Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-01-19
THE MESSAGE,
Governor Martin Delivers His
Last Message.
A Handsome Sh0wing-the Mar
Vicious Growth OfKansaA
Numerous Recommendations
Based on Experience.

Based on Experience.
The Message.
To the Senate and House of Representatives.:
Section five. of article one, of the Constitu-
ton, prescribes that the Governor shall. at the
commencement of every session Of the Legisl-
ture, communicate in writing such information
% he may possess in reference to the condition
of the state, and recommend such measuree as
he may deem expedient."
This year. for the first time In the history OF
the State, the term of the retiring Governor
does not expire until six days after the assem-
bling Of the Legislature, and thus it is made my
duty, under the provision OF the Constitution
above recited, to transmit to you this communi-
cation.
have no disposition, however, to trespass on
any provocative of my honored successor. An
experienced legislator and a citizen familiar
with all the concerns of the government and
pSbple Of Kan ,as, he is abundsntly qualified to
and eSecntiye policies. But as the Constitution
imposes upon me the duty OF addressing you. It
seems appropriate that, in discharging it, /
ehould present such information concerning the
condition of the State and its departments of
government. and submit such suggestions touch
ing the practical working OF our institutions and
pear to justify.
The last two years have not Deen, IN all pOr-
tions of Kansas, seasons of plenty and prosper
ity. The harvests in many counties of
The western half Of the State have been below
the average of former seasons. But, notwith-
prosperous. The growth of the State has been
constant, and the development Of her resources
and industries remarkable This fact is best
in 1884 and 1855 Both were Presidential years.
The total vote of 1881 was 265,S79 while that OF
1883 was $50, 2l5-an increase Of A, 1886. A con-
trast of the vote of 1880 with the United States
census of that year, shows that the ratio of pop
ulation to voters was nearly five to one: This
ratio increases with the age of State. The vote
that the population of Kansas is fully 165l, 0G0-
an increase since 1880 of over 654.OO0, and since
1885, of 1872 600.
ties have been fully, and one partly organized,
making a total of one hundred and six. These
newly organized counties embrace an aggregate
area of 1882 square miles, or very nearly one
fourth of the total area of the State At the date
of their organization their population aggregated
81, 147 and they poled at the November election,
an aggregate vote of IL, 428 votes, indicating q
population, at that time. of g, i40 Their terri;
torial area exceeds that of Massachusetts and
Vermont combined. and nearly equals that OF the
three States of Maryland, New Jersey and Con-
necticut. Four of these twenty-four counties
were organized in 1885 VIZ: Comanche, Febru-
airy, 9th; Clark, May 18th; Thomas, October sth;
1 kiowa March sd; Cheyenne April Ist; Lane.
sans Sd sHss 3D. Su9s eth ssS 9g5e sSsR
18th; and Wichita, December Gath. Five were
sE il July Garfield Sa G1as
July 10th; and Logan, September 18th. Three
have been organized during the past year, viz:
Kearney March 9Th; ;, Grant June sth; and Gree,
1883 was declared, by a recent decision of the
Supreme Cour., to have been disorganized in
on % the hs
on the oath of November last appointed to make
an enumeration of the inhabitants, preliminary
to the reSrsanl1aaon or In Inc county ;Sa, n,v th
cities, Topeka, Atchison and Leavenworth, were
organized as cities of the first class. There are
s
the same period twenty-seven towns have been
organized as cities of the second class. viz: Cher
III Dorado, Seneca, Weir. Great Bend. Dodge
City, Larned, Hutchinson; south Topeka, King
man, Garden City, Council Grove, Caldwell, Con-
Nicke1son, Holton, Marysville, Galena, and
Marion, in the order named.
The increase in the area of land in cultivation.
acres; and of land taxable, Is U3a 81 acres. while
same eI period, increased sils.227 ,si.
pace with its material DEVELOPMENT There are
1881 more school houses and 1859 more teachers
employed than in 1884 while the value of our
Ss,6osan-an increase of 81 So, COZ. The school
population in 1854 was Al $50; in 1885, $50 O10-
an increase of 12O.7o0 The receipts for
Ss,O1S77s, and the expenditures, S2sS2,-
6S; while for 1855 the receipts were 81, 1872 403,
and the expenditures S45os, 64aman increase OF
lures. On the first OF January: 1885, the Perma,,
nent School Fund aggregated s, 0sS $500, and
on the first instant ii il aggregated sasSs
The most extraordinary growth, however, is
shown in the railway system OF the state. On the
inst OF January 1850 the railways OF 5o hansas as.
side track. or total OF SIS miles On the first
Of january, 1850. they had completed and in
ssSe s1soR Or total Of ass miles, and an in
crease in four years, Of 3, lS5 mileA The as
sessed value of railroad property in March, 1884
was $sa 4Ss,S@ while ON the hrst OF March lSSs.
Beard it aggregated So ,664-an increase Of
ga s7s, Isl in four years. or very nearly double
On the first m Jsncary, 1885, e;xty-nine coun-
ties were traversed by one or more railways; on |
the first of January last one hundred counties |
miieaee. Kansas Is nov the second state Of the |
nine and half milss Of Territory, and i've and .
These facts clearly insicats that The .tate even
during two year. OF partial crop failures. has |
continued TO grow. Indeed. Kansas has never. |
tract s 81. isSos. snte.pss md capital
70 find Tor these. employment and advantage.
n. h;.nn;.l ,sno1ts Of tho Stat. Audi
tor and Treasurer. herewith submitted. |
seSs a1in Ss s. biseni.i period .adsa june
.nS : e s. s OF
The balance So the etste Treasury. June .. |
lssa seg!eeated $!5A ssaM The sessipes. for he |
lows From te1ss, Ssia g "a; iron. principal on
echool lands, us, 6o6s from peincipei O. bonds
pad. 3lls lea 81 from intsrest On ecAool lands
n1lS IN a. from al Other sources. Slo6 5000