Willmar tribune., 1909-01-13

For the third time it becomes my
Guty, as it is my privilege, under 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-
laturo 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
the affairs Of the state particularly A
glance at the financial affairs Of the COM
monwealth is certainly reassurlng. The
report Of the state auditor reveals the
fact ffact during the past two years there
Permanent school fund ..... ,SS5, ,24S ~
Permanent university fund.-. 24,959.25
Internal Improvement land
swamp tann land fund 81, 81 ,oss ass: y y
Permanent School Fund.
The permanent school fund had, on
Jl':y 81, 1908, reached the splendid total
of 9,7O9. .3S3.91, and is now approximate
ly $30,Oo0.000, and placing us at the
head of all Of the states in this particu-
lar. The fund is safely invested In state,
municipal. school and other lands. This
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
nS"rs Ss reachad He the toa Of the
Internal improvement land fund. $2,939,
G7l.62: and the swamp land fund. ST.
2l%,272.35. The state auditor in his re-
estimate OF receipts and expenditures for
the coming three years. According tC
his estimate. the receipts for 1909 will
be sS.2C:!' Gyo.G7, with estimated disburse-
ments for the same year, $7735, GIG. Sc
For 1910, the income is estimated at &c.
100000. with expenses aggregating &c.
estimated to be 5000. 900 600 with eRsi disburses
ments Of S6 sos. 500 The total estimated
revenue for the three years he places al
So. 3t?o.67, and expenditures OF $780,.
In providing for. these large revenues
great care will be necessary Prudence
and economy should mark your work. and
economy which would border on stingi.
ness In the work of caring for the
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 hall
century of Minnesotas history In the de-
veloprnent of our great commonwealth, II
has been a tfty-year, period of remark
pioneers, we have become a people q.
100000 strong. outnumbering the COM
hined population Of Maine Vermont, New
Hampshire and Rhode Island. Tenth
among the states in area, we have be-
come ninth in estimated wealth, with q
census total of $3.343 0OO, 900. or $1,728 pei
United States per capita average and
thrice that of Europe. Although oniy
onse-ha1f of our agricultural land is under
cultivation we already rank fourth
ton. and our 900 farmers tin nearly
25o0o,0oo acres. valued with structures
tive stock and machinery. at $1,000 600:
600, which yielded the year Just closed
produce worth s250OOO, 900, or over
500 for each man, woman and child
within our domain.
Railroads.
Although the first mile of railroad was
not laid in Minnesota until four years
after the adoption of the state constiIu-
tion today Minnesota's railway invest
ment of 100000, 600 is equalled by that
Of only four other states, and its s,20C
miles Of main track exceeds the total
OF the six New England states. In
twenty-five years. our railway freight
tonnage has multiplied six-fod, the aver
age freight and passenger rate has been
cut in half, while the state taxes on
srnss carninss : have M multiplied eight-fold
to to h total OF a, $3,Sooooo yesr yes unknow
has contributed to the worlds wealth in
tWehty-tOur years over 5000, 900 600 worth
OF iron ore, and now has over 1000,
0O0,oOO tons in sight with new discoveries
every season. Our annual iron ore ship
ment of approximately 80, 00O 900 tons is
more than half the total American out
put and nearly onefourth the world
total; while the assessed valuation OF
Slso. 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 Ver-
mont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island
while our state university attendance OF
$500 is the fourth largest in America.
Minnesota possesses the greatest per
.slancnt school and university fund and
estate in the world; the $4,000, 600 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 s10O..
OO0.G0O
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