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THE SEMI-WEEKLY SUMTER REPUBLICAN.
ESTABLISHED IN 1854,
B _y_ C ” AS - W " HANCOCK. )
VOL. 18.
GOVERNOR COLQUITT.
•
His Last Message to the Legis
lature.
The State Finances—Comp trailer
General’s Report.
Public Sclioolv--Bailrond Coiiimlt.
Nion—AgrricuUiiral Commission.
The Peulttutiarr—state University*.
'Hie Asy I iinib.
To the General Assembly:
In transmitting this my final mess
sage to the Legislative branch of the
State Government in compliance with
the requirements of law and custom, I
perform the duty with the deepest grat
itude to the Giver of ail good, and with
the elated feelings in view of the State
of our beloved commonwealth. We
have never had better reason for con
gratulation at onr present condition,
or for hopefulness of the future of the
State than we may claim at this time.
In our recent history our retrospect has
often been of the saddest, while the pros
pect had but scanty promise.
The strain to which our powers of
endurance and recuperation were sub
jected, was such as to dispirit the most
hopeful and resolute, that threatened
to overwhelm and destroy us, seems to
have been achieved by a wisdom above
that of man.
Without arrogance or vain glory
let us rejoice that under the signal
blessing of Providence we are pressing
on, to take our place abreast of tho most
advanced States in Christendom, ami
with an intense love of the arts of peace
and a generous emulation of older and
more favored commonwealths, we arc
establishing and diffusing among our
citizens the most potent and beneficial
agencies and methods for the develop
ment of the highest civilization.
We may justly claim for our State
that in every department of our indus
try, our people are prospering and ad
vancing. In our agriculture—in onr
minjng operations—in the introduction
and multiplication of mechanical es
tablishments—in the wonderful exten
sion of onr lumber interests—in the
marked improvement in the healthfnl
ness of our State, we find the most sub
stantial grounds for self gratulation.
And superadded to this cheering
summary of material advantage and
promise, we may felicitate ourselves
upon the general peacefulness and good
order which have prevailed throughout
the State. With a very few, but un
happily marked exceptions, the public
tranquility has been undisturbed by
outbreaks of violence, and there seems
to be a pervading spirit of conciliation
which has successfully resisted all un
friendly influences.
The reports which are herewith trans
mitted to the General Assembly are of
unusual interest and fullness, and
would, if sent to your honorable body
without comment, give a complete re
view of the public interests.
I therefore do not deem it important
to make any extended observation on
what is so fully and satisfactorily pre
sented by each officer of the govern
ment, in the details presented of the
operations.of their special departments,
and will, in as summary a manner as
possible refer to the subjects discussed
in each report.
THE STATE FINANCES.
The State Treasurer reports the to
tal amount in the treasury from Octo
ber 7. 1881, to September 30. 188:1, the
fiscal year just closed, to be $2,403,976
61 and the disbursements $1,713,507
46, leaviug a balance of $690,472 15,
of which $575,000 consists of bonds
paid by the purchaser of tho Macon
and Brunswick Railroad. Of these
securities $115,000, are State bonds
and $160,000 United States registered
bonds. The cancellation of the State
bonds will extinguish that much ofthe
public debt. The disposition of the
United States registered bonds is a
matter for the action of your body.
The State debt is $9,624,135, with an
nual interest 0f5645,440, The details
of the receipts and expenditures are
given in the Treasurer’s report with
satisfactory fullness.
THE COMPTROLLER-GENERAL’S REPORT.
The comprehensive report of the
Comptroller-General presents a grati
fying account of the general condition
of affairs in the State. The property
of Georgia has increased from last year
$16,255,150; the whole amount of
taxable property being returned at
$287,249,403. The Comptroller states
that for the next two years the same
low rate of taxation of three mills
on the dollar, that we now have, will
suffice for expenses. The increase
last year was $18,977,611, tho whole
growth of wealthin two years running to
$35,232,761, giving additional revenue,
at the present tax, of $105,698. The
polls returned were 240,447. The tax
levied was $806,107 79, and tax col
lected $741,823 60, leaving the remark
ably small sum of $04,284 16 to repre
sent both the cost erf collection and the
insolvent tax. Among the interesting
statistics disclosed are that the increase
in manufactures during the year was
$1,061,795; railroad property, $1,988,-
169; city and town property, $4,831,-
186, and a like ratio of improvement in
many other particulars, demonstrating
the gratifying development of the
State.
