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NO. 30, VOL. II. SANDERS'VILLE, GEORGIA,- JANUARY 23, 1874. J ... XIULOCS'C E5-HSO ASIAN®. B. L. EODGEF.S. :jv SciUosfe, Arlinc &Rodgers. The Hkbaid is published in Sandersville, every Friday morning. Subscription ‘ ;j 3 TWO DOLLARS per annum. •* y iverSseiB.en.ts inserted at the usual rates. charge fe*r publishing marriages or d'Ads. MESSAGE OF GOT. SMITH. Ex. Department of Georgia, \ Atlanta, Ga., January 14,1874. j f 0 the General Assembly: The reports of the Treasurer accl j of the Comptroller-General, herewith j transmitted, show the financial oper- j at ions of the State Treasury for the 1 fiscal year ending December 31,1S73. ' It will be seen that the amount re ceived into the treasury from all sour ces during year, including the pro ceeds of the sale of bonds, and the balance on hand January 1, 1873, is three million one hundred and seven- tv-two thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight dollars and seventy-four cents. The disbursements for the same period, including the amount of the nrincipal and interest paid upon the public debt, are two million two hun dred and fifty thousand two hundred and thirty-two dollars and forty-nine cents. The amount of public debt, princi pal and interest, paid during the year, was one million three hundred and thirty-five thousand seven hun dred and sixty-seven dollars and sev enty-three cents*. This amount is made up of the following items: bonds redeemed §320,500 00 Interest 592,142 73 Ain’t Russel Sage Claim 423,125 00 Total, as above stated. $1,332,767 73 As required by the act approved February 19, 1873, I issued the sum of one million two hundred thousand dollars of bonds of the State, bear ing eight per cent, interest, and to become due as provided in the act. These bonds have all been placed at par ; and, as will appear from the re port of the Treasurer, at an expense of less than one per cent. I respect- full recommend that the amount nec essary to defray the expense of ne gotiating these bonds be appropria ted, and that the Governor be au thorized to draw his warrant therefor in favor of the Treasurer. The lar ger portion of the bonds was dispos ed of in this State ; and the facility with which the loan was made shows, not only the confidence of our peo ple iu the pledged faith of the Gov ernment, but the sound condition of the public credit. PUBLIC DEBT. The following is a consolidated statement of the debt of the State on the first day of January, 1874 : When Amount of Lunatic Asylum Salaries,Trustees and Chap lain Lunatic Asylum.... University of Georgia.... Deaf and Dumb Asylum Academy for the Blind Public Buildings, Atlanta and Milledgeville Printing Fund Contingent Fund Secretaries,Clerks and Mes senger Executive Depart ment Solicitor General fees, Su preme Court,criminal ca ses Clerk Wild Land Office:. . School Commission & Clerk Vaccine Agent for the State Subscription to Code of Georgia Supt. Pulic Works and Keeper Public Property Educational Fund Old debts Western and At lantic Railroad Old Change Bills Western and Atlantic Railroad.. Public Debt and Interest. Balance 1 105,000 2,000 8,000 13,500 11,000 20,000 20,000 20.000 10,000 2,000 1,200 3,700 300 18,000 2,000 250,000 25,000 25,000 823,460 159,196 Date of Issue Bonds. due. principal. 1844 and 1848 .1S74 $237,000 1S73 .1875 100,000 1873 .1876 100,000 1873 .1877 100,000 1858 and 1873 .1878 200,000 1859 and 1873 .1879 300,000 1860 and 1873 .1880 300,000 1861 and 1873 .1881 200,000 1873 1882 100,000 1S73 .1883 100,000 1873 1884 100,000 1873 .1885 100,000 186G and 1873 1886 4,000,000 1870.: .1890 2,098,000 1872 1892 307,500 Total public debt.... $8,342,500 The foregoing statement shows, that the bonds issued in 1S44 and 1848 will become due the present year. Means for their payment have been already provided, in the sale of eight per cent, bonds. Of the gold quarterly bonds, issued under au thority of the act of September 15, 1870, the sum of $2,098,000 is out standing. The sum of $500,000 of these bonds, in the liaffds of Bussell Sage, to secure a loan of $375,000, has been surrendered to the Agent of the State in New York. The to tal amount of interest to be paid upon the public debt the present year is $586,460. j RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS FOR 1874. '■ The Treasurer estimates the pro- j hable receipts and disbursements for s the present fiscal year as follows : j RECEIPTS. Iu Treasury Jan. 1, 1874. .$ 922,556 ; Receipts from general tax, 1874 .1,000,000! Receipts from rent of Wes tern and Atlantic R. R. Receipts from poll tax.... Receipts from tax on insu rance companies Receipts from railroad tax. Receipts from tax on shows Receipts from tax on express companies Receipts from dividends on stock Receipts from taxes of 1873 300,000 Receipts from taxes of for mer years Receipts from hire convicts Receipts from all other sour ces 300.000 100.000 25.000 10.000 3.000 300 2.000 30,000 20,000 20,000 Total ..-..