St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-10-14
GOVERNORS MESSAGES.
Governor Pingree's Valedictory.--Gov-
ernor Ormsbee's inaugural.

ernor Ormsbee's inaugural.
The retiring governors message is a
document of twenty mine pamphlet
pages, including an appendix of eight
pages containing some of the details of
his administration. The message begins
with congratulatOry reference to the
peaceful and generally prosperous con-
j ditiOn of the state. The humane poll
CIV of the state in providing for the ed
ucatiOn of its deaf mutes, blind and
feeble minded, has not used the ap-
preparations made for it's benificiaries,
though every proper applicant has
been admitted to the benefits of the
law to the fullest reasonable limit.
Discussing the subject of education the
governor gives statistics of the aver
age daily attendance and says: 1t will
be noted that while probably twenty
per cent. of the children of school age
are not enrolled in the public schools,
but from sixty-three to sixty-tive per
cent. of those enrolled are constant at
tendants upon schools. In the town
meetings of 1885 and 1886, sixteen
towns only voted to adopt the town
system all others which voted on the
question voted against it; seventeen
town had previously adopted the same,
and the town of Norton organized with
it. SO that we have thirty -four towns
in the state, in which this system is in
operation. That something should be
accomplished at this session to i'm
prove our methods in the bestOwal of
moneys and in the more equable diff
fusion of education among our chill
dren through the schools seems almost
necessity.
The work of the board of agricul-
ture has been devoted mainly to the
holding of institutes throughout the
counties of the state in connection
with the various agricultural assOcia
tiOns, and in lecturing upon and dis
cussing with the practical farmers of
the state, all subjects of agricultural
interest. These meetings have grown
in interest from year to year.
Concerning. FORESTRY, the message
says that an act passed in 1882 to en-
courage the planting of shade trees
upon public squares and highways,
authorizing one per cent. of the grand
list of towns to be voted for premiums
to the owners of lands who should
plant their public margins with trees,
is the extent of direct legislation in the
history of our state upon this impOr-
| u
statute has been availed of by any
| town.
The systematic observance of Arbor
day in 1885 and 1856 was gratifying
beyond expectation and the establish
ment of another legal holiday in our
calendar recommended.
The law of the last session placing
the repairing of highways and bridges
| I Il 81 cnlnn
or street commissioners, or such officers
or agents as the towns respectively
may direct has proved most satisfac
tory law in its operation.
After speaking of the appointment
to the New Orleans exposition of John
B. Mead of Randolph commissioner,
and William p. Fairbanks of st. Johns
bury and Alvin B. Franklin of New
fame as associates of the executive
committee, the message suggests in
the interest of the public that the leg
islature direct the publication of the
commissioners report.
Referring to finances and the ben-
NAL reports of the auditor of accounts,
state treasurer and inspector of finance
the message says that more satisfac-
tory exhibit of a states financial stand
ing can hardly be desired.
The retiring governor finds the Of
flee of railroad commission a useless
one under existing laws. He COM
mends the national guard. Speaking
of the soldierly qualities of men and
soldiers he says: GAS an evidence of
the zeal of these young men in this
service of the state, it is well to
note that at the general muster six
companies had every man on duty,
and 97.45 per cent of the whole COM
mand were out.
The University of Vermont and state
agricultural college receives favorable
mention. The governor says: In con-
nectiOn with the agricultural colleges
of many states experiment stations
have been ordered by the legislative
authority. Some measures in this i'm
pOrtant auxiliary to scientific crop
raising may be invited at this session.
Speaking of the insane Gov. Pin
gree believes this class of our unfOrtu-
mates enjoy as complete and humane
care and supervision at the hands of
the state or the asylum as any that
can be found in similar institutions in
our neighbOri1g states. Practical sug
gestiOns are made concerning needed
improvements in some of the penal in
situations of the state.
The general plan of the Bennington
battle monument has been settled up
on by the association since the last
session, but the erection of the same
has not yet been contracted. The
amount of available funds for this OBJ
ject is now something over $02, 900.
The state military history and the
state library building both receive at
tention. The small pOx epidemic of
1885 and the measures adopted for
meeting the exigencies of the case fol-
low and in conclusion, the governor re-
fers in fitting terms to the death of
Gen. Grant, and speaks mOdestly of
his two years. occupancy of the chief
executive office.
THE GOVERNORS INAUGURAL.