THE HJBLIO SCHOOI.S.
There has been a steady growth in
our public schools as is demonstrated
by the report of the State School Com
missioner herewith submitted. The
school attendance for the year 1880 was
not given in the report of that year, as
tho statistics had not been obtained.
In 1880 the attendance was 236,533 —
whites, 150,134; colored, 86,369; in
crease over 1879,9,906. 1881 tho at
tendance was 244,197; whites, 153,-
156; colored, 91,041; increase over 1880,-
7,664. The attendance of 1882 can
not be given as the school work is in
progress now. The entire sum, in
cluding poll tax appropriated in 1881
for the common schools was $863,677,-
32. Under local laws there was raised
by cities and counties $184,855,96,
making the entire amount for the sup
port of these schools in the State from
all sources, $498,533,28. The State
appropriation paid per capita on school
populaiion 84 cents, on enrollment sl.-
49; on average attendance, $2.43. On
the basis of both State and local school
fund, viz; $498,533,28 the per capita
estimate is $1.15 on school population;
$2.04 on enrollment, and $3.32 on av
erage attendance.
In the year 1882, the State fund, es
timating the poll tax the same as the
last year, will be $441,114,88. If the
amount raised under local laws be the
same as last year, viz: $134,855,96, the
whole snrn raised in the State would be
$575,970,64, or over $77,000 increase.
This would give per capita on school
population, $1.13; on enrollment, $2.25;
and on average attendance, 3.76.
The school law requires that arrange
ments shall be made in every county
fo" keeping schools in operation at least
three months of the year as a condition
precedent to drawing the pro rata of
the Stale school fund. These arrange
ments were made in every county in
the State by having parents to enter
into a contract to supplement the
amount paid by the State, and thus the
entire people of the commonwealth have
enjoyed the benefits of the common
schools, and every child has had the
privilege of entering and semaining for
the term.
The State School Commissioner
recommends an increase of appropria
tion to run the schools for six months,
and also to conduct teachers’ institutes,
where instructors can be trained in
teaching. An account is given of the in
stitute work already accomplished this
year. The further recommendation is
made for the establishment of one per
manent Normal School for training
white teachers, and is suggested to con
vert the College at Milledgeville into
such a school and use the public build
ings at that place in connection there
with.
The educational machinery of a great
State like Georgia is among its most
vital and complicated interests. We
instinctively look to the school house
and the temple for the most reliable
helps to an advanced and prosperous
state of society. It is of the first con
sequence to our people that onr re
sources for the encouragement of learn
ing and the promotion of an enlighten
ed public opinion, shall not be misap
propriated or wasted. With the ut
most satisfaction I bear testimony to
the zeal, unwearied industry and en
lightened methods of our State School
Commissioner. The official career of
Dr. Orr, while it has achieved mark
ed benefits for Georgia, has won for
himself a distinguished name, one that
reflects honor on the State.
RAII.UOAI) COMMISSION.
I would invite the careful considera
tion of the Legislature to the accom
panying report of the Railroad Com
missioners. The establishment of this
Department of the State government
was preceded by a very thorough and
able discussion, ami it would seem that
it was demanded by a matured public
opinion. I bear willing testimony to
the extensive research, great ability
and impartiality of the Board of Com
missioners. From the character of the
work which this Commission was or
ganized to execute, it was natural to
expect no small degree of opposition
and friction in the orders that it might
issue and the judgments it might pro
nounce. The degree of this opposition,
however, we may conclude from the de
monstration made, has not been as vio
lent or extended as we might have rea
sonably expected. The Georgia Hail
road and Banking Company has made
a case, involving the jurisdiction and
powers of the .commission, which is
now pending in our Supreme Court, and
wmich will settle the constitutionality
of the law creating the Commission.
