The Lamar register., 1903-01-14

past.
"a great many of our institutions
have for years been overcrowded; have
lacked the proper facilities for opera
ton. and have been unable to receive
sufficient funds for their maintenance.
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 l 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..$ 25.OOO
The penitentiary. ........... zo,ooo
Soldiers and Sailors Home... 10000
The university. ............ Vo,ooo
A totaI Of $40 900
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 1t 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 a 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
ter has even been submitted to the
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
.,,Ir tnI nv 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 a 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 matter of paramount i'm
portance is the restitution to the
school fund of S4SS. .633.44 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.
Our higher educational institutions
have shown marked progress in all
directions, and will. by reason of such
growth, require larger expenditures in
the future, II 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
engaged In this pursuit have been gen.
orally prosperous, and while there was
shortage of water during the past
season in some sections of the state,
as 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 gen.
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-
tion. There are now in Colorado 4,500
bitches, flfty-one canals over twenty
miles long, and ten canals over fifty
miles long, besides several hundred
reservoirs.
"The capitol building was practical
ly completed during the administra-
tion of Governor Thomas, who prose-
cuted the work with great vigor. How
ever. there still remained 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
control that vast acreage granted by
the United States government to the
promoting general education and for
public school purposes.
This board has under it's control
almost 100000 acres of land, con-
stantly increasing in value, of which
acreage there is now approximately l.
7S4,974 acres under lease. the present
board having granted leases for $685.
203 acres of land. 1t has also sold o.
$50 acres. The total income from all
sources during the biennial period was
s372.372. an increase of $17.066.91
over the preceding period.
For many years the facilities for
the proper care of the insane in this
state have been entirely too limited"
AS a remedy for the overcrowded
condition and confinement of insane
persons in jails, county hospitals, etc.
the message recommends the erection
of new state building to be located
remote from the noise of city or rail-
road. There only durable cases should
he committed