Thomas County cat., 1891-01-08

pal Indebtedness of the state in detail
county, city, township, village, board O.
total on the first day OF July, 1880, being s37
1l9. .977. SO. This is divided among the sew
eral municipalities as follows: County
ship bonds and warrants, S, ,5so, ,iso. .22; city
| bonds and warrants, s., 800, 764. 26; school
district bonds and orders, S5 .907 ,41I.9s. The
S52S s5, leaving ret total municipal in
debtedness on that date Of S56, 49l $50, .3s.
ON the first of Ju'y, 1854, the municipal
Indebtedness of the state amounted to SIS
e5l 1886. on the first of July, 1856, it was
| sl7, 7.9, 299 ~. on the first of July, 1SsS, II
| had increased to SCI TO- $3.50. on the frs,
OF July, 1896, 1t had reached the sum of S31
as above stated.
Notwithstanding the warnings contained
| IN every executive message for the past six
| years, this form of Indebtedness continues
to grow at rate and with a persistency
Well worthy OF serious legislative consider
| alton.
1t has been stated, and is doubtless ap-
| proximately correct, that 50 per cent. Of all
| our county, township, and city bonds has
| been issued IN aid of railroad construction;
and the legislature OF 1857, by an act more
| wise than timely, perhaps, reduced the
| limit OF such aid from 81 600 to 81, 600 mile.
1t would seem that the time had arrived
| when further restrictions should be laid in
/
| various municipalities toincur Indebtedness
| In any manner very materially reduced and
| better guarded.
| Local Observation-Disclosures indebtendess
| suggests local taxation, burden yolun-
| tartly contracted by the people of the var
| ious municipalities IN bonds voted to aid
railroads and other public improvements.
The amount OF taxation levied for all 'pur-
poses on the assessed valuation for 1SS9 was
Sl3 Az, 95, as FOL ows: state, 81, ,535,
- 50; county, 81, liS, 20. city, s2.o5i, :
! 1850; township, 81. iJ1 $40. Il; and school,
/ 81, 25s .SS4. "a or an average OF s3.2 upon
each 500 of assessed value.
! Thus 1t appears how largely our tax
/ burdens are local and self-!mposed. And
tt is gratifying 10 Eote how small
/ are the demands for state purposes,
| compared with the tribute annually
| levied for the support OF county, town.
| ship, and city government, especially when
| IL Is remembered that the state is annually
eXpending large sums in the erection and
| extension of public institutions. not alone
/ for present use but for future generations.
our system OF local government Is entirely
| too complicated and expensive; and, while
| imposing wise and wholesome limitations
| upon the power OF municipalities to Incur
| Indebtedness. as recommended, it Will be
well to inquire whether the ordinary eX-
/ pense of conducting their affairs may not
be reduced by improved methods and the
enforcement OF that rigid economy which
should ever characterize the administration
OF government, whether local or general.
EDUCATIONAL.
Your attention IS urgently invited to the
very elaborate report of the state Superin-
tendent of public Instruction exhibiting in
detail the condition of our common schools,
and discussing IN an able and suggestive
manner our whole educational plan. Nothing
short OF careful reading of this report can
give an adequate conception OF the con-
dltion or extent Of our grand system of pop
ular education.
The receipts for the school year ending
June 80, 1890 including balance from pre-
Vious year, from district taxes, county
school funds, sale of school bonds, and all
other sources, were 50 ,696 ,659.9j The dis
bursementS for the same time for teachers
wages, incidentals, library and school ap-
aratuS, sites buildings and furniture, and
all other purposes, were 81 ,912 ,966. So; leay
Ing balance In hand OF district treaSurers,
June 30, 1880. OF 1928 ,sg3.lO
This vast expenditure annually made in
behalf OF popular education. and derived
very largely from direct taxation. demands
the greatest possible results, and your at
tention is directed TO the numerous sugges-
tions of the state superintendent of public
instruction for the betterment of our COM
mon school system.
HIGHER EDUCATION.
The higher educational institutions are
not quite SO close 10 the popular heart as the
common schools, but they are, after all, a
part OF our general plan of education, and
the obligations of the state respecting them
are expressly defined and well understood.
Hundreds of our young men andwomen are
availing themselves OF the opportunity for
higher education which they offer even to
the humbleSt who may aspire, and their
continued growth and prosperity should be
the desire OF every citizen.
The Universlty-The history of the uni
versity during the past two years has been
somewhat eventful, but on the whole its
present condition is extremely. gratifying.
Early in this administration, Chancellor j.
A. Lippincott, after years of honorable and
efficient service, voluntarily rendered his
resignation, to take effect the first of Sep
tember. 1889. Pending the selection of a
successor, W. G. Spangler, Esq, was made
vice chancellor, and discharged the duties
y 1T saea and GsS er Wa mac6 anxons ao
inquiry and casting about for a worthy
successor to Dr. Lippincott, Prof. f. Ii.
Snow reluctantly consent Il to accept the
position. and was accordingly selected as
chancellor by the unanimous voice OF the
board, his term commencing July /. 1890.
Professor Snow has been connected with
the faculty since 1866, and conSpicuouSly
identified with the upbuilding OF the insti-
tuition. He has, by long years OF unselfish
labor and ripe scholarship. contributed
much to the present success OF the univer-
sity; and by his thoughtful and valuable
efforts In behalf of the practical interests of
the state, he has become We'll and favorably
known to the people. He is n Kansas man.
and the board acted wisely in putting him
at the head OF the university OF kansas
Assisted by the present faculty, which,
In experience and ability, compares favor
ably with the instructors of the best colleges
of the east, with liberal policy on the part
of the state, there is every reason to believe
tnaC CnancellOT snow VIII soon make the
university of Kansas what 1t was designed
to be.
The university belongs to the people. and
the report discloses the encouraging fact
that its students come from every walk in
life, over forty per cent OF them being the
SONS and daughters of farmers and artisans.
The attendance is steadily gaining IN num-
bers year by year. with increa ing facilities
and growing reputation for efficient work.
The last legislature made an important de-
parture from the former method of grant
ing specific appropriations for the support
OF the university, by an act which practt-
cally appropriates IN bulk the proceeds of a
certain levy. his. in n manner, leaves the
disbursement entirely with the board, free
f.om the usual legislative supervision; and
too much care and prudence cannot be ex-
ercised in the premises. Enthusiasm for
the university mu not he pei mitted, as
often happens, to result in extravaganza.
1t should be tempered with due regard
for the condition of the taxpayers of the
state, and restraiued by rigid observance
OF business principles
Agricultural College. - During the past
two years this institution has continued to
grow and prosper in every material respect.
thas been for the past ten years, as now,
IN charge OF President Farchiid, and the
remarkable growth maze during that time
is b. tn creditable to him and gratifying to
the state,
The attendance IS constantly increasing,
for the last year the enrolment reaching
5l5 students from siXty-two counties in the
state. and sixteen other states, territories,
and foreign countries. As the president
states in his report, Farmers children
hold the fort 3iy strong; mechanics of var
ious kinds a e represented by "a; business