The Board is represented by gentlemen
of wide and unexceptionable reputation
for integrity and ability, and it would
seem to be the part of wisdom and jus
tice to give the Commission a fair test,
and to adjust our estimate of its value
to the State by the results of its ad
ministration. Before dismissing this
subject, 1 feel it to be my duty to ask
the General Assembly to take into con
sideration the recommendation of the
Commissioners in regard to the salary
of the Secretary of the Commission.
Major Bacon has acquitted himself
most creditably in the discharge of his
duties as Secretary, both by his ability
and industry, and I would add my
recommendation that he should receive
a salary more commeusurate to the
amount and character of his services.
THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.
The State Commissoner of Agricul
ture has made a report, which is here
with transmitted to your body, embrac
ing the operations of two years of his
department from October Ist, 1880, to
October Ist, 1882.
Many of the details of the report are
very interesting and evinco great in
INDEPENDENT IN POLITICS, AND DEVOTED TO NEWS, LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND GENERAL PROGRESS.
AMERICUS, GEORGIA; WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1882.
dustry and intelligence in the manage
ment of this department by the com
missioner. The inspection of commer
cial fertilizers in 1880-1, ran to the
high figure of 152,464,03 tons, bring
ing the gross amount of $76,232,03 in
fees, sl2, 171,80; and netting for the
State Treasury $64,060 23. In 1881-2
the inspection included 125,426 04 tons;
gross amount of fees $62,713 31 cost
$12,461 99 and net payment in Treas
ury $50,25132. For the two years
the aggregate net sum paid into tbc
Treasury from this source was $114,-
31155. In the five seasons since 18-
77-8, during which the State has receiv
ed the benefit of these fees, the whole
amount has been $340,230,548 28.
The present Commissioner instituted
the existing system of analysis that
lias resulted in securing for our State
market the highest grade of fertilizers
sold, and giving us the best protection
against fraudulent articles. The im
portance of a rigid inspection may be
infered from the fact that the 277,890
tons of fertilizers purchased by farmers
of this State, in the last two years,
cost at the ordinary time price of S6O a
ton, over $16,000,000.
The appointment of Mr. 11. C.
White, Professor of Chemistry at the
State University, as State Chemist,
gave to the agricultural Department
not only the services of aii able scientist,
but also the use of the extensive labor
atory ofthe University, and must have
resulted in a great benefit to the stu
dents of the University by the enlarged
practical experience afforded them.
To comprehend the extent of the
work done by the Agricultural Depart
ment, report must be carefully read.
Special attention is called to the report
upon fisheries and the recommendations
made therein. Upon a very small sum
an exceedingly beneficial work has been
accomplished by the Commissioner and
his efficient co-laborer, Dr. H. 11. Cary,
in introducing the German carp in our
State. The Commissioner renews tho
suggestion made in his last report, that
out of the large amount realized by
the Department for the Treasury, it
would greatly add to the practical use
fulness of the Department for the Leg*
islatnre to authorize the establishment
of an experimental farm.
1 would, before dismissing this most
valuable and interesting account of the
labors of this Department, specially
charged with the promotion of our
greatest material interest, urge upon
your attention a fuller and more earnest
discussion than we have heretofore
given to the claims of our agriculture.
At this foundation of a nation’s wealth
and comfort, we must begin to con
struct our plans of recuperation. A
successful husbandry can sustain and
bear on its strong shoulders the remain
ing industries of the state, while the
habitual scantiness of our harvests will
keep us poor, and of course keep us
powerless. With such a heritage as
Georgia, no reasonable limit could be
assigned to onr wealth and strength,
if it were wisely developed.
PENITENTIARY.
The punitive system of a State is
always a subject of vast importance,
and we may justly claim for Georgia
that she has not ignored or neglected
the subject. All things considered we
have good cause for encouragement in
our efforts to establish a judicious, mer
ciful and effective prison discipline. If
the mortuary statistics, the returned
convicts, and in lact ail the results
reasonably expected from a wise sys
tem of punishment for offenders against
the law, are to decide our judgment,
we have good cause for satisfaction at
the measure of success which this State
has achieved.
