Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-01-17
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Governor Martins Last Message
ss3@ to the Legislature.
Khe Financial Conditsea end Remarkable
Growth of the Ststo--Rec0mmendati
as to Needed Legfslatton-The
Temperance Laws.

--AxoWth OF the Seot0.-SocOn m0nda&iOno
as to Needed Legfslation-The
Temperance Laws.
TOPEKA, Kan, Jan. aO-The following 4
Governor Martins message. sent to tho Lesia
1Ature yesterday:
20 tie Senate ond House Of Represensosfves:
Section 5, OF article l.. OF the Constitution,
prescribes that the Governor ''shaI, at tn,
commencement of every session OF the Legisla
tUre, communicate in writing such information
Is pc may possess in reference to the condition
OF the State and recommend such measures a
he may deem expedieut."
This year, for the first time In the history O
She State, the term OF the retiring Governor
does not expire until six days after the assem-
Oting OF the Legislature, and thus IL is made
my duty, Under the provision OF the Consttu
zion above recited. to transmit to you this com
Inunication. - -4ft . sit -,
have no disposition. however to trespass
on any prerogativc OF my honored successor
An experienced legislator and citizen IA
11iliar with all the concerns Of the Government
ind people OF Kansas. he is abundantly quail
fzed to advise you concerning legislative re
qufrements and executive policies. But as the
Constitution imposes upon me the duty OF ad
dressing you, it seems appropriate that in dis
charging it. should present such information
concerning the condition of the Stale and its
departments of governm emit. and submit such
suggestions touching the practical working OF
experience may appear to justify.
DEVELOPMENT.
The last two years have not BEEN in all parts
OF Kansas, seasons Of plenty and prosperity.
The harvests in many counties in the western
half of the State have boon below the average
of former seasons But, Notwithstanding this,
our general condition is fairly prosperous. The
growth of the State has been constant, and the
development OF her resources and industries re-
markable. This fact is best shown, perhaps, by
,,~sc> 49, III
Both were Presidential years. The total vote of
1854 26o.379, while that Of 1888 was $50, 215.
an increase of 81, S36. A contrast of the vote of
1850 with the United States census of that year
shows that the ratio of population to voters was
nearly five to one. This ratio increases with
the age of State. The vote of 1888, therefore,
clearly establishes the fact that the population
OF Kansas is fully 1861 600, an increase since
1850 Of over $500 and since 1885 of $4,000.
During the past four years twenty-three
counties have been fully, and one partly organ
lied, making total Of 1O6. These newly organ
lied counties embrace an aggregate area OF 49,,
SSz square miles, or nearly onefourth OF the
total area OF the State. At the date of their
organization their population aggregated 66, 147.
and they polled at the November election an
aggregate vote Of 194,8 votes, Indicating q
population at that time OF N,140 Their terri
1Oral area exceeds that of Massachusetts, and
Vermont combined, and nearly EQUALS that Of
The three States of Maryland, New Jersey and
Connecticut. Four of these counties wero or
Eanized in 1885, viz: Comanche, February ~
Clark, May 5; Thomas. October 8; and Meade
November d. Eleven were organized in 1885,
viz: Hamilton January 20; Kiowa. March %;
Cheyenne, April Lane. June 5: Seward, June
II: Scott, June 20; Stevens, August 3: Cove
September 2: Sherman. September 20; Morton
November Is. and Wichita December 81. Five
were organized in 1887, viz: Stanton, June
m, Haskell, July 4; Garfield July !6; Gray
July 60 and Logan September H. Three have
been organized during the past year, VIZ: Kear-
IGn~ o1nl 49,. ~
. Wallace County. organized In 1883 was de-
clared, by recent decision of che Supreme
Court. to have been disorganized in 1879, and on
petition OF the legal voters and householders Of
she county, census taker was. on the 24th Of
November last, appointed to make an enumer-
0tion OF the inhabitants. preliminary to the re-
= organization of the county.
AT the beginning of the year 1885, only three
'@cities, Topeka. Atchison and Leavenworth. were
organized as cities of the first class. There are
cs0w six, Kansas City, Kan. Wichita and Fort
Scott, having since been SO organized During
the same period twenty-seven towns have been
organized as cities Of the second GLASS, viz (:
Cherryvale, Abilene, Eureka, Minneapolis,
Anthony, Ell Dorado, Seneca, Weir, Great Bend
Dodge City. Larned, Hutchinson, South Topeka
Kngman, Garden City, Council Grove, Cald-
well, Concordia, Cofeyville, Osborne, Horton,
u leville, NickersOn, Holtou, Marysville, Ga
Lena and Marion in the order named.
The increase in the area OF land in cultivation
during the past four years. aggregates 6,756. 1913
acres; and OF land taxable 1909 Sl5 acres
while the assessed value of property Shas dur
Ing the same period, increased b 62Y,9N.
The educational interests OF the State have
kept pace with its material development. There
are 1591 more school houses and 1869 more
teachers employed than in 1884. while the value
OF our school property has swelled from $5 us,
6SS to g. COS. 2O2-an increase of De, S9s co.. The
school population in 1884 was Al! $50; in 1888,
SO, 0i0-an increase of l2o76l. The receipts for
common school purposes in 1881 aggregated g.
y aYn Il faro ognso. &c
for 1888 the receipts were A73e, 4O3 and the ex
Penditures 81 703. 647-an increase Of ST. 71S 625 in
receipts and 81, $40 6S4 in expenditures. On the
list of january, 1885,, the permanent school FUND
aggregated 50. O6S. 9S5 OF, and on the list inst il
aggregated A,S53 54o.40-an increase of 81, 784,
1850.
The most extraordinary growth, however, i.
shown in the railway system of the State o.
the 1st of January, 1885, the railways of Kansa.
aggregated 4,O64 miles Of main and $50 miles O
side track. or total of ASS miles. On the Is
OF January. 1888, they had completed and il
operation $3.50 miles OF main and 500 miles O
side track or a total of 1888 miles, and an in
crease in four years. of 5.1B miles. The as
.scssed value OF railway property in March, 1881
wss S2S, AS, 9O9 while on the LIST of March, 1888
<when the assessments are made by the Stat
Board), it aggregated S5s, 81. 604-an increase o
81. s7S, so7 in four years, or very nearly doubl
she valuation of 1881.
FINANCIAL.
The biennial reports OF the State Auditor am
Treasurer. herewith submitted, show in detail
the receipts and expenditures during the b
sennial period ended June %, 1888 and presen,
also. general exhibit of the financial condition
OF the State.
The balance in the State Treasury June 80
1sSS aggregated 1924. SS306 The receipts 70
the six months ended December 81, 1888, wer
AS follows: From taxe.. $50 363. AZ; from prin
cipal on school lands, sl57 1896; from principa
ON bonds paid. s115.16S5s; from interest o.
school lands sold sl45, s1f.s1s from interest o.
school bonds, S115, 3S3 50: from all other sources
8i66560.09-making total Including 'balancs
IN treasury June 3DJ Of 81 SIS 6St.0l
The disbursements during the same perio<
aggregated 81 ,S01, S01.l& as follows: Genera
srevenue, $50. l41.14; STATE house. file. sSs. "a
State bonds redeemed 10000; interest o.
State bonds, S2S.075: militia fund e135.l6: vet
Urinary fund, q. 2506S; permanent school fund
32Ss ,02250; annual shool fund, ESQ., 81. SO; uni