; veterinary fund, $772.S4.
Amounting in the aggregate, as stated,
90 $308, 343.65 unexpended balances and
uninVested funds.