1 would call the special attention of
the Legislature to tlie intelligent and
comprehensive report of the Principal
Keeper of the Penitentiary, which
places in our possession a valuable ar
ray of facts and figures relating to our
State prison. Without bringing the
policy or the wisdom of our present
system into the discussion, I regard
the results which all good citizens seek
to attain by the practical operation of
the law establishing methods for the
of the criminals of tho
State asot greatest importance. While
we maintain the present system it
would seem to be the duty of the State
to render it as effective as possible.
The preservation of society and the
dictates of humanity alike demand this
at our hand
REPORT OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
The Attorney-General gives a par
ticular statement of the many transac
tions of his office during the last two
years. Your attention is respectfully
invited to its details, which are too
voluminous for special mention in this
message.
In the matter of the tivo States de
positories—the Bank of Rome, and the
Citizens Bank of Atlanta—the collec
tion of the amount due the State has
been vigorously pressed. Of $53,017.03
by the Bank of Rome, $31,359.50 has
been collected, leaving a balance due of
$21,657.53. It is believed that the assets
of the bank will pay the larger part of
this balance. If there should still re
main an amount due after the assets
are exhausted, the State is amply secur
ed by the bond given by the bank as a
State depository.
Of the amount due by the Citizens
Bank of Atlanta, $20,000 has been col
lected and paid into the State Treasury
and in addition, railroad stock worth
$25,000 has been secured, reducing the
indebtedness of the Bank $45,000.
Suits are pending which, if successful,
will realize a sum sufficient to extin
guish all, or a considerable portion of
the bnlauce due the State.
Under a resolution of the last Gen
eral Assembly, an examination of the
lease of the Indian Springs property
was made by the AttorneyUeneral.
That officer reports that the lease has
been violated by the lessee, and lie rec
ommends that the Legislature consider
the subject of selling the property. The
attention of your , body is respectfully
invited to the matter.
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
The annual report of the Chancellor
of tho State University exhibit im
provement in the condition of that time
honored institution - During the col
legiate year, ending July 19th, 1882,
the total number of students was 1,103,
who received instruction at the Univer
sity and its branches at Augusta,
Dahlonega, Thdmasville, Cuthbertand
Milledgeville. Of this number there
were 355 students of the college grade.
According to the report the new year of
1882-3 opens with 151 students at the
Athens department, as against 94 at
the opening last year, a most decided
and gratifying improvement.
The entire receipts of the University
for the last fiscal year, were $49,213.3U
and the expenditures $40,510.67. Tin
cash balance from the two years 1381-2
is reported at $18,957.05. But of this
balance only $2,658.07 is available foi
current uses, the remainder being unex
pended balances of building appropria
tions and uninvested proceeds of sales
of bonds. The actual available income
of the institution is shown to have been,
1881-2, $21,972.80, and the ordinary
operating expenses, $34,076.65, or an
excess of $2,103.85 of expenses over re
ceipts. Tuition fees having been abol
ished in the academic and State College
departments at Athens, there will be
no income from this source hereafter.
The Chancellor urges upon the Leg
islature to make provision for the fur
ther organization and equipment of the
already very established Technogieal
Institute at the University. This In
stitute lias tuition in the four practical
arts of Physics, Chemistry, Engineer
ing and Agriculture. It is proposed to
add to the Institute an industrial work
shop) for teaching the actual use of tools
in every kind of manufacture. Yout
attention is called to the suggestions <>!
the Chancellor. The direction of educa
tion everywhere is practical, and such
an Industrial School as is recommended
would be an invaluable addition to the
educational advantages of the State
University, furnishing young men the
equipment with which to begin busi
ness in mechanical pursuits.
THK LUNATIC ASYLUM.
There are iu the Lunatic Asylum of
the State 979 patients, number ex
ceeding by 100 the proper capacity of
the institution. On the Ist of October,
1881, there were 900 patients; receiving
since, 257; discharged and died, 184.
