The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-12-30

sentation is no longer prop0rtioaed to popula-
ton, and it will be among your piainest duties
to readiust the representation to conform to the
constitution. l do not doubt your perfect viii
lingness to discharge that constitutional obif-
CATION. hut you may properly be reminded that
your assumed unwillingness TO meet the diff
cuties and inconvenience OF rapport ion
nent was strongly urged upon me as reason
for calling together your predecessors for the
purpose. IT similar circums tancas should exist
II S95. as they probably will, hope your pres
ent action will confirm the confidence OF all in
that day, that the Minnesota legislature will
perform its duty, unnffuenced by personal con-
sideration This duty being performed it will
be seen that, so far as the reasons urged for a
session in 1886 are concerned. biennial sessions
sufficiently answer AL purposes.
UNNECESSARY OFFICES.
Frequent examination is necessary to prevent
the retention of offices which have ceased to be
necessary or useful / judge the office CT state
land agent to be now such an one. 1t seems to
me, also that the preparation and distribution
of authoritative documents, books or circulars,
regarding the advantages of Minnesota, ;herto
done by board of Immigration and a secretary,
can he more properly and economically
placed i'll the charge Of the secretary OF state
Referring to the requirements that the state
shall make an enumeration of its hasitants
again in l 800, and to the fact that the United
States will now pay oae-half the expense of
census taken at that time il it contain the same
matter taken in the same manner as the federal
census, recommend to your consideration the
suspension of the annual collection and pubiica-
ton of agricultural statistics, with the view to
nish reliable means for comparison, in all re-
spects. with that OF the United States in $50.
Our published statistics becoming less and
less trustworthy. doubt II they are now worth
their cost
DRAINAGE OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY.
public meeting held at Crooks:on on he 9Th
of last month, i'll the interest OF the drainage
of the Red river valley, requested me by resolu
ton IL call YOUR attention to the urgent need
of careful and judicious legislation upon the
subject of drainage: also upon the justice and
r,aT fharot ion frTfY,
the state to open up the INSTRUCTED river chan
nes of tsiS [thatl Section and OF the wisdom OF
the state lending her credit to forward the
scheme" While l williagly comply with this
request to the extent OF commenting the sub
ject TO your consideration, am prevented from
making the full Recommendations desired by the
inhibitions OF the constitution. Section 10 of
Article 8 of the constitution provides that the
credit of the state shall never be given or leaned
in aid of any individual. association or incor-
poratlon," and section OF the same article pro-
hibits the stale from contracting any debts Tor
works OF internal Improvement" or becoming a
party in carry on such works except
in where grants OF land or
other property shall have been made to
the state specially dedicated by the grant to
specific purposes" etc. While it seems to be
clear, therefore, that the constitution stands in
the way of such state aid to this project as It's
promoters seek. there are considerations that
strongly commend it to public favor and to
such Endorsement by the state may be con-
stitutonally given. Careful surveys snd esti-
mates show that moderate expenditure made
in opening and deepening the natural waite
courses of the Red river vallev will not only re-
claim and make valuable large areas which are
now swamps, but will give system of natural
drainage to lands of a large portion OF the valley
which are now liable in wet seasons to be rend-
cred almost useless for cultivation. Included in
this area are large tracts OF land which have
been conveyed to the state by the general gov
eminent swamp lands, given to the state
for the very purpose as specIhed IN
the congressional grant itself. of providing the
means for their drainage. The state. however.
inst of mo anGS n hal
has granted them as a gTatEity to corporations
to encourage the building of railroads in sections
Of the state remote from where they are located
Ii these lands were now available for the pur-
pose for which they were granted by congress.
the means would be at hand for the prosecution
of the contemplated work. The state has oil,
verted them to other purposes and has recslved
benefit from them through the aid they have
given in the development OF other portions OF
the state. 1t is this which gives an appearance
River presents in this matter. The approprla-
tion of a portion of the internal improvement
fund which is bennsly distrbn.ed to aid IN
properly be devoted 10 drainage purposes as
herein contemplated.
WESTERN WATERWAYS.
The report of the state commission fer the
improvement of the Mississippi river" contains
much matter of practical interest to the people
of the state. The i'm provement of our Western
waterways is subject that specially concerns
the material interests of Minnesota. and should
hands as may promise to prove means to that
end The head of navigation of the Mississippi
river and practically OF the great lake system,
we'll as of the Red River OF the North, are
within our borders. A large proportion of our
products finds its way to market through the
two first named of these waterways, and the cost
OF railroad transportation upon the balance is
greatly lessened by the competition of these
water routes in the carrying trade. The same
is the case with our imports OF neavy merchan-
disc. coal, etc. The low price prevailing
for our agricultural products make the
question of the cost of their Transports
ton to market an all-important one at the
solution of the problem with which our pro-
ducers are now wrestling, whether they can sue
cessfully meet the competition of cheap labor
elsewhere. in the growing OF food products for
the worlds consumption. The moderate expen-
diture made by the government III recent years
for the aid OF navigation upon our rivers and the
lakes has resulted in more substantial benefit to
the internal commerce OF the country than any
like expenditure elsewhere upon its inland
waterways. Such results warrant q demand
upon the government for carrying out OF the
comprehensive system under which the work
has thus far been prosecuted.
The utility of the reservoir system at the
sources of the Mississippi river has been prac-
tcally demonstrated during the past season OF
exceptional dryness. From June until.close
OF navigation these reservoirs were constantly
drawn upon. and for three months or the time
to an extent that gave a foot higher water at st.
Paul than would otherwise have been the case,
as estimated by the United States engineer in
the largest steamers throughout the season OF
navigation. The work for the improvement Of
the channel of the upper Mississippi Is enbar-
raised on account IT the meaEer appropriations
for the purpose, but most substantial benefit
has accrued from the expenditure already made.
The wonderful and perhaps unprecedented
growth OF the commerce of Duluth, and rapid
development of the mineral resources of our
territory bordering the lake, present in COM
handing form the Importance and necessity OF
the i'm provement CT our harbors on Lake Supe-
rior and the enhancement of the Sault Ste. Marie
canal. A full presentation of che facts ilLstrat-
ing the influence and effect Of these waterways
In the development of our resources would
prove revelation even to many of our oW n peo-
pie. Accurate statistics Of the commerce OF our
rivers and lake ports. collected and published in
form for general distribution, would prove use
full in demonstrating the utility of the Improve
ments desired. I would therefore recommend
that the river commission be authorized to incur
the expense necessary tor the collection of such
statistics, the same to be reported annually to
the governor. proper expression of this leg
islature. addressed to congress respecting needed
appropriations for our waterways. would doubt
less aid representatives in that body in their
efforts to secure the recognition demanded.
In response to a manifest demand Of the pub
lie interest and the popclar will, the legislature
of 1885 inaugurated a new policy OF state con-
troll or railway and warehouse management. The
laws enacted for the supervision and regulation
two wears, and the results accomplished there
under are submitted to you by the board Of
commissioners, who were specially charged with
their execution.
The work Of the commission has been labori-
ous difficult, in many OF its details extremity
delicate, but in all respects most efficient; show
ing more substantial results than could reaeon-
ably have been expected from the admtn1stra-
tion of laws necessarily imperfect inasmuch as
they were largely experimental. An early noted
defcct in the law for tho regulation of railroad
companies" was the limited power vested in the
commission. This often proved an embarrass-
ment but the saGacity of the board largely OBJ
waited the effect. They could advise" re
quest" and in exceptional cases promulRate
thei, Judgment in an order" to the rail-
hut MIA