$2,722,856 DISBURSEMENTS. Civil List 100,000 legislative Pay Roil 100,000 Total $2,722,856 The amount of taxable property in 1873, as shown by the Comptrol ler-General’s Report, was $242,487,- 382. This valuation, we may safely calculate, will be increased the pres ent year to $250,000,000. Four and a half-tenths of one per cent, oil this amount would raise $1,125,000; which together with the revenue to be de rived from other sources, will be suf ficient to meet all just claims upon the treasury during next year. Your attention is respectpcctfully invited to the amendment of the tax laws suggested by the Comptroller- General in his report. I renew the suggestion made in my last Annual Message to the General Assembly, that the law be so amended as to se cure a correct valuation of the taxa ble property of the State. With such a valuation, there is but little reason to doubt that the money nee ded to supply the wants of the Gov- ment could, be raised at a reduced rate of taxation. AGRICULTURE. From the vast importance which attaches to the subject, it would seem logical to give priority and supreme consideration to the agriculture of the State. It it too trite to repeat, that this interest is so vital and extended that it underlies and supports all oth er industrial pursuits. We are essen tially an agricultural people, and will remain so, no doubt, for an in definite period; an observing mind does not fall to appreciate a diversi fied industry, we, nevertheless, feel that the best interests of our society require that agriculture should be en couraged as the leading industry of the State. But is our agriculture ad vancing ? Are the farmers and plan ters of the State prospering, and does that business which they have elect ed to follow, and upon which they are so entirely dependent, make them such annual returns as to satisfy a reasonable expectation ? These ques tions, it is feared, must be answered in the negative. I have given, of late much earnest and anxious reflection to the condition of this great indus try in our State; and candor compels me to say that the result of my in- ■ vestigation is far from satisfactory. Many reasons might be given for the present depressed state of our agri culture. Chief among them are the imperfect modes of culture and fer tilization, which have so extensively obtained. It must be admitted, how ever, that there has been more intel ligent effort directed towords the dis covery of better and more scientific modes, since the close of the late war than during any previous period in the history of Georgia husbandry. But what a vast amount of improve ment is yet to be made! Of all the futile attempts upon the part of men to secure material prosperity, noth in" can exceed in hopelessness the task of the farmer, who toils in the cultivation of the soil whose sterility refuses any adequate return. It is not too much to assert, that there are thousands of such acres in culti vation in our State, and that lage sec tions, unless soon recuperated, will become so unproductive as to com pel their abandonment. Here, then, is a case which is too vital to be tam pered with or treated with a resort to palliating and temporary expedi- L ^Throughout the leading States of Europe, the public mind seems to be profoundly interested upon the sub- ject of improved husbandry. This interest has, in a great measine, ex tended throughout the older Atlautic States; and it affords great satis faction to know that the farmers and planters of our own State are ener getically seeking out new roads to success. All seem to agree that we can no longer suffer the exhausting drain on our production which our trade in fertillizers has called for. Millions of dollars are each year sent out of the State to pay for com mercial' manures which have oeen appliedio our crops; and the prevail ing opinion among our farmers seems to be adverse to the economy of I their further use, at the high price j which is demanded for them. A j cheap and portable manure seems, I iu our present condition, to be the i grand desideratum in Georgia agri- j culture. With this secured, every other amelioration is within our reach. But, without it, no pains- taken iu culture, and no expenditure ' of intellect or capital will produce encouraging results. Recent dis coveries gave promise that the tillers of the soil will, at no distant day, be placeed in possession of sounder theories on the subject of fertiliza tion and of cheaper and more efficient formulas for the preparation of man ures, than they have yet had. Sound policy requires, however, that in matters essential to success in this great department of industry, nothing should be left to the mere accidents of individual enterprise or research. The State, very properly, keeps jealous and sleepless watch over its financial department. It is deemed of A T ast importance that the income of die State and its taxable property should be digested in con venient forms and tables, and that the public treasure should be appro priated and paid out with elaborate particularity. But, when it comes to the production of this Avealth, and the means by which it is to be gath ered in everything is left to the vol untary and unassisted exertions of each producer iu the State. After much reflection upon the subject, I am prepared to recommend to the General Assembly the estab lishment of a Department of Agri culture for the State. It Avould be difficult to enumerate the advantages Avhicli would result from the opera tions of such a department. Among its duties should be included mineral interests and resources, as Avell as the practical application of chemistry to agriculture and the mechanic arts. Men noAv distrust analyses and ex periments which are given to the world on unofficial endorsement. Could the information, so much need ed in the every day operations in the field and shop, be sent forth from such a department as the one here recommended, it would carry with