The News and Observer from Raleigh, North Carolina • Page 2

.11 -1 -4 it 1 ft A 'A i Jt 5 i -f it it it and out, of them, by precept andexampleY purchase to the Attorney-General. That holder ev Can be, they have i been in this con- The News axd Observer energy to iL We have the material In great abundance of the best quality, and we need not be ashamed or afraid to compete with any State in the Union, i The trouble about it iff, we have not made )t known. In fact, it has been so little published that until recently we hardly knew it ourselves. I think I venture nothing in saying that the Board of Agriculture has done more, since it was organized, to advertise the State's resources than had been done In all her history before, I havei suggested that the Board of Agriculture should make the exhibition, because 1 think it the best agency bv which it can be done but if VOUr hon I.LI AUt HfH.Ntf CO Proprietors Fuiunn Dauy (noin owat) akb Wbslet. S.A.

ASHX. KDITOB. GOVEBNOB'S 10SSSAGE. 1 STATE OE NORTH CAROLINA, it- Exxcmvx Depabtmkxt, Raleigh, January 8, Gmttemen of the, BenaU and Boute of Rep- rMfatfM The Governor is required by the tution. "from time to time to givato the General Assembly information of the 'affairs of the State, ana to recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall deem expedient" j' In complying with this constitutional ligation, I shall do so without preliminaries In a straight-forward, nrsrliciil vv 1 The reports of the heads of the several departments xf the State government and of the charitable and penal institutions, the State Board of, Health, the Board of Phar-macy and the qnftrantihe physician at Smith-ville, are herewith transmitted.

These reports show in1 detail the operations of these various departments and institution's, and will give you Accurate information as to. condition and progress. You cannot study these report too closely, as you will find the information they contain exceedingly valuable tho performance of your legislative duties. 15 4 WIS' ArDITOB'aEPOBT. In the 'Auditor's report there is a table, 1 never before published, to which I desire to direct your special attention.

I refer to the table the assessed value of land per acre in the! different counties and of the leading articles of personal property which appears upon the tax list; i It will be seen that these values in all the counties are sur-: prismgly low, and by comparing one county with another, they will be found to be very unequal. I bog that each member will examine this table and see how land, horses and mules are valued in hi own county; A stranger looking over this table would think that the lands in North Carolina, were i wretchedly poor, wgd grave doubts will arise whetherjt is not belter, to suppress the ta- Die, unless us publication is likely to lead to the adoption of lomes -plan by which the property can be assessed at something like its actual value. I I know of no subject likely to come before you more important or more difficult to deal with. It is manifest that under the present system the valuations are greatiy oerow me casn value 01 the property and very unequal in the various counties and townships. If some one could uc too a yiau iuab wuuiu secure vae listing of all property anfl uniformity In its valuation, he would put the whole State under obligations.

The taxation necessary to support the government is the price the citizen pays for the protection of law and the benefits of civil The burden of this taxation ought tobeaf uniformly upon all. At present it does not, owing to the great want of uniformity in assessing the erty ior taxation, It requires about $535,000 to carry oh the StaU qvenunenf; fori each year, and, this amount must be jraised, whether the propi erty be valued at sits present low valuation of $167,000,000, tor at something like its real value of i $300,000,000. To raise that amount on the present valuation, it is neces-, the doctrines or the Christian religion i but there- ought to be a special chair devoted solely to that subject, to mfet the demands -created by these times for special ins true tion. There is tearful tendency among the advanced thinkers of the present age to ignore, if not to hold in contempt, the claims of the Christian religion. I want to see our State declare in no unmistakable manner that at her University no system of philoso phy is to be listened te for One moment that does not teach that God, is the Creator of all things, and the Ruler ot all things, na as sucn, entmea to tne services or au men, and that the Bible is the great book for the study of mankind.

I ask thai an annual appropriation of two thousand dol lars be made for this purpose, and that the irusiet-s oe required to make the selection. I know the board desires: to have such a professor in the institution, but the funds at their command will not allow them tb es-tablish such a chair. There was a move ment started some time ago by some of the Faculty to endow such a chair by private donations, but it ws found difficult to induce the people to to a State institu- tion, and the movement was abandoned. I urge it upon you and trust you not fail to make the appropriation THI OOLLCOSS. i The colleges are all -doing well and are well patronized.

