The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-01-20
GOV. STANLEYS MESSAGE.
The States Condition of Affairs
Reviewed in Detail.
THE REVENUES AND TAXATION
The Public Institutlons-Prlson Reform,
State Schools and Colleges-Raiiroads
and, ,1e Extra Session Discussed
Econt my In Expenditures Urged.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:
Kansas enters upon the twenty eighth year
OF its existence under most favorable auspices.
The recent achieveme OF the nation are a
cause for general rejoicing, and the people OF
this state by voice and act have given generous
support both to the administration and It's
policy. f
No state ever realized in its experience the
sentiment contained in its motto more fully
than our own. Weare reaching the highlands
OF prosperity, but we hava surely come up out
OF the lowlands OF adversely. The period OF
speculation from 1883 to 1888 caused the inflow
OF large sums OF foreign capital, which were
largely swallowed up or forced to leave the
state by the reaction and depression which fol-
lowed and as consequence we were for the
first time In our history compelled to rely upon
our own resources. During the speculative pc
Rod Eastern capital sought Investment in the
state-largely In the way OF loans on real es-
tatc-and when the reaction came nearly all OF
our farms and much OF our City property was
mortgaged, In many cases for more than actual
value and most OF the money obtained was in
vested and lost in speculation. 1t seems
strange that so Intelligent people as o r own
would incur such large Indebtedness as they
did for few years prior to 1890 and largely for
speculative purposes.
The voting of bonds by the residents OF coun-
ties, townships and cities, the giving of large
donations to private enterprises and the mort,
gaging OF private property seemed more like
passion than the exercise of reason; but for the
time being it influenced the people, and when
the craze subsidized the Indebtedness was there;
In most cases for money or benefits actually
re eiyed, and we all realized that there was but
one honest way to meet 1t, and that was by
payment where payment was possible.
The condition which confronted the people of
Kansas in 1890 was dlscouraging, and would
Id,
trious and frugal than our own; but with the
readiness and willingness which have always
characterized them they proceeded to the work
of discharging their Indebtedness and building
up the waste places without the aid of outside
capital-no longer obtGinable-turned to the
development Of our natural resources, and in
larger degree than ever, engaged in the tillage
OF our fields, the stocking of our pastures and
the working Of our mines. As q result the
herdshave been increasing the cribs and gran
aries Of the farmer are we'll filled. labor is in
great demand and finds "a ready reward the
statesman who piled politics as q trade is more
in evidence than in demand, AMI the wall of
calamity has few auditors and no response.
The mourning Of Indebtedness both public and
private has largely ceased, and during the last
few years large sums of private Indebtedness
have been paid; public Indebtedness has been,
and Is being, largely REDUCED and- 1t can be
safely said that the end of the long night Of our
folly is at hand, and when the morning comes
we will all greet it the more cordially because
even in the dark night of our misfortune we
did not yield to the clamor to compromise our
individual honesty or the honor of the state.
The report OF the secretary of agriculture
shows that for tho past year the value of our
farm products was $l5l, o!3 $1,000; live stock
S13, ~ oJ3.00, making total of S265, l5l, 10000
Agriculture and stock raising being our great
industries. this showing is very fattering
We may get a better idea Of this enormous
value when we consider that its equal diStribu-
tion throughout the state would give more
than $1,000 to every person, or. estimating five
members to family, more than S900OJ TO
every family in the state
But while farming and stock raising are our
great industries, they are not our only ones.
The reports OF other industries furnish valu-
ablo information. They show that we have
the largest zinc mining camp in the world, and
that our coal, oil, lead, salt, clay, stone gypsum
and gas interests have beel making very salts
factory advances The output of lead and zinc
ores in the Galena and Empire City districts
exceeded Sl,00J,O00 in valne for tne first time
IN 1895, but during last year the output was
largely in excess of 800 1000. Ths value OF the
other products above mentioned, last year, was
nrOroYimntaIv M follOWS.