Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-06
ET OF GOV GOODRLCEPS MESSAGE TO GENERAL ~ASSEMBk


ment for coal mined in the future. In
this effort the department should have
the fullest support of the General AS
sembly.
The Division of Entomology has done
notable work. Through the exercise Of
It's police powers there was warded off
in the year 1918 threatened quarantine
against Indiana wheat The work of
this division has been of notable benefit
to every industry of the State with which
1t comes in contact.
The Division Of Forestry Is not only
doing excellent work in the investigation
OF the trees of Indiana and the publica-
tions in connection Herewith, but has
aroused the people of Indiana to a lively
appreciation of the necessity not only OF
preserving our forests, but of embark
ing upon an intelligent extension of that
work.
The Division Of Lands and Waters has
/ demonstrated that the State parks are
not only necessity to the welfare of our
people, but that they may be maintained
so as to make them, when once estab-
lished, practically self-sustaining. The
State has acquired three valuable parks,
known as Turkey Run, McCormick's
Creek and Ciifty Falls largely through
| private donation. The department should
receive every encouragement in extend
ing our State park system. We should
have State parks, located on our highway
system, easily accessible to the people f.
of every part Of the State to which they ,
may easily go for rest and recreation. |
| The cost of acquiring and maintaining !
these parks Is Insignificant when com /
pared with great good that flows from !
! them.
Especially do l call your attention to /
the advisability of preserving in the /
| north part of the State for that great /
! Industrial section, the Sand Dunes Park |
along the southern shores Of Lake Michi- !
gan. Unless some steps are taken at an +
/ early date, this beautiful tract Of ground, |
/ will be taken up by private interests and |
! no longer be available for park pur- |
/ poses.
The Division of Fish and Game is en- |
J tlrely self supporting and has done re-
markable things. Operated purely in the !
| public interest and not as a mere In |
strument with which to reward men for |
political service, II has demonstrated /
what a strictly disinterested admnistra- |
| ton means. The increase Of its assets |
| has been astonishing during the first |
! year and a half Of its operation. Three |
/ times as many fish were Matched and |
| cooperation has been secured between the !
! department and the one hundred and |
eight fish and game protective associa- |
lions. The laws have been enforced i'm !
partially. During the fiscal year ending I
| Oct l, 1920, total OF 1921 arrests were |
made. a gain Of 621 over the fiscal year
! ending on the same date in 1919. and ,
! Is, 700 additional licenses have been sold
! during the same period. The game war
/ den service has been handled with firm
ness but with fairness and Justice.
GAME DIVISION
/ SAVES SEQ. 900.
While 1t was not claimed. when this |
department was established. that its op !
Grafton would result in any great saw
( ing OF money. yet during the short time |
. II has been I'm OnnrntlDn ~ has shown u
net saving Of more than 100000 The !
work which this department is doing !
/ for men, women and children is not alone
! FOR today. 1t rs planned on large !
scale and should adequately be sup !
ported. Compared with the results
achieved the cost to the taxpayers OF !
/ the State has been insignificant
The results measured in terms Of dol |
/ lars are the most unimportant achieve
ments OF this department. and do not
take into consideration such elements as
recreation, increased vitality and health
Of the whole population. The department
has for its purpose the safety. the pros
perity and the contentment of the coming
( generations. It's work is based upon the
/ experience Of the past and operates for /
the future in the present.
/ I commend the work this department to /
! the General Assembly, and trust that II
| will recognize the needs of the depart
ment aud by its generous support enable
1t 10 do a still larger work for pros
{ lc4 ny anu udHpiuEAb Wlbhll VAA STATE
Indiana has emerged from the war Pc
riOd and the more trying postwar era,
with her public utilities intact.
/ l call your attention to the fact that,
/ Notwithstanding the most extraordinary
handicaps, there has been less curtail
I ment Of service; that there are lower
rates aud that the utilities themselves are
in better condition In Indiana than in
most other comparable States.
This record IS not one Of accident. II
/ Is the result OF able and careful dlrec-
| ton by the Public Service Commission.
In the matter Of rates. the Indiana com
mission adopted the theory that the low
est rates that will yield revenues suHi
cieIt to maintain the seryiCe-And neces-
! sary credit-nOt only would be best for
! patrons. but for the public utilities as
/ well.
! The handlcaps have seemed insur-
mountable at times. The commission had
! to urge continuity OF service when coal
| did not appear to be available; the main
! tenance of plants when money seemed
! equally unavailable.
When the nation entered the war the
! President of tho United states called on
/ such commissions and utilities not to use
labor, materials or money. The result
was that much maintenance and replace 8
! mont to cover wear and tear had 70 be
| deferred. Following the war the world
| began an unprecedented bidding for
money. The cost Of 50-cent dollars be- /
came almost prohibitive and forced fur
| Their deferring OF maintenance.
| COAL PROBLEMS
ADDED DIFFICULTIES.
On the heels OF these handicaps came
! the most severe ordeal of all-the run
! away coal market this year. Slack and
| screenings, which in 1918 sold at 80
cents a ton at the mines and in 1915 sold /
| at so cents, advanced from the Govern I
ment war period price Of $2.05 a ton at
the mines TO 81 and even higher levels
! Small utilities requiring better grades
faced quotations OF $40 to $40 per ton. :
This fluctuatlon in coal was almost par /
aleled In oils. Labor, materials and /
nance, advanced from 100 per cent Ito 800 .
per cent over 1915.
The war has brought better under
standing of the almost complete depend
ence Of modern society on agencies which
| supply water, gas, electricity, heat and
| transportation of persons, commodities
and intelligence.
! New economic conditions are before us.
| There never was time when the people
of the State, and the utilities, needed In
| telligent regulation so urgently. Only by ,
| such n policy may the utilities in Indi- !
ana hope to attract the new capital
needed in the next two years to- meet
the demands OF the public for service.
The commission has carried on a con-
| tinuOus three-year fight against railroad /
rate inequalities. 1t has been successful.
Indiana freight rates and shipping con-
ditions have been made uniform. The
next step was to spread this uniformity
over the whole competitive field in which
! Indiana shippers are interested - the
| North Central States. (
Illinois yielded least to these efforts
| The Indiana Commission, by It's own