Two of the leading colleges and the denominations to which they belong have sustained a great loss In the re moval of the President of one from, the State and the death of the President of the other; but it is confidently hoped that their career of usefulness will not be checked -thereby. So, too, the academies and high schools are doing well tneir part in, this gret work, TnE NORMAL SCHOOLS. The Normal Schools established at the University and elsewhere have proven great helps and have been atfcided with great succass, and 1 advise that the appropriations for them be continued, i THX CO OX SCHOOLS. The school law passed at the last session of the Uenerai Assembly has been found to work Well so far as the Bystcm is concerned." I especially commend that feature which allowed the Superintendent a clerk and compensation for his traveling expenses, so that he could go out and talk to the people and aid in the proper organization and conduct of their schools.) I not only recom. mend that lids provision of the law, be continued, but that the amount allowed to be used for these purposes bei increased.

There have been established during the last two years no less than elghf graded schools, whose good work cannot be estimated- The presence and labors of bur able superintendent did much to aid in; establishing these schools. I earnestly recommend that you pass a general law authorizing any city, town or township to' establish, a graded school, and if a majority Of the voters shaft so determine, to impose; a tax upon the polls and property of that community for its support. But as the excellent report of the superintendent goes fully Into these de- -i tails, 1 will forbear and fclc you to study carefully that report. r. 1 cannot, however, forbear to commend to your consideration the question upon which our common schools depend, to-wit, the; money necessary to carry them on.

The system may be perfect, the superintendent able, the teachers ready and th people anxious, but unless the General Assembly supplies the money it will all be worthless The work of our a common schools, there-" fore, after all, depends upon you. It Is for you to say whether the children of North Carolina shall grow np intelligent and valuable men and women, or whether they shall be ignorant, vicious and bad citizens. It is for you to decide whether; your State shall continue to occupy the dark spot of illiteracy on the map. of our country, or whether, true to the memory of bur Mecklenburg fathers and their ready 'compatriots, -she shall be first in intelligence as she was first in liberty. I say it depends Upon the General Assembly to decide this question, because the education of (he great mass of the rising generation depends upon the common schools, and the value of the common schools depends upon the money supplied by taxation, and taxes can; only be levied for the purpose or with the consent of the General Assembly.

The report of the superintendent shows there are in the-State over 490,000 children of the school age, and it further shows the amount of money raised under the present tax has never exceeded in one year $550,000. It is idle to talk of educating 490,000 on $550,000 a year I The best' system of common schools' ever de-; vised would be a failure if dependent upon so small an amount of money. So it need not be a matter of wonder that our system has not met jpublic expectation, and that you hear unfavorable comments upon it, You will have to determine whether you wu let tne schools languish and, it may be, die, or supply them with: money, which is as necessary to the school system as blood is to the human system, i-. Under our constitution it is Impossible to raise money enough by taxation to make the common Bchools what they ought to Article section 1, o( the constitution limits the authority of the General Assem- bly in its power to levy taxes to two dollars on the poll and! to sixty-six and two-third cents on the hundred dollars worth of prop- erty. At the present low valuation of prop ierty adopted throughout the State, it quires nearly all the tax' that can be levied to carry on the State and county govern- A ments, leaving but a 'small; tax for the schools.

I urge you to, propose an amend-.) iment to this section of the constitution, to the effect that this limitation shall not apply, to taxes levied for the support of the com- mon schools. Certainly tnere can be no objection to submitting such ah amendment to the people. If the people do hot desire it, they; will vote It down; and if they do idesire to tax themselves to an extent to make the common schools efficient, should be allowed to do so. "It will jnot do for the Legislature to say that they will not trust the people. We Lad as well look this question squarely In the face and meet the issues made like men.

It Is more money for the -schools, or poor schools; with all the evil results which follow. Which shall it be For one, my voice is for more money and better schools. In my Inaugural address, on assuming the duties 1 of Governor, I declared it to.be my purpose to work for North Carolina, the, develop- Stent of her resources and the education of er children, I have; tried to keep that promise: I have visited the schools in the different sections of the State from the University to the common schools and have -addressed teachers, pupils and If North Carolina does not occupy a higher position in the scale of education in next census, report than she does in, the last, it shall be no fault- of mine. But af ler all, the chief responsibility is with the -General Assembly. r'i.