The average number under treatment
was 942. The whole number cared for
was 1,16:5. The males were 480, am
females 498. The whites were 729 ano
the colored 250. The deaths numbered
82. The appropriation for 1882 was
$125,000 anil from 1881 there was a
balance of $85,886.85, making a total
of $160,880.85 of which $131,388.90
has been expended, leaving a balance
on hand, Oct. 1, 1882, of $28,990.95.
The daily cost of the maintenance of
each patient was 38jj cents. The sum
$165,431 was appropriated for enlarg
ing the asylum, of which $45,000 was
used, leaving unexpended $120,431.
The sum drawn was expended in the
construction of a hospital for the colored
insane, leaving $1,573.79 of the $45,-
000 on hand. The main building for
the colored patients now in process of
construction will contain 500 rooms.
A number of the rooms will be occupied
in March and the whole completed and
occupied during the next Spring.. The
building, now occupied by colored pa
tients upon the completion of the new
structure will afford room for 220 white
patients. This accommodation is great
ly needed as there are now over 200 ap
plicants pressing for admission who
cannot be accommodated.
The Trueteeß estimate that there
will be 1,200 patients in 1883, requir
ing $160,000 appropriation, and 1,400
patients in 1884, requiring $190,000.
They also estimate that it will require
$89,254.85 to complete the improve
ments already begun. The Trustees
report a decided improvement in the
management of the Asylum, in many
essential particulars, 1 respectfully
invite special attention to tire report of
the Trustees of the Asylum which is
herewith transmitted to your body.
THE DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.
The twenty-second report of the
Board of Trustees and officers of the
Georgia institution for the education
of the Deaf and Dumb embraces the
operations of that institution for the
last twenty-seven months, extending
from July Ist, 1880,to September BOtli,
1882. The Trustees' declare the man
agement of the Asylum by its officers
to have been very satisfactory. During
fifteen months to October, 1881, there
were 64 pupils, all white; males 37, and
females 27. In the second year to Oc
tober Ist, 1882, there were 60 white
pupils; males, 35; and females, 25; and
20 colored pupils; males, 12; females 8.
The amount expended for support the
first year was $17,376.33, and the sec
ond year, $14,773.68. The sum of
$5,000 was appropriated to erect a
school building. The Trustees have
not used the fund because of its insuffi
ciency to build such a structure as is
needed. They, therefore, have held it,
and ask the General Assembly to in
crease it by a further appropriation of
$15,000, so that a good, permanent
building may be put tip that will meet
the wants of the institution. The fur
ther sum of $3,009 is asked to build a
laundry, and $1,500 for repairs and
water works. The estimated expense
for the next two years is $20,000 a
year.
ASYLUM FOR TIIE BLIND.
The report giving the condition of
the Asylum for the Blind, having been
delayed from some unexplained cause,
and not yet reaching the Executive De
partment, 1 am not prepared to render
you a statement of its operations or
present wants.
A CLAIM OF JURISDICTION BY THE FED EL A
COURTS.
I deem it an imperative duty to call the
attention of the General Assembly to
the claim which the United States Dis
trict Court asserts in the cases of vio
lations of law when committed by the
officers or employes ofthe General Gov
ernment acting in the capacity of such
public servants. Repeated instances of
violence and homicide have ocurred in
our State limits growing out of the
alleged attempts to enforce the law's of
the United States Government. The
attempt on the partof our State Courts
to assume jurisdiction and control of
such cases have been frustrated by the
interposition of the judicial authorities
of the United States, and these cases
have been transferred to tho Federal
Courts. Asa question of first impres
sion, and taking into view the matter
simply of the administration of law and
justice,this assumption of authority by
t he Federal Courts might not be regard
ed as entirely objectionable. But when
it is seen that in trials of parties ar
raigned before these Courts they are
zealously defended by their prosecuting
officers, and that convictions are rarely
secuied even in cases of the greatest
enormity in popular estimation, and
that these violations of our laws and
disturbers ot the public peace with
avidity accept the choice of jurisdiction
off red them, it becomes a subject of in
teresting inquiry if these trials so or
dered do not amount to a refuge for
offenders against the laws and dignity
of the State. It is with emotions of
sadness that your Executive feels that
at this hour in our political history it
would he futile for him to recur to the
time-honored arguments and doctrines
which at one time were deemed so per
tinent in this discussion.
