The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-01-06
GOVERNOR NELSON.
FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE TO TIE
MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.

EentlerSen of the Senate and House of
Representatives:
In obedience to law and couformable to
custom, I submit to you this message
touching the condition of our state and
its public affairs.
The financial affairs Of our state gov
ernment are in q sound and prosperous
condition. With a population of l,40G,-
600 and an assessed valuation Of 500, O00,-
600, there is an outstanding indebtedness
of only 81, 900 subject to an annual IN
terest charge of but S77,390, and ON the
last day of November 1892, there was
balance in the state treasury to the cred1t
OF the different fu DDS of Sl,6SS, 6.o4.
Such a showing as this clearly indicates
that the government has been conducted
prudently and on careful business primer
Piles.
State Institui ions.
The correctional and charitable lnstltu-
tions of the state are fulfilling their mis-
sion and purpose to an extent that keeps
us abreast of the times and up to the de
mands of modern civilization
1t is highly gratifying to observe. thai,
notwithstanding our rapid growth, no IN
crease has taken place in our prison popu
laUlOn during Uue ldSU buIeo yedi9' 40 q
matter of fact there was smaller num-
Der of state convictS on the 3lst day OF
October, 1892, than on the 3lst day of DC
tober, 1889. This fact indicates the pros
porous, industrious, and law abiding
character of our population, and demon
strstes that the problem of American
civilization is here finding its best solu
ton.
st. Cloud ReformatOry.
The reformatory at St. Cloud is success
fully accomplishing the benign purpose
for which it was intended, but its success
fitness is likely to be emba rrassed and
handicapped by existing recent legisla
ton. Const int employment is absolutely
necessary for the physical and moral we'll
being and the permanent reformation of
the convicts. When the reformatory was
located upon vast granite quarry. it was
hoped and expected that the problem of
keeping the convicts employed was
solved, and that ample work for many
years to come would be found in thequar-
ries. But under the provisions of chapter
l12 of the general laws of lS9l, only SO per
cent of the convictS can be employed in
quarryina and preparing granite for sale.
The balance of the cOuVictS, II engaged
in granite work ut all, can only be en-
pIoyed in quarrying and cutting stone for
public buildings of the state, and for
walls and improvements on the grounds
of the reformatory With this law in
force, it is evident that the state, N order
to provide employment for two-thirds of
the convicts, must either utilize the gran
lite for public buildings, or inaugurate
some new Industrial enterprise within the
limits of the reformatory. Under these
conditions, inasmuch as additional build
ings are urgently needed at the institu
ton, it would seem to be the part of wis
dom, at as early day as practicable, to
make use of the granite and the labor of
the convicts, as far as possible, in the con
struction OF such buildings.
Manufacture of Irvine.
The anufacture of Irvine has been
successfully established in the state
prison, and meets with much favor
among our agricultural population, This
enterprise should be greatly enlarged and
extended, not only for the reason that it
affords q permanent field for convict
labor, as little in conflict with other labor
in the state as can well be obtained, but
more especially for the reason that our
state prison Irvine, if furnished to the
consumer at near it's actual cost, will
always to some extent afford our farmers
protection against unjust com binations.
and abnormal prices on the part of the
Irvine manufacturers.
Insane Asylums.
1t is encouraging to note, that, though
for time insanity seemed to increase at
an undue pace, yet that within the last
two years the increase has not been as
great as was anticipated, nor out of pro-
portion to the increase of our
population. The growth of our state,
which in the future will be less rapid and
more from within, tha1 in the past, will
no doubt tend to further decrease the pro.
portion of the insane. This promising
outlook will obviate the necessity for any
unusual haste in constructing additional
buildings, and will also save us from any
material increase in appropriate for
the current e. penseS o. the hospitals for
the insane. An appropriation of $3S, 500
is urgently needed to finish and equip
the southwest wing of the third hospital
at Fergus Fails. This wing, when com
pleted, will furnish accommodations for
two hundred additional patients, and
will thus meet our immediate want for
room for some time to come Large
appropriations are asked. for build
1nSS at the hospitals at Rochester anu
Fergus Falls, and at the school for feeble
minded. When you come to consider
these requests in detail, you will no doubt
take such action, as the necessity for
further accommodation calls for, and a.
the burdens of taxation Will warrant
The Soldiers Home.
The soldiers home a Minnehaia Falls
is successfully performing it's great mis-
sion of affordiug a cheerful and pleasant
~At.raat far the paedy and homeless vet