The weekly Thibodaux sentinel. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 1898-1905, 1902-05-17
Salient Features of Governor
Iteard's Message.

The metropolis, New Orleans, has
made very rapid strides, and it is
fast growing into the superb and
mighty maritime, commercial aud
industrial center which Its command
ing position foreshadows.
The assessed valuation of property ]
has increased from $276,659, ,407, in |
1900, TO 1901 ,215,222, in 1901.
The change from the system of
leasing the penltentIary cOnvicts to
state control has been effected with
gratifying success from every point
of view.
The auditors report shows an in
crease OF $24.555,8l5 in the assess
ment of 1901 over that of the pre-
vious year, this being the largest
increase In the assessment of any one
year that has yet been recorded in
the states history. or this increase,
the city of New Orleans furnished
s6,74l,953, and the country parishes
Slt OlO,OOS.
While the revenues OF the state
have grown rapidly in the past two
years, the demands upon the revenues
have also grown IN like PROF Ortion,
and it will be necessary for the gov
ernment to continue the same cOnser
vative business methods, it we are to
live within cur income.
A most pertinent and important
suggestion is made relative to certain
amendments of the present registra.
tiOn law, which is as follows:
ITO provide for supplemental
registration of voters in the parishes
ORLEANS exceptcd). during the months
Of August and September Of each
year in which general election for
congressional and presidential elec-
tors is held, to be made as directed
for the registration of voters for
general and state elections"
The insurance companies have
made an excessive and unwarranted
ralse in rates.
The legislature is urged to make
liberal provisions for the maintenance
of the public schools.
The farmers institutes continue te
exercise invaluable influence in thu
advancement Of the interests of agri
culture and in the more general adop
ton of improved methods of cultlva
ton.
State Land Register Smith ha
sold or disposed of. under the variou
acts of the general assembly
47O, ,O34.S8 acres. the gross proceed
of which, including state fees, amour
to s1O3,53377.
The report of the adjutant geners
for the year ending Dec. 81, 1901
gives an aggregate strength of 2,17
officers and enlisted men availabl
for duty IN the State National Guart
The health conditions IN the stat
generally have been good.
A detailed and comprehensive n
port of the resources, operations an
conditions in the thirteen levee di!
tr,cts is given.
In reference to the State Univers
ty, the governor says that all br
three parishes of the state are repr'
sented in the enrolment of students
that eight other states are likewis
represented by twenty-five student
and that Cuba, Mexico, Centr'
America and Hawaii contribute o
less than twenty .one students.
The general assembly is asked
give liberal aid to the State Norm'
School at Natch,toches, the Industri'
Institute at Ruston, the Southwester
Industrial Institute at Lafayette, Il
Southern. University and Asricultur'
and Mechanical College at New D
leans. the State Deaf and Dunn
Asylum, the Blind Institute, tt
Soldiers Home, the Charity Hospita
at New Orleans and Shreveport an
the State Lepers' Home.
The tonnage of vessels arriving :
New Orleans until the 1st of Marc
! 1902, a period of ten months and
, few days, shows that ocean vesse
sggrcga,ing l,944,29S tons have use
= the public wharves, and that Il
wharfage charged these vessels h'
amounted to the sum of $144 COS, z
an average of 7.44 cents per ton, s
compared with the rate of IL cen
per ton under the lease system; th,
showing saving Of $SS,71O.O3
the shipping Of the port OF NJ
Orleans.
The report of the state bank exam
iuer discloses very gratifying como
ton of affails in banking circl
\ throughout the state. Since Deceu
Der, 1899, no less than thirty ne
d state banks have been organized ar
q. opened for business, making the tot
y. number now eighty.two.
\ The capital and surplus Of the
" institutions have grown during th
period from $4.391 ,37l.75 to $5,05
IL 9O6, or to the extent Of $666, ,534 2
10 They had on Dec. 81 last deposi
a amounting to $23.826,453 l3.
e. increase in twenty one months