I further recommend that you pass strong: resolutions requesting; our Senators andv Representatives ia Congress to use their In-fiuehce to have passed a bill to distribute the surplus revenues with which, the Federal Treasury is now overloaded, among the States, to be by them expended for edoca-- tional purposes, according to the ratio of Illiteracy ia the States. I presume our reprt. sentatlves will not hesitate to support such a measure without any request, but if you ask it it will tend to strengthen then efforts. In taking this position do not feel- that I am assuming the, attitude of sup. pliant or in any Way humiliating the jStateK I feel if such a bill shall pass and we receive ithe only be getting back our the government of the United -State wltt bf Wt doiagit dutyrv" i yean the' government: jtjrjtjl sary to levy a tax joi i wenty-eignt cents on the hundred dollars' worth of property but if the property haid its reasonable value of C300, 000,000, eighteen cents on the hundred would be sufficient.

So it is practi-; caHy the same to the tax-payer whether the valuation of the property be higher and the rate of taxation slower, or the valuation lower and the ratethigher. But for the these reports are sent abroad, It Is infinitely preferably that the value of the property of the Sfiate should antear as the which (was substantially like the one submittod, to the Legislature, jexcept thatH mot carefully protected the State against second lien, tne treasurer and myself, alter a careful examination or the the contract, and after due consideration of whole question, approved the agreement and the exchange of bonds commenced. Up to Januaryl, 1883, the Treasurer had is- sued have tinder this exchange 1,720,003. I little doubt that the balance of the outstanding bonds will be taken up during tins year, append a copy oi tne contract (marked for your informa- tion. far as Bt this settlement it would seem, so human foresight can see, that a valU- able property will be saved to the State without imposing one dollar of tax upon the people.

RAILROADS. i There ought not to be any conflict be tween railroad companies and the people. The true interests of both, when properly understood, in my opinion, go hand in hand. When the people are prosperous, the rai road companies will be prosperous also, a id when the people suffer, the revenues of the railroad will diminish. All railroal men, though, are not wise men, and cinsequently their management of their lines is not always based upon principles of justice or wisdom.

Many of them' treat communities with injustice and extortion, and the communities in turn, when opport unity offers, are not slow to retaliate. There has probably been as little this conflict between the corporations dnd the people in North Carolina is in any other State. Yet there have been complaints which former Legislatures have already undertaken to remedy. You may feel called upon at this session to take still further action. If so, the wisest thing you can do will, in my opinion, be to create a railroal commission.

I recommend this commission in mv inaugural and I still believe it to be the happiest solution of the question. If you shall decide to? create such a I advise that the appointment of the commissioners be vested in the I General Assembly, as I belieiv that men appointed by the direct representatives of the i people would more? certainly have the confidence, of all concerned; The Legislature, in my opinion, has absolute control over the corporations, which are but its creatures. As between the corporations and the Legislature, the corporations can, in view of the case, acquire no vested right and can exercise ha authority which the General Assembly cannot amend, alter, repeal or abolish. I ant aware that the contrary doctrine was laid down In the celebrated Dartmouth College case, and that it has never been entire ly overruled, out tnins tne tendency ox tne moire recent decisions is toward sustaining the power of the Legislature. Be that as it may, I) to see the Legislature of North Carolina assert that right whenever shall become necessary; and when this is established and acknowledged to be the law, there will to my opinion, De no lurtner conmct between the railroads and the people.

But while I hold the Legislature has this power, I shall always advise that it be exercised with' prudence, justice and wisdom! and I think a North Carolina Legislature Can al ways be trusted to do so: The railroads are the great developers of a State's resources, and in thepresent age, are indispensable to the prosperity ana comiort oi tne people. What We greatly need in North Carolina is more of them, and I would deeolv reirret to see anything done by our Legislature which does not give to capitalists the- fullest as surance that every dollar invested in a rail road in our state will nave tne same care and protection from the State that; any other species oi property nas. it nas neen mv Policy; to encourage the building. of xail- roads; ana wncrever one nas Deen projecieu in any section of the State, I have given to it a cordial support wniie i am unaltera bly opposed to the State's ever issuing an other pond ior any roaa, i ao warmiy. aa- vocate giving the convict labor, wnen it is necessary to aid in tneir construction ana I advise the passage of a general law author izing the Directors of the penitentiary, with the consent of the Governor, to work such convicts, free of charge, as are riot em ployed upon works that pay tor tnem, upon iUVU, 1U VUCtr UlHUiUUt UCJJCIIU hjivu for their construction.

In this short lines leading from the ines can be built, as soon as the State from hex contract with the Western Carolina railroad, that otherwise not be built, and this much I think- te can well afford to do. ccs of the purchasers of the Interest hi this road were not able to te the road to Paint Rock and Pigeon River by the 1st of July. 1881. the time fixed in the 1 contract. The commis- however, for causes which they sufficient, extended the time.