it a weight and sanction rendering it acceptable to the public. Here could be gathered from every sotirce the most advanced ideas and methods affecting the great interests commit ted to this department. Gradually scope and value of the practical op erations of the department would extend, so as to include a full detail of the physical characteristics and advantages of each county in the State. It is Avith regret that avc ob- serve how far the State of Georgia is behind even some of the newly ad mitted States, in those valuable sta tistics justly deemed of so much im portance by capitalists and emigrants. In connection with the subject of ameliorating our agricultural inter ests, I would respectfully invite your attention to the propriety of revising the Lien Laws in force in this State. The most casual observer has not failed to note the pernicious influence Avhich these laws have exerted upon our agricultural and other industries. COMMON SCHOOLS. I transmit herewith the Annual Report of the State School Commis sioners, showing the operations of that department during last year.— Of the special tax of one-tenth of one per cent., levied by virtue of the act to provide for the payment of claims due to teachers of 1871, there was collected prior to the first day of De cember last, $176,237 01. Of this amount, the sum of $174,000 has al ready been apportioned among the counties of the State. The School Commissioner* is not in possession of the information necessary to enable him to report the amount of these claims } r et remaining unpaid. At the time the teachers of 1871 took service, there Avas no fund in the treasury for the payment of their claims. One year after the schools of 1871 Avere opened, the school fund, amounting to $242,027 62, was bond ed, under the provisions of the act of July 28, 1870. This act required that the school funds, then on hand, should be paid into the treasury, to be used for other than school pur poses. The act further provided, that the bonds, in which the school fund was required to be invested, should be sold “under the direction of the Governor, to meet appropria tions for school purposes, and for no other purpose.” Authority was giv en by the act of August 19, 1872, to destroy these bonds and substitute other “lawfully executed bonds” in their place. These substituted bonds were required to be sold “at rates not injurious to the credit ,of the State,” and the proceeds apportion ed among the counties on the basis' of the school population. The fund so apportioned was required to be applied to the payment of the claims of teachers for 1871, till such claims were satisfied, “and then to future school work.” ' * At no time since the passage of this ! act has it been practicable to dispose j of these bonds “at rates not injurious I to the credit of the State.” The con dition of the public credit, since the passage of the-aet, has required the exercise of great prudence and cau tion in placing our securities upon the market. Much as I have desired that the just claims of teachers should be paid, I have felt that it would not be proper to raise money for that pur pose by the sale of bonds. I espec ially invite the attention of the Gen eral Assembly to so much of the re port of the School Commissioner as lias reference to .the claims now un der consideration. If it should be thought proper to provide for their full settlement, I recommend that the suggestion of the Commissioner in reference to the manner of payment be adopted. At the date of the Commissioner’s Report, he had received reports of school operations in one hundred and thirteen counties. Three months’ schools have been kept up in most of the counties, with results Avhich have generally, been satisfactory. The faithfulness Aviih which financial ob ligations have been met, has secured the confidence of the public. The system which lias been inaugurated should be firmly established, and in creased efficiency should be given to the Avork so auspiciously begun. The sum of $250,000 was distribu ted among the counties for the sup port of schools last year. This sum is made up from* poll tax, from the half rental of flie Western and At lantic Railroad, and from the divi dends on stoci owned by the State in the Georgia Railroad and Bank ing Company. I concur in opinion wiih'the School Commissioner, that the amount annually received from these sources should not be material ly increased by appropriations from the State Treasury. This amount will be sufficient—at least for some time to come-—for the support of schools in the several counties of the State, for three months in the year. All amounts supplemental of this, intended for school purposes, should be raised by local taxation. the North Georgia Agricultural Col lege, located at Dahlonega, became a branch of the State College and a department of the University. That college Avas formally opened in Jan uary, 1873, and numbered, during its first session, one hundred and seven- ty-seA-en students. The Chancellor, in his report, speaks in the most en couraging terms of this branch of the University. The income of the University for last year from all sources, and in cluding cash balance, was $34,798.92 Of this amount, there was received from tuition fees $10,540; from in terest on the Land Scrip Fund, $10,- 234 15; and from all other sources, $14,024 77. The expenditures for the same period Avere: for salaries, $27,383 27; for sundry expenses, $5,- 51S 99: cash