The people of Georgia are not jealous
of the Federal authority when it is ex
erted in vindication of the law's of the
United States, but when the laws of
the State are wantonly \ iolated they feel
that the interest of justice requires that
the offenders, be they foreigners,natives,
private citizens, or Federal officials,
should be brought to the bar of the
State courts to answer for their crimes.
I would, with much earnestness, invite
the attention of the General Assembly
to this grave subject, and ask your
honorable body to consider the expedi
ency of providing proper and ample ap
propriations for the prosecution of offen•
ders in the Federal courts in such cases
as are here adduced, and lor a proper
representation ol the States interest and
dignity.
THE CONTINGENT FUND.
The appropriation made for the Con
tingent Fund by the last General As
sembly for each of the fiscal years, 1881
and 1882. was $7,500. For the year
1880, the amount appropriated for said
fund was SIO,OOO, white for the years
preceeding the latter and succeeding the
late civil war, the amount thus appro
priated was $20,000 per annum, The
annual appropriation for this fund dur
ing the years immediately preceeding
the war, was about $15,000.
The very material reduction of said
appropriation by the General Assembly
for 1881-2 was, doubtless, the sugges
tion of a commendable spirit of econo
my, but experience has demonstrated
that the reduction has been too great.
The per diem of the Board of Visitors
of the State University and the expense
of distributing the laws and journals of
the General Assembly, the Supreme
Court reports, and the U. S. statutes,
to the several counties of the State, are
a constant annual charge upon said
fund. These items for the present year
aggregrte $1,552; so that of the appro
priation for the contingent fund for
1882 there remained only $6,006 for
defraying the contingent expenses of
the several officers of the Executive
Department, for aiding in the execution
of the criminal laws in the State, and
for making other payments for lawful
objects for which no special appropria
tion has been made.
Notwithstanding the smallness of
said fund and the probability of its pre
mature exhaustion, I could not believe
that it was consistent with Executive
duty, or with the public interest, to re
fuse, without exception, to offer rewards
for fugitive criminals. In consequence,
several rewards have been earned, while
the means of payment were wanting.
These claims have been filed in the
Executive office, and will, in due time,
be laid before the proper committees of
the General Assembly.
The subject is referred to, not for the
purpose of making any special recom
mendation thereon, but in order that
your intelligent consideration may he
invited thereto.
SALE OF CERTAIN LOTS BELONGING TO THE
STATE.
The last General Assembly passed
an act approved September 13, 1881,
directing the Governor to cause to he
sold certain lots and fractional lots of
land belonging to the State, which, by
an act assented to December 15, 1818,
had been reserved and set apart for edu
cational purposes.
The third section of said firßt men
tioned net provides that “where any
property is advertised for sale under
this act, and the same is bona fide •
claimed by any person, such person
may interpose a claim thereto,” etc.
It w - as deemed advisable to ascertain
nom the record the condition of said
lands, as to claim of ownership, and
accordingly, inquiry in regard thereto
was made of the clerks of the Superior
Courts iu the several counties in which
said lots are located. Replies to said
inquiries, so far as they have been re
ceived, exhibit the lact that iu a ma
jority of instances said lots are owned
or claimed by citizens.
No provision is made in said act for
the protection of the interest of the
State at said sales, and it is quite cer
tain, in view of the foregoing, that the
sums which would be bid for said lots
would be insignificant.
In order that useless and expensive
litigation between the State and her
citizens might be avoided, I deemed it
proper to withhold the action required
of the Governor by the act referred to,'
and ask the further consideration of the
subject by the General Assembly. It
is respectfully suggested that the Gov
ernor be empowered to have investiga
tion made of the titles and value of
said lots, and that authority be given
him to bid for and purchase the same
when sold, unless they bring something
like their real value.
