Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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.