The Elbert County tribune., 1903-01-15
COLORADO'S PROGRESS SHOWN
In GOVERNOR ORMAN'S MESSAGE

Denver, Jan. 12.-After the organi-
zation OF the Senate and House, both
bodies of the Fourteenth General AS
sembly met in joint session Saturday
afternoon to listen to the reading OF
the message of James B. Orman, the
retiring governor. The following is
brief condensation OF the message.
which In full occupies about seven
newspaper columns:
IL am gratified beyond measure TO
say to you that since the last regular
session of the General Assembly. at
which many wise and effective laws
were enacted, great improvement has
been made in our financial condition.
which has placed all our state institu-
tions on much better basis For the
first time since Colorado was admit
ted into the Union. all legislative ap-
preparations have either been placed
to the credit of the recipient. or have
been actually paid. leaving surplus
of about 100000 instead of large de-
ficits, as has been customary in the
past.
"a great many OF our institutions
have for years been overcrowded; nave
lacked the proper facilities for opera
ton, and have been unable to receive
odlntltnl III AhtAi
/ am glad to say, however. that
brighter dawn is before us. the clouds
of difficulty have rolled away. and we
now stand in the clear sunlight OF
prosperity.
There is one matter of great i'm
portance to which desire to call your
attention, and which should be at
tended to at the earliest possible mo-
ment. and that is the payment of the
deficiency vouchers issued by the
former administration. as follows:
For the asylum for the insane.-s 250O0
The penitentiary. .--...--... 25.OOO
Soldiers and Sailors Home.-. 10000
The university. :. .-..-.-.-... 10000
A total of .........--...--.... 4OVoO
This money was advanced by the
Clearing House Association and by
private individuals at a time when the
state was In great need and financial
distress. While it may be contended
that the last Legislature made an ap-
preparation for the payment of this in
debtedness, / am compelled to say 1t
was done In such manner as to make
the payment Illegal.
"A great deal has been said during
the past few years as to outstanding
warrants of prior years, and the mat
people for the purpose of issuing bonds
for their payment, but was defeated,
principally, | believe, from the fact
that the question was not well under
stood The work represented by these
warrants was actually performed.
believe the time has arrived when the
state can begin to provide for their
payment out of the excess revenues.
The incoming administration should
have, from conservative estimate. at
least 100000 excess revenue. which
could be applied to the redemption of
these warrants The fair name and
credit of the state has been impaired,
and every legal and moral means
should be used to regain that which We
have lost
But one mater of paramount i'm
portance is the restitution to the
school fund Of Sass 1884 and accrued
interest making the total amount now
due over 100000. This sum is tied up
in the so-called excess warrants of the
years 1887. 1888 and 1883. The duty of
the state in this regard is clear and
explicit The constitution provides
that the school fund of the state shall
forever remain inviolate and intact,
and that the state shall supply all
losses thereof that may in any manner
occur.
aOur higher educational institutions
have shown marked progress in all
directions, and will. by reason of such
growth, require larger expenditures in
the future, if the present efficiency is
TO be maintained. We should never go
backward, but always forward.
''At no time in the history OF Colo
rado has its agricultural interests been
SO pronounced as at present. Those
~ ,,,NN la. hnn
orally prosperous, and while there was
shortage of water during the past
season in some sections oh the state,
as a rule prices for the products of the
farm have ranged high
Another thing that has awakened
great interest in agriculture in this
state. Is the attitude taken by the gem
eral government in the matter of gov
ernment aid for the building Of reser-
voirs for the storage of water.
"The report of the state engineer
shows that there are now. in round
numbers, 100000 acres of land under
ditch. He also furnishes some inter
esting figures on the matter of irriga-
ton. There are now in Colorado $500
bitches, ffty-one canals over twenty
miles long, and ten canals over fifty
miles long, besides several hundred
reservoirs.
1.-The capitol building was practical
ly completed during the administra-
ton of Governor Thomas. who prose-
cuted the work with great vigor. How
ever. there still remained a consider
able work to be done in the way of fin
ishing touches. This building now rep
resents a cost of s2.593. .76S.13.
''The State Board of Land Commits
sioners is by far the most important
board under the administration of the
state government 1t has under its