OBSTRUCTION OF THE PASSAGE OF FISH IN
TIIE SAVANNAH RIVER.
By a joint resolution of the General
Assembly, approved September 28,
1881, the Governor was instructed to
have full and complete investigation
made ot the obstruction of the passage
of fish in the Savannah river caused by
the dam of the Augusta Canal Com
pany, and the feasibility of proyiding
sufficient fish ways in said dam. L. 1.
Livingston, 11. H. Carey and J. S.
Newman were appointed to make such
investigation. After visiting Augusta
and examining the nature of the ob
struction, they reported to the Governor
that, while they were satisfied it w - as
entirely practicable to remedy the evil
complained of, they were unable to make
a definite recommendation in regard to
the construction of proper fish-ways,
without first observing the plan and
operation of such structures 5 u other
places. It being one of the prime ob
jects of said resolution to secure this in
formation, said Commissioners were
authorized by an Executive order, of
date August 18, 1382, to visit ami in
spect the McDonald fish-ways in the
James and Rappahannock rivers in the
State of Virginia; the fish-ways at
Lawrence, Mass., and the various
models of such structures in the Smith
sonian Institute at Washington City.
The result of such inspection and the
recommendation of the Commissioners,
based thereon, will be found in their
report accompanying this communica
tion. As there remained no fund in
the Treasury from which the expenses
ofthe Commissioners, incurred in mak
ing said investigation, could be paid, I
respectfully recommend that an amount
sufficient for that purpose be appro
priated by tho General Assembly.
DRAINAGE OF CHATHAM COUNTY.
I submit to the Legislature the report
of the Board appointed for the prosecu
tion ot this important work, and the
disbursement of the appropriation made
to effect it. It will he seen that they
ask for an additional sum for a further
prosecution of the enterprise, which
seems to be one of very great impor
tance. Savannah, our great port, has
ever been to the people of Georgia a
cherished interest and pride, and as we
have good grounds for believing that in
the labors of this Board we already can
mark the most beneficial results, it
would he well to consider the great good
that may he accomplished by continu
ing and generously sustaining the pub
lic spirited gentlemen who compose it.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
In 1875 a law was passed and ap
proved establishing a State Board of
Health, The Board was organized
under this law and entered upon its
duties. The members ot the Board re
ceived no compensation for their ser
vices, and were only allowed their ex
penses while discharging their duty as
a Board. The sum required for print
ing the transactions of the Board was
$1,500 per annum. During the two
years of the active existence of the body
it rendered valuable service to the State,
but the failure of the Legislature to
make the annual appropriation caused
a suspension of the labors of the Board,
and its sessions have been discontinued.
It may be proper to state that the credit
of establishing a Board of Health was,
at an early date, due to the State of
Georgia as among the foremost pro
moters of the measure, and such an
agency is now deemed indispensible by
most of tho States of the Union.
PARDONS.
In conformity with the requirement
of the Constitution, a list is furnished
to the General Assembly of the par
dons granted by the Executive in the
last two years, with the reasons for the
same. The number of cases in which
i; has been proper to exercise clemency
has, of necessity, to some extent in
creased from various causes. Ten
years ago, on account of the more num
erous disorders resulting from the war,
and the unsettled state of society, longer
terms of punishment were inflicted than
are usual now for similar offenses. In
many offenses the penalties have been
diminished by statute. It has been
deemed proper to approximate penalties
to the present standard in meritorious
cases.
STATE OK THE COMMONWEALTH.
Without assuming anything to which
| FOUR DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
NO. 15.
we may not justly claim for the fortunes
ot the State, we may, with great satis
faction, make a retrospect of onr pro
gress in the last six years:
In 1877 the taxable property of the
State was $235,659,580; in 1881-2,
$287,249,403; increase, $51,589,873.
Rate of taxation in 1877 was 5 mills
on the dollar, now it is 3 mills.
The gross amount of taxat ion in 1877,
was $1,178,297; in 1881, $861,748; di
minishing the amount of taxes annual
ly over $316,540.