balance July 29, 1873, $1,896 66. The expenditures on ac count of the State College were; for salaries, $9,706 91; for sundry expen- ces, not including repairs, $3,259 18. The last payment for the Agricul tural College Land Scrip, amounting to $96,192 have been invested in the, eight per cent, bonds of this State, which have been turned over to the Trustees of the University. The eminent rank which the University has assumed among the institutions of learning is a just cause of pride on the part of the people of Georgia. DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM. I submit ’ herewith the Sixteenth Annual Rebort of the Trustees of the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. The number of pupils admitted to the institution during the year was sixty-seven. Six pupils completed within the year the term of six years allowed by the State. The sum of $13,500 was appropri ated at the last session of the Gen eral Assembly to pay the officers and teachers of the institution, and for the support and education of the in digent pupils therein. This sum was found sufficient; and, in the opinion of the Trustes, a similar sum will I fully approve the views expressed ' meet all the wants of the institution by the Commitsioner upon the sub- the present year. The General As- ject, and recortimend them to the careful consideration of the General Assembly. Your attention is invited to that portion of the Commissioner’s report referring to the "appropriation made by the Genral Assembly, at its last sembly, at the last session, appropri ated the sum of $1,500 to construct water works for the institution, and the further sum of $1,000 for repairs. By a judicious expenditure of these sums, the buildings have been repair ed and furnished, adding greatly to. session, to the Atlanta University, j the comfort of the pupils; and water That institution is not responsible to j works have been constructed of-suf- the State Government for the prop- | ficient capacity to supply theinstitu — application of donations made for its support. Our institutions of learning, as far as practicable, should be fostered *>y the State Govern ment ; but no money should be given from the treasury for that purpose, Avithout a sufficient guaranty for its proper application. STATE UNIVERSITY. I have the honor of presenting here Avith the reports of the Board of Trustees and of the Board of Visi tors, showing the operations of the State Uuniversity during last year. The session closed August 6, 1873 ; on which occassion degress Avere conferred upon thirty-three students, who had passed the examinations in the schools of the University, with which they had been connected. The number of students matriculated, during the year, Avas three hundred and eighteen. The several courses of study prescribed, and the num ber of students pursuing each course, are reported by the Chancellor as follows : The Classical Course.... 53 students The Scientific Course.... 26 students The Elective Course.... 19 students The Sophomore Class.. 51 students The Law School 16 students The State College 153 students The University had no prepara tory school, and no Freshman class, and the matriculation indicates a change in structural working of the University. Of the three hundred and eighteen students who attended the Universiy last year, two hundred and ( ninety- one were from this State. This fact indicates that our people not only feel an increased interest in educa tion, but that they also have a just appreciation of the educational ad vantages afforded by the State Uni versity. The last session of the State Col lege of Agriculture and the Mechan ic Arts showed the increasing pros perity of that institution. Under the careful supervision of President Broun, aided by the professors asso ciated with him, it is rapidly growing in public faA r or, and promises soon to perform a prominent part in the work of education in the State. The Col lege uoav has three departments, viz.: Agriculture, Engineering and Applied Chemistry—each having its appro priate professor. In addition to the instruction obtained in these depart ments, the sudents of the College are also instructed by the professors in the schpol of the University-in Math ematics, Natural Philosophy, Mod- ren Languages and English Litera ture. They also have the advantage of all the auxiliries of education such as the libraries, museum and literary societies of the University. Towards the. close of the year 1872, tion. The Trustees recommend that an additional term of three years in the institution he alioAved to such pu pils as may prove themselves com petent, intellectually and morally, for the same; and, also, that a depart ment be established for teaching articulation. They also suggest , that the institution needs additional school room furniture and proper systems of drainage and ventilation. I recommend that an appropriation of $13,500 be made to meet the ordi nary annual expenses of the institu tion, and that such other sum be specially appropriated as its Avants may require. ACADEMY FOE THE ELIND. Herewith is presented the report of the Board of Trustees of the Academy for the Blind, for the year 1873, with accompanying documents. The affairs of the Academy have been managed with due regard to economy, and its condition reflects credit upon the officers and Trustees. The receipts during the yeaj- were: From unexpended balance, January 1st, 1873 $ 1,115 37 Appropriation for the sup port of the Academy, 1873.11,000 00 Special appropriation for repairs, 3,000 00 Total receipts for 1873. .