The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-03

Is made necessary by the largely increased eX-
penses that have been thrown upon the general
revenue Of the sta g. above referred to. The
ralroad commission, pensions, criminal prose-
cutlons and expens of the state troops are
burdens imposed in the last two years, and
amount to Sos O00 which is more than one
mil on the taxable property"
ruby concur with the comptroller as to the
necessity of increasing the state assessment one
mill and recommend legislation TO that effect,
ana that authority be given by law TO negotiate
temporary loan sufficient to meet the deficit
for the current expenses of the present year.
The value OF taxable property in the state,
az shown by the assessment rolls, is about $50,
OOJ,OOO IL is safe 10 say that the actual cash
value OF the taxable property of Florida is
500. 900 900. II needs no argument to show tho
great benefit which would accrue to the state if
It's taxable property were assessed. Mt least, an
approximation of its cash value, say $500, 0O0.
OOO and the assessment for state purposes re-
dCced to 2 mills on the dollar, which would
yield larger revenue than 4 mills on the pres
ent assessment, and give us the credit before
the world, to which We are entitled by the
actual value Of our property, and our low rate
Of taxation
Almost any method Of reform which may be
suggested presents difficulties. After giving
the matter some thought, however, | would
recommend for your consideration the advisa-
bility Of providing Y law for a state board OF
equalzars, whose duty il shall be to visit the
various counties and revise assessments with
view OF securing a just and proper valuation or
properly and urform anu equal rate of tax
alton.
EDUCATION.
While we realize with pride and qualification
the pid advan :es whicl our STATE IS making
IN material prospe 'itv. mott ing shows greater
progress than the cause OF education which has
nos only kept pace with. but mas far surpassed,
Droportiolately, our increase in wealth and
population.
The following comparative statements will
foTc.bly illustrate the progress made within the
last ten years The total numb, Of puohc
schools in the state in 1873 was 992. The total
number in 1883 wa 2,24J, an Increase Of 1851,
being III per cent. Increase. The total attend
ance Of pupils in 1873 was 3G,9Gl; total attend
ance in 1888 was So 323, an increase of IS 3j2. be-
lag LIB PEI cent increase. the value OF scnool
property in 1873 was SIG a34 80; value of school
properly in 1888, S405,373 "a. an increase Of
$3.50, l39 IA, being ! i5 per cent. increase.
STATE SUMMARIES.
The two seminaries. the one east and the
other west OF the Slwannee river looted
spectively at Gainesville and Tallahassee, are in
a prosperous and gratifying condition. In adj
dltion to the pubic schools the superlntendent
of public instruction reports 137 colleges and
private schools in the state which are well pat
ronized.
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
The section of the constitution last above re-
ferred to provides that the commissioner Of
agriculture shall perform such duties in rela-
ito to agriculture as may be prescribed by
law" ! recommend therefore, that you pro-
vi lie such duties for the commissioner in rela-
ton to agriculture, as may best promote the
interest Of that important branch of the
industries of our state. In this connection
l would recommend for your cOnsd-
Grafton u prOpricty of providing by statute
for the in -pectIOn OF all fertilizers sold in the
state, to prevent the imposition upon our far
mers, fruit growers and horticuturiSts of
spurious or inferior article; that moderate fee
he charged for sucn inspection, TO be paid by
the s'ller to the state, the fund arising there
from TO pay the expenses of inspection, and the
surplus to be apol ed to the immigration fund
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT LANDS.
Acres.
There have been patented to the
state of the swamp and over
- flowed lands Observation-Disclosures. 1904 1875
Of which there have been disposed
of up to Jan. l, 1889 ............ Is, 500 800 90
Leaving on hand Jan. l, 1888. 2,1O4, s93.76
In addition to the lands for which the state
has re eivel patents, there have been selected
oyerhowed lands. under the grant to Flor da, Of
Sept. %. 1850 and tde same certified by the sur
veyOr- general. | have applied to the secretary
of the interior for patents to the state for this
land
For a detailed statement of the internal i'm
provo ment lands l refer you to the report of
the commissioner of lands and immigration for
the two years ending Dec. 81, 1885, herewith
submitted
RAILROADS AND RAILROAD COMMISSION.
A synopsis of the history and progress Of
railroad construction in Florida is given in the
second annual report of the railroad commits
SlOntrS. Inc aStO0lS llDB increase IN rallrOaQ
mileage within tls last years, | have here
totore aveTted to. The mileage of construction
from year to year. and tabulated statement
from 1876 TO 1888, inclusive, given in said re-
port of the commissioners; besides much other
interesting data, and statistics included in and
accompanying the same, from which quote as
follows:
The population of the state in 1e76 was about
240.000 and the valuation of the property of the
people, as shown by the tax books, was about
$31 ,0OO,OOJ In 1888 the population was about
$4,000, and property had been raised to about
S87 ,OO0,0 900 in value.
And now that the railroads attracted by the
natural advantages offered by our state, and
encouraged by the liberal policy she inaugu-
rated over thirty years ago have come and in
their eager rivalry for traffic, traverse almost
every inhabited nook and corner of the state,
it behooves the state to see to it that by no act
of hers shall she be justly chargeable with an
abandonment of that policy o. liberal encour-
agement which has been o 'dained by her con-
situations and made effectual by her legislative
elactmentS"
THE MILITARY.
Immediately following this approval of the
acr providing for the organization of body of
militia, known as the Florida state troops,
chapt.r 1907, Laws of Florida, organizati ions
were perfected and applications made by com
panies from various portions Of the state for
admission into this corps; and the limit fixed by
law of ten infantry companies and two batteries
of artillery soon reached. Several volun-
teer companies seeking admission were de-
clined, as the number provided for had already
been accepted
The infantry companies were organized into
three battalions, as follows: The first, consist
ing of four companies, to which a battery of
artillery was attached; the second, consisting
OF four companies, to which battery of artil-
lery was attached, and the third, consisting of
two companies.
In addition to the state troops there are
twenty one companies of organized volunteer
militia in the state, some OF whom are vel
drilled AMI in fairly good state OF discipline
The law, however, under which they are or
gained, is deficient in providing means for the
proper enforcement of that discipline which is
necessary to insure an efficient soidiery.
STATE PRISON.
The convicts sentenced to penal servitude to
the state Penltontiary' are employed By G. X.
Dutton at his turpentlne works in Suwannee
county, under contract made with him Nov. g.
1885; whereby the state is relieved of all expense
for maintenance and keeping of the convicts,
The prisoners receive proper care and treat
and it is probable that the present arrangement
is as good as can be made under the contract
system the success Of this system, however.
depends very largely upon the character of the
individual with whom the state contracts
for the care and custody of her pris-
oners. The contract with Mr.. Dutton
expires Dec. 81, 1899; and there
made at that time As suggested by the ad-
jutaut general in his report: UNLESS a new
contract can be made to embrace all state pris-
oners, the state VIII, in January, 1890, have on
hand a large number of prisoners for which IL
can furnish no profitable or even self-Sustain-
ing employment, and no safe place for their
confinement. Some action, therefore. shoud
lishment OF permanent state prison" This
suggestion is i'm harmony with section . OF