The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-01-08

For the third time it becomes my
duty, as it is my privilege, unuer the
Constitution to address the Legislature,
giving my views on such matters as may
appear to me to be OF general concern
to the people, and which may be of value
in promoting the general domestic well
fare.
Fortunately for us all, the last Legis-
lature did its work so well that the
problems confronting you are not so
numerous as in other years. Those we
and they will necessarily require the
best thought and energy of all who con-
tribute officially to the business of the
state.
We have much cause for congratula-
ton in the general prosperity of the
people and of the excellent condition OF
glance at the financial affairs of the COM
monwealth is certainly reassur1ng. The
report of the state auditor reveals the
fact fact during the past two years there
Permanent school fund ..... 81 1855, 24S. 70
Permanent university fund. 24,959. 25
Internal improvement land
swamp land fund ............ 331, O99.9 81
Permanent School Fund.
The permanent school fund had, on
july 81, 1908, reached the splendid total
of $19, 709, 1891, and is now approximate
ly $2O.OO0.O0O. and placing us at the
head of all of the states in this particu-
lar. The fund is safely invested in state,
amount will be augmented from year to
year, and with the proper development Of
our mineral, timber and other resources
will in time exceed an hundred million
dollars. The permanent university fund
has reached the total of 81, 413, S17.35; the
internal Improvement land fund, $685.
671.62; and the swamp land fund, ST.
243.272.35. The state auditor in his re-
port to you has also given to you his
estimate of receipts and expenditures for
the coming three years. According to
20 w
be SS,265 69067, with estimated disburse-
ments for the same year, $7,735, GIG. Sc.
For 1910, the income is estimated at So
$4,000, with expenses aggregating &c.
425.S00. For 1911. the receipts are
estimated to be s7,O4O,OOO with dsburse-
ments of $6,S0S,SOO. The total estimated
So, 245,69O.6T, and expenditures of $780,
97O.516S5.
In providing for these large revenues
and correspondingly large expenditures.
great care will be necessary. Prudence
and economy should mark your work. and
yet there should not be that rigid
economy which would border on stingi-
ness. In the work of caring for the
unfortunate wards, in developing our
resources. in fact in the transaction Of
the business of the state. we should,
while being economical, consider every
cause from view point as broad as the
state itself
The year 1908 closes the first half
century of Minnesotas history. In the de-
velopment of our great commonwealth, 1t
has been a fifty-year period of remark
able progress. From handful of territorial
200 900 strong, outnumbering the COM
bined population of Maine, Vermont, New
Hampshire and Rhode Island Tenth
among the states in area, we have be-
come ninth in estimated wealth, with a
census total of SO 343 600. 900, or SLIPS per
capita. which is sone-half larger than the
United States. per capita i AVERAGE and
one-half of our agricultural land is under
cultivation. we already rank fourth
among the states in agricultural produc-
ton. and our 200. 900 farmers till nearly
% 100000 acres. valued with structures,
tive stock and machinery, at 81, 900 600. :
600. which yielded the year just closed
a produce worth $3.50 900. 900, or over
within our domain.
Although the first mile Of railroad was
not laid in Minnesota until four years
after the adoption of the state constitu-
ton, today Minnesota's railway invest
ment of $4OO,OO0,0O 900 is equalled by that
of only four other states, and its $500
miles of main track exceeds the total
of the six New England states. In
twenty-five years, our railway freight
tonnage has multiplied six-fold, the aver
cut in half, while the state taxes on
gross earnings have multiplied eight fold
to a total of 900 a year. Unknown
in the iron world until 1884, Minnesota
has contributed to the worlds wealth in
twenty-four years over $780, 600, 900 worth
of iron ore, and now has over 1000,-
600, 900 tons in sight with new discoveries
every season. Our annual iron ore ship
ment of approximately 100000 900 tons is
more than half the total American out
put and nearly one-fourth the world
total; while the assessed valuation of
$1S5, 100000 applied to the mines by the
Minnesota Tax Commission has multiplied
the state revenue from that source, as
compared with even five years ago, near
ly six-fold One-half of the aggregate
volume of public revenue collected within
the State of Minnesota, both state and
local, is expended upon the public schools
Our school enrolment of $50, 900 exceeds
the combined enrolment of Maine, YER
mont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island ;
while our state university attendance Of
1900 is the fourth largest in America
Minnesota possesses the greatest per-
-nanent school and university fund and
estate i'm the world: the $20,000,000 al
ready yielded by our vast educational
heritage of timber, iron and agricultural
lands being only the minor fraction of a
future income that may exceed $780,
600. 900.
The greatest merchant fleet which to-
day floats the American flag is the lake
fleet which enters the ports of Duluth.
Superior and Two Harbors to carry east