Arizona republican., 1922-02-16
Governors Message
(Continned from Page p

received IndL Is the question we
must answer to those who have
cloaked us with temporary authority
to handle their affairs. Without fear
Of contradiction l can assert that no
state in the Union has made greater
strides along these two lines of prog
ress within the same period of time.
Considered from broad viewpoint,
Arizona's finances are sound and
sound to the core. Her bonded debt
is but SS97,972.42. These figures do
not include city and county indebt-
edness The alarmists who predict
financial disaster are prophets en-
titled to honor in neither their own
or any other country Like the
Scribes and Pharisees they have their
reward. No cause exists for appre-
hension regarding our future. II is
safe and built upon a foundation that
cannot be undermined. even by those
who under cover OF a great hue and
cry are seeking TO evade their own
obligations while ostensibly deeply
solicitous of the welfare of others.
1t is source of pleasure for me TO
say that in the great majority OF
instances our citizens. industries, and
interests are responsive to the varied
calls OF public welfare including the
payment of taxes and are aiding in
every possible way in the monument
al task we have essayed of making
Arizona in name and fact one of the
greatest Of our commonwealths And
the day is not far distant when our
state will occupy such a position OF
prominence. The Colorado river
basin project alone. when completed,
will revolutionize Arizona, trans
forming her deserts into fertile plains
oVod cnf1oVatfp4o n,1n1tOl1 electrical
energy to make this and other states
associated in the undertaking the
rivals of the manufacturing centers
OF the East, besides adding untold
wealth to our assessment rolls. The
genesis of this movement, | am proud
to stand here today and declare, was
in Arizona. The men and women OF
this body | am addressing should also
feel proud that ii was by their unan-
imous vote at the last regular ses-
sion proper legislation was enacted
and funds appropriated TO further
and make possible this enterprise of
great pith and moment. In the fu-
ture, not many years. judging from
the fact that a definite start has al
ready been made, our dream of en-
pire will come true. 1t is my devout
hope, animated by the love bear the
state in which I was born, that YOU
and may live to see the day and
hear it said that we built wisely and
we'll
We cannot build or progress with
out paying the cost. The time to
pause and gauge our ability to pay
is before, and not after, we have au
thorized expenditures. Our roads
schools and other activities have cost
real money. But where is the man
or woman who prefers the conditions
which obtained only a few years
ago? Having adopted the pay-as-
you-go policy, made necessary by the
constitutional. bonded debt limitation
we find with the advent of hard
times that our ability TO carry out
our program has been severely
strained and therefore we must call
a halt. In 1915 the expenditures for
roads by the state amounted TO just
a round half million dollars. For the
fiscal year 1920-192i the expenditures
for the same purpose by the state
were $2.069.025; plus $779.775 received
as federal aid. For the present fiscal
year the estimated expenditures by
the highway department. inclusive of
federal aid, will be $2.695,114 Esti-
mated requirements for the fiscal
year beginning July l. 1922 are $S12,-
500 of which amount $3S7,500 must
he raised through direct taxation.
Within three years there has been
costructed a system OF highways
linking together practically all of the
county seats of the state. Work. in
progress or in contemplation will
supply the missing links. The same
Is true as to connections with high
ways of adjoining states. thus fur
nishing through arteries of travel,
not only for our own people, but en-
abling thousands OF tourists to route
this way and see the many marvels
of nature which have made Arizona
the wonderland Of the world.
Reverting again to the common
schools, the state spent $53S000 for
elementary education in 1915. Dur
ing the current fiscal year state aid
for this purpose will be $1.4S6,000 or
almost 200 per cent increase in six
years. There must also be charged
against our educational account the
sum necessary for the maintenance
of the University of Arizona, the
Tempe and Northern Arizona Nor
mails and vocational training and
rehabilitation. Fifty cents of each
dollar of revenue from all sources
during the present fiscal year is be-
ing spent on education and the pro-
portion for the ensuing fiscal year
is greater being SO per cent. BY my
request a statistical report covering
primary and high school records has
been compiled by the state super
intendent of public instruction and
will be placed before you for your in
formation and guidance.
The charitable and penal institu-
tions have grown, necessitating not
.v,Ixs f,a~ eSrrNaaIffntrc- fnYst ptsh-
sistence but large outlays for new
buildings Today the state hospital
is crowded TO over-capacity and be-
fore long the problem of caring for
these unfortunates must be faced and
met. In the great humanitarian
work we. have undertaken not only
through the state hospital for the in
sane but also through the state board
of health to reduce human wastage,
Arizona has made an enviable record.
To our own burdens have been added
those of other states. the men and
women who come here in the not
vain hope that our alth-restoring
climate will rebuild them to their
wonted physical vigor. Unfortunate
ly they are seldom adequately fl
nanced for an extended soiourn and
have become the recipients of our
bounty. In our welfare work OF carr
ing for the sick in body and mind,
much has been accomplished, without
stopping to cold bloodedly weigh dol
lars against the opportunity of reliev-
ing misery. In consonance with this
line of endeavor we have at last rec
ognized our duty to the orphan and
through the child welfare board are
giving these children the benefit of
home raising and environments. On
the material side we have also
branched out since 1915. Conserva- !
ton of natural resources has been
delegated to the water commissioner
and resources board The dairy in
dustry, happily once again coming