$15,115 37 DISBURSEMEMTS IN 1873. For support of Acapemy, 1873 $11,200 00 For repairs 3,000 00 Total disbursements.. $14,200 00 The number of students in the Academy has increased to a degree which will require a larger appropria tion for the support of the institu tion during the present year. Tho principal estimates that the sum required will be $12,000, which will give less than $275 to each stu dent in attendance at the Academy. A special appropriation of $3,000 is also asked for to complete certain improvements already commenced, and to repair the buildings. I recom mend that these additional appropri ations be made. LUNATIC ASYLUM. I have the honor to submit here- Avith the report of the Trustees of the Lunatic Asylum. The number of patients in the Asylum at the date of the report was five hundred and seventy-six. The capacity of the in stitution is not sufficient to accom modate over six hundred patients, and it is not improbable that it will be filled the present year. The report shows that the Asylum is in good condition; that its depart ments are well organized, and its business conducted Avith reference to economy and efficiency. No allow ances of any kind are made to the officers and employes of the institu tion (excepting the Superintendent and Resident Physician) other than quarters and fuel to the officers re siding in the Asylum building, and forage for one horse to the Chief Steward. Commissary stores to the extent of $1,500 per annum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the maintenance of his table,, are allowed to the Superintendent. This allowance is made to that officer in view of the necessity which is im posed upon him of entertaining vis itors to the Asylum, and for provid ing from his own table such special diet as is found proper for certain female patients. The salary of the Chaplain of the Asylum was fixed,, by the Trusteesin December, 1872, at $500 per annum.. The regulations require that officer to hold religious service at the Asy lum once every Sabbath and once during the week, and also the usual service attending the burial of the dead. The General Assembly, at its last session, appropriated the sum of $250 to pay the salary of the Chaplain, and the Trustees have not felt authorized to exceed the sum appropriated. They recommend that the additional sum of $250 be paid to the Chaplain for his last year’s service, and that his salary be fixed at $500 per annum, or be left to the discretion of the Board of Trustees, as in the case of other subordinate officers. I respectfully call the attention of the General Assembly to the fact,that the practice of furnishing intoxica ting liquors, Avithout proper authori ty, to patients and employes at the Asylum, is springing up and threat ening to become detrimental to the interests of the institution. For the suppression of this evil, I recom mend that the sale of spirituous and malt liquors within one mile of the Asylum be prohibited by law, and that it be made penal to furnish such liquors to- any patient at the institu tion, unless prescribed by the prop er medical officer. The report of the Trustees disclos es the fact, that in many instances there has not been a strict compli ance Avith the law regulating the ad mission of pauper patients into the Asylum. The law does not provide for the admission of paupers whaiire not residents of this State. "When a person has been convicted of a mal ady requiring him to be committed to the Asylum, it is the duty of the court presiding at the trial, to certify if such a person is a pauper; but he shall not be certified a pauper unless in whole, or in part, supported by the county, or unless the county is bound . for his support. It is farther pro- vided, that if there be persons who by law are bound and able to support the luuatic, the name of such persons must be given. If the lunatic has means enough to support himself, in part, the amount of such means must be stated and must be paid towards his support. The object of* these provisions of the law is, to protect the public from the burden of sup porting lunatics who have the means of supporting themselves, or who ought to be supported by private in dividuals. I suggest that the law be so amended as to secure the oh servance by officials of these salu tary provisions. Attention is called to the sugges tion of the Board that no distinct pro vision of law exists for the dis charge of patients, who, Avhile not in a condition to be certified of sound mind, are, nevertheless, harmless, and might, with benefit to themselves and relief to the State, be remitted to the" care of their friends and rela tives. In consequence of this defect in the law, the institution is becom ing crowded with this class of patients Some of the present inmates, who are healthy in body and harmless in mind have been in the Asylum for periods varying from ten to twenty-eight years. I suggest that the law be so amended as to give to the Trustees the power to discharge,tfor reason by them deemed sufficient, any pa tient in the Asylum. The reports of the Treasurer and Steward show the receipts and dis bursements during the year, ending November 30,1873. Duplicate vouch ers of disbursements have been made out and placed on file in the Execu tive office, as the laAv requires. According to estimates submitted by the Board of Trustees, $105,000 Avill