, 1901-01-17
WYOMING T

On Wednesday, the 9th instant, both
houses of the Wyoming Legislature eff
fected permanent organization and
met in joint session at 2 o'clock p. IN.
to listen to the reading of the COVER
nor's message.
The governor congratulate the leg
~islators upon assembling at a time
when Wyoming is enjoying an era of
abundant prosperity. and in reviewing
the condition of the different depart
ments of the state government, as
shown by the reports of the state of
ficers, pronounceS them in excellent
shape and as having been successfully
carried on within the appropriations al
lowed. Financially, the state was new
or in better condition.
The Increase in receipts from rentals
of state lands has increased from 500
26S.G9 in 1892, TO S91, 5Sg.Sl in 1900.
The state owns 1901. gO5 acres of
school lands and 1,OSO.932 of selected
lands.
The state now has 100000 acres of
land segregated under the Carey act,
being the first and only state TO secure
lands under this act. During the com
ing year the state will see more than
500 families successfully settled under
the irrigation bitches of these loca-
lions. and new enterprises of h same
character are in process of formation.
These settlements and bitches will re-
claim some 20O,OOO acres of land.
The Board of Charities is commended
for the good management which has
put all the state institutions under
their charge in first-class equipment
for their service to the state.
Referring to the pcnitcntiary, he
says the funds appropriated We're in
sufficient TO put the Rawlins Institution
in proper shape for the removal of con
victs by January LIST this year, as in
tended by the law. Many improve
ments are yet necessary. He, there
fore, recommends the Legislature to APP
point Il joint committee to visit Raw
Inns and ascertain what is necessary
TO be done, to estimate the cost and
make further appropriation to cover
same and then remove the prisoners.
improvements of the insane asylum
have been completed ut n cost of SOL
les. and of the Rock Springs state hos
pital to such an extent as to make il
one of the best equipped institutions of
the kin in the West.
The state engineer reports the num-
Der of water rights issued to date mt
O,41S. During the past year LII new
applications for water privileges have
been approved, 92T being new locations
nnd 2l4 for enlargement. These will
put under water 5OT 1856 acres, mt a cost
of 81, GO4. 1876.
At the Big Horn hot springs the
state has just completed n fine bridge
over Big Horn i've at Il cost Of $4,000,
has inclOscd the state grounds with a
fence and promulgated rules for the
management of the springs and for
leasing privileges.
He asks the Legislature 10 memorial.
iZe the Legislatures of the surrounding
states of Colorado. Utah. Idaho, Mon
tana and South Dakota 10 enact n sim,
liar law to that of Wyoming, so that
these laws may he uniform.
He says the schools of the state are
in a ilourishing condition, and that the
new free text book law has worked
very successfully. There are reported
524 schools and 1900 pupils.
He recommends the rc-cstablishment
of the state geological bureau. The
state has made wonderful progress in
mineral development during the past
two years, and yet the majority of
Wyomi'.@'s mines are but prospects.
The services of an experienced man nj
the head of such n bureau would be
of great benefit TO the mining industry
and especially to h prospectors and
miners, who are working in new
camps, to uncover mineral treasures.
He recommends the pay of the geolo.
gist he S2.4OO per year. with an ade.
quate contingent fund to carry on the
work of the bureau, and that the of,
flee be made partly self-supporting by
n minimum charge for examining in.
dividual mines, the fee to 20 TO the
state.
The Governor recommends, in con.
clusion, thai the state finances should
be administered on n cash basis, and
all maturing bonds paid as they ma.
ture and not refunded. The state has
bonds issued for S2OO.OOO. of which
the first installmcnt of 100000 becomes
due in January, 1902. This and flu,
ture installments can be paid in cash.
The state has the ability Il do it. and
blaze out II new policy in this respect,
as it uId in giving equal suffrage ia
women