In 1876 the cost of collecting the
tax, including insolvents, was over
$200,000; now this cost is, including
insolvents. $64,284 16; making differ
ences in favor of the Stato of $135,-
715 84.
Iu the same time we have collected
of back taxes, due from railroads in the
State, $200,000, and established the
right of the State to recover as annual
tux on the same roads $40,000 more
than was previously paid.
Our State securities, that were quot
ed at par in 18i 7, have greatly appre
ciated, and are now quoted at 113.
In 1877 our public debt was sll,-
044,000,, with an annual interest of over
SBOO,OOO. We now owe $9,624,135,
with an annual interest of $645,446,’
showing that in six years nearly sl,-
.8)0,000 of the public debt has been
paid, and tho interest account reduced
$150,000.
In 1870 we carried a floating debt of
$250,000. This debt has been entirely
extinguished.
1 or years the State lias not borrowed
a dollar to meet expenses of the govern
ment; but, on the contrary, we have
been able to call in some of onr bonds
before they were due. Within the last
six years we have been able to cover *n
the Treasury nearly a quarterof million
of dollars, which have been secured by
pressing the collection of long standing
claims of the State,
Tabulating the foregoing we have:
Public debt reduced... .. .$1,500,000
Floating debt extinguished, 256,000
Reduced interest on public
debt 150,000
Annual taxation saved 316,540
Saving In cost and loss col
i leering taxes 135,715
Back railroad taxes 213,000
Annual increase of R. R. tax, 4()’000
Collection from old claims, 214,581
Increase of receipts from M.
A B. Railroad 242,314
$3,098,150
5\ e must not forget in the inonmera
tion of particulars of the advanced con
dition ot our State interests, to give
due prominence to the success of our
penai system.
The mortuary rate in our State pris
ous, we believe, is without a parallel.
Lhe rate of less than one per cent, is
below that of any other State whose
reports are accessible to us. The re
form rate, estimated by the number of
convicts returned to the prison, is not
over four per cent, and these results
have been achieved without cost to the
State. May we not claim that in the
three great essentials of good prison
discipline—economy, humanity and
reform—Georgia stands pre-eminent.
And last, but far from least, we mav
express a laudable pride in the advance
ment in our educational facilities. In
I*| 9 the attendance on our public
schools was 179,405; in 1881 it was
244,197, an increase of 64,792. Of
this increase, 31,738 were white chil
dren and 33,054 were colored.
In this hasty summary, we have pre
sented a chapter in the history of our
beloved State replete with cheering in
dications and facts. To the critical eye
of the capitalist and business man as
well as to the mind of the ardent, pa
triotic son of Georgia, we behold
throughout our borders the brightest
promise for the future of oar State.
CONCLUSION.
In concluding this, my final message
to the representative body of Georgia,
I trust I may bo pardoned iu yielding
to the natural impulse of a grateful
heart in giving expression to a few re
marks personal to myself.
h or the last six years I have attempt
ed, as best I could, to demonstrate mv
appreciation of the honors which the
people of this great State have so gen
erously conferred upon me, by a con
stant devotion to the honor and inter
ests of Georgia. This I have done
under a painful sense of the vast labor
of the undertaking, and the inadequacy
of my ability. Of one thing, however,
I could always be assured, that all well
meant efforts to discharge my official
obligations would be generously and
justly recognized by the people, let my
success he what it might.
This trust in the magnanimity and
justice of Georgia has not been dis
appointed, and I here, in this august
forum, make my profoundest acknowl
edgments for the manner in which I
have heen sustaioed. For every trial
or task in my official career, I feel
more than compensated by tho belief
which I take with me into private life,
that the people of my beloved
State will say 1 have served them
with fidelity, and that in surrendering
the reins of government to the illustri
ous man who succeeds me, this com
monwealth was never more entitled to
a distinguished place among the mem
bers of this great Union, nor more
worthy of the good opinion of mankind
than at this moment.
Alfred H. Colquitt.
The Billions,
dyspeptic or constipated, should ad
dress, with two stamps for pamphlet
World’s Dispensary Medical Associa
tion, Buffalo, N. Y.