be required for the support of the Asylum during the present year. The expense of each patient, on the basis of this amount, is fifty cents per day to the State. This estimate is not excessive, and I recommend that the amount asked for by the Board be appropriated. PENITENTIARY. The Annual Report of the Princi pal Keeper shows that the total num ber of convicts now in the Georgia Penitentiary is six hundred and six ty-four. Of these, ninety-three are white and five hundred and seventy- one are colored persons. There are one white and nineteen colored fe males arqong the convicts. The present lease of the convicts will expire on the first day of April next, and it will be necessary that some action be taken at the present session of the General Assembly, directing the future disposition to be made of them. The State prison- has been unoccupied for several years past, and is not of sufficient capacity or in proper condition to, accommodate and. keep securely the present large and constantly increas ing number o£ eonvicts.. If it should' be determined not to lease the convict force in the future, but "to-confine them within the walls of the State prison, steps should at once be taken to enlarge the buildings, and make the repairs necesarry ter the sate keeping of the prisoners. From the year 1817, when the Pen itentiary went into operation, down to 1867, a period of fifty years, the average number of convicts within, its walls was forty-two. The aveirage annual appropriation, for the support and safe-keeping of the prisoners, during the same period, was $9,210, or $219 for each one per annum. From this statement, it would seem impossible, if the convicts are kept and employed within prison wall by the State, to make the Penitentiary system self-sustaining. To appreci ate fully the justness of this conclu sion, it should be remembered, in this connection, that during the pe riod just mentioned all fhe convicts were white persons; and for that reason probably more capable of learning the arts m which it has been found practicable to employ convict labor. Of the convicts now in the Penitentiary, more than five to one are colored persons, most, if not all, of whom, by reason of their igno rance and former habits of life, can never be profitably employed in any of the mechanical arts. And when it is borne in mind, that for some years to come the number of con victs will probably be increased, rath er than diminished, the disposition best to be made of the Penitentiary becomes a question of the gravest importance.. If the General Assembly, in its wisdom, should determine, that it would be for the public interest, to again farm out the convicts, I would suggest, that authority be given to lease for a longer term than two years The profitable employment of so largo aforce would necessarily involve a heavy outlay on the part of con-" tractors, and it might be found diffi cult, if not impossible, to lease the convicts for a period less than five years, upon terms which would save the State from expense. I respectfully invite thq attention of the General Assembly to the re port of the Principal Keeper here with submitted. It contains a suc cinct history of the Penitentiary fr om its establishment down to the pres ent time, and furnishes facts which may materially aid you in determin ing the proper disposition to be made of the institution. MACON AND BRUNSWICK RAILROAD COM PANY. I was informed on the second day of July last, by certain holders of the bonds of the Macon and Brunswick Railroad Company, which* had been endorsed by the State, under the act approved December 3,1866, that they had presented the interest coupons of their bonds to the company for payment, and that payment thereof had been refused. Accompanying this information were notices, show ing that the coupons had been pro tested for non-payment on the first day of July, 1S73. By the second section of the act under whife-h the bonds were indors ed, it is made the duty of the Gover nor, in the event that any interest upon the bonds so indorsed shall not be paid when clue, to seize and take possession of all the property of the company, and apply the earn ings of the road to the extinguishment of the bond or bonds or coupons, and to sell the road and other property- belonging to the company, in such manner and at such time as in his judgement may best subserve the in terest of all concerned. Under the authority thus given, I issued an or der, July 2,1873, seizing all the prop erty of the company, and placed the same in the possession of a Receiver, to the end that the road, its earnings and the other property of the com pany might be held and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the aforesaid act. Acting under this order, George H. Hazlehurst, the Receiver, took possession of the road and other property of the company in behalf of the State. This prompt action was deemed necessary for the protection of the public interest. Iwas apprehensive that any delay on my part would be taken advantage of by creditors to place the company in bankruptcy—in which event the pub lic interest would unquestionably have suffered serious injury. At the time the road was seized the company had outstanding about $70,000 of pass bills, Avhich had been issued from time to time, for conve nience in its business transaction. These bills had gone into general circulation, but were mostly held by the patrons- and employes of the [concluded on fourth page.]