Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-12-11
GOV LEES LAST ANNUAL MESSAGE

The last annual message of Governo
Lee was submitted to the General Assem-
bly, last Wednesday, the 4sh instant, and
as follows
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA., !
GovERNoR's OFFICE,
December 4, 1889.
To the General Assembly:
To the halls of Legislation 1 welcome tn
representatives of the people.
len years ago the constitutional amend
ment providing for the biennial sessions O
the Legislature was adopted. Tho follow
ing year no session of that body was held
The interests of the State did not require
In my Judgment, the Legislature to meet las
winter. With these two exceptions annua
sessions have been held. The accunulatioI
OF law-giving labor will, am sure, be dis
posed Of at this regular session.
The State looks with confidence to the
members of the General Assembly, wht
have been ripeued by legislative expe
rience in the past, to lead the way in care
fully guarding her reserved constitutional
rights, in enforcing whenever necessary hel
legal powers. and in protecting at all times
the liberties of her citizens. Her reliance i:
placed upon the fidelity of all her represep
tatives with resolute faith that in every
thing they will be guided by an enlighten.
ed and steady view of the public good.
Laws laid in lines of wisdom by one
branch of the government and put in force
with firm, humane, and just exercise oi
authority by the two others, must soften
the rage of the political tempest and con.
tribute to the glory of the Commonwealth.
Progress and peace hand in hand will
then walk within her borders, and
and promise arm in arm will be
the propitious scenes painted upon the pic
ture oil the future. SIT is history that
teaches US to hope" as yor take your seats
to perferm the great work assigned to you
by the law.
1t is claimed with confidence that during
the past four years the star representing
statehood has grown brighter.
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
Public education has made great progress.
The foundation of the States seminaries of
learning is broader and deeper, the elee-
mosynary institutions are accomplishing the
ends for which they were erected, while the
wheels of government are everywhere run
ming smoothly. But if towns have been
erected on vacant fields and cities have re-
placed villages, while the depths Of the
have given up their richness to
our railroads, whose tonnage has constant.
ly increased, and this mineral wealth has
found its say to our rapidly growing term
iual ports and while it is true the course
of the iron horse has been laid in many new
directions, the breath of the fiery furnace
has mingled with the atmosphere of fresh
localities, and the hum of manifold indus
tries is heard in new places, it must be re.
that there are other localities
where fortunes hand ha, not been extend.
edsso generously, and that there are millions
Of acres Of unoccupied land upon which
the weight of taxation is pressing, but which
yield no revenue, aud which would not
bring in the open market their assessed val
le.
Owing to the unsettled condition of ag-
ricultural labor and the close competition
our farmers must now meet with western
grain and cattle, the farming interests in
'ome localities have been depressed. 1t will
not DO, to make in the immediate future
estimates upon increased values; for, while
here may be in one place a healthy in
,rease, in another there will be decrease
If such values.
THE UNFUNDED DEBT.
The first subject to which 1 direct your
attention, as it is the first in importance, is
he present condition of the State debt.
This subject should receive your careful
and calm deliberation Its So
ution brings peace, prosperity and plenty
o Virginia; it's agitation, misconception,
and costly litigation to ali
concerned. It is the one weight on the
sheel of State which retards it's successful
evolution. 1t is the rock against which
reakers may dash in the future, but whose
emoval will leave calm and untroublsd
ca, into whose depth the anchor of good
ortune can securely and safely resi-. If all
f the outstanding obligations of the State
Eere funded under act approved February
4th, 1889, with the ''Wickham amend
nent" attached, except the bonds held by
of learning, the interest upon
7hich is now paid by special legislation, at
be rates prescribed by said act, namely
,onsols st 58, 10.40's at go, peelers and the
Id unfuuded debt at 60. the principal of
be debt would be $21, 1886, S12- -74-ths an
ual interest upon which would be 1856, 074.-
9. The consol coupons outstanding from
uly, 1885, to Jan, 1890, which are debarred
rom being funded by this "Wickham
and which are not included
n the foregoing estimate, amount to $3,-
40,019 10-40 coupons for same period,
smely, July, 1885, to January, 1890.
mount to 1858. S21 56-making a total
ace value of $4, 6O3, S4050. The pumbsr
# coupons received into the treasury on
Judgments, for taxes, during the fiscal year
nding September 30Ih, 1889, amount TO
1914, $50. During the previous year the
was $258, ,93S.
This Indebtedness of 81, 935, S12 "a can be
educed by the following items, viz Bonds
leld by the Commissioners of the Sinking
fund, purchased under the provisions of
he law, and which can be cancelled, So,
80, 643 go. The stock held by the State in
be Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto-
nae railroad can be sold, and with the pro-
eeds new per cts can be purchased to the
xtent of 1868, 1926 AZ. The Sinking Fund
las in cash, including the dividend recent
Y declared by the Richmond, Fredericks.
,urg and Potomac railroad to be paid with
n few days, 1926, OLA 2S, which will pur-
,hase of new threes, at 6S, $1S5, ,315 II. The
took held by the State in the Chesapeake
md Ohio railroad, it is thought, can be sold
or sum which will purchase Of new 3's
s349. .S4S So The United States holds old
bonds, which with interest there
IN, funded into new per cent bends repre-
ent $54S. 594 So. The State has claim
lgainst the United States which will offset
his Indebtedness, and therefore it need not
,e provided for. 1t is estimated that old
ponds and interest thereon have been lost
md will not be presented, representing in
lew 3's the sum of s831, ,e44T6. The total
aggregate of the above amounts to $685.
)56, ,173 Deducting this from $21. 1886, ,812.-
a there will be left $16,7 ,779, 639.74, which
would carry an annual interest at per cent
# S503, 3S9 90
These figures would therefore represent
he principle and interest of the act of 1882
all classes of debt were funded under
hat act with its amendments into these 8
YER cent bonds, except the bonds held by
Institutions of learning should the State
dispose of it's assets.
In my message of December Z, 1877 l
admitted detailed estimate of the annual
expenses of the State. Since then these ex-
,enses have increased by the adoption of
ne pension bill; increased appropriations to
be asylums, made necessary by the lamen-
able increase of lunacy; to the Agrlcultu-
o1 Rurpau opd IN schools aa wall nc tba