The been completed to these points been for some time open- for travel o. no iron nas been laid west of but the eradinir has been with due diligence. The grading jen completed to the top of mountain, a distance of eighteen miles west of Pigeon river and nearly completed, I am lniormed py tne Vhiel Engineer, Major Wilson; to the Cowee mountains, where they strike a tunnel eight hundred feet long; lie thinki he nave the grading completed to the Cowee tunnel, thirty-three miles west of Pigeon river, by the first of March, and to a point near Charleston, in Swam county, iorty-eignt mues west oi ngeon river, by the first of June. They have two years inorrto complete the road and I see no reason whv thev mav not dn it in that time Th old part of the road east of the mountains which was nearly worn out wnen the road nas been put in good condition, from reports made to the commis- that two hundred and twenty-three lour hundred and i thirty- ross-ties and fifteen and a quarter new rails have been laid on that the road between Salisburv and liickory station in the -last two years. I aiso learn irom these reports tnat lourteen new engines have been put upon the road in the last two years, and the rolling stock greatly added to and improved.

I mention these things because tbey seem to indicate the good faith of the present owners of the propei ty in complying with rthei contract. THE U-K FKAR ASP YADKIS VALLKT K.UL- BO AD. I i' The General Assembly at its last -session passed an act appointing a commission to sell the ptate stock in this road. 1 pressed upon the Legislature by special message the imports! ce of providing for the sale of the road as the speediest means of insuring its completion. Unfortunately, in passing the act, conditions were tacked on which made it aim )st impossible for a purchaser to comply with them.

The commission did meet, howei er, and enter into a contract of sale but th terms, as was expected, were not com- Elied with and so nothing came pf it. 1 ave reason to believe that other; parties will submit a proposition to you during your session to buy the State's stock. If yOU not make a sale of the property, then I advise you to strikeout the rigid condition i in the act of last session and leave the commission free to sell the Bute's stock upon the best terms that can be bad. The stock of the State in the road is five hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars, and it is this that it is -oposed to sell. The grading Is about completed to Walnut Cov.e, in the i county of Stckes.

This work has been done by convict labor entirely, and for it the State holds first lien upon the property which iriay te discharged by the mortgage bonds of the company. ATl.i XTtO ASD KOBTII CAEOUXA BAIUiOAP. Thi i property was leased for thirty years lyth stockholders on the 1st day of July, 1881, a the Midland North Carolina Railway Company, for the sum of forty thousand dollars a year and upon the condition that ie Midland Company would build a road Iron! Goldsboro to Salisbury. It was this condition tliat secured the vote of the State in favor of the lease. The Midland -ompany built a railroad from Goldsboro to Smitl.

field, a distance of twenty-two miles, on their way from Goldsboro to Salisbury, and there stopped. In consequence of this ce8sa(ion of tne work, the stockholders of the Atlantic Company, after full notice to the Mjidland Company, on the 10th of November, 1882, declared the lease forfeited and directed the President of the Company to taia the necessary steps to repossess the Comr any of Ju property. A suit for this purpese has been or will soon be com-menced. ii If uto toad could be complKt) to fiali was sol I learn tnousand four miles cart bury, it would nut through the heart of the mate, ano, wouia give to a productive section ample railroad facilities. It would run along or near the fine water power of ChaU ind Kanaoipnaad would greauy aid in "veJopmcnt Its value to the State.

cou. te ouut, would te great, and i as you i- lathorixe me or some one else to en ter into a contractjWitn any person or corporation to.give them the State's interest in the stock! of the, Atlantic road upon the completiop of the road to Salisbury. I do not know ithat such a contract can made, but it is Woth the trial. The State's interest in thtLtlanticlroad is not to-day prac tically worth anything to the State, while an hundred and fifty: mues of new road from Goldsboro! to Salisbury would be worth a great deal! It is true that the State has a nominal interest in the stoek? of the Atlantic road to the amount of For this she is sued her bonds to that amount, beginning 1st of January, 1850, to run for thirty years, and pledged her stock in the road for their redemptiqq. Some of these bonds have been takeh up by the State at forty cents in the dollar, but there is still outstanding $248,000, with fourteen years accrued in terest, which is a hen upon the State stock.

jme of these bonds fall due January (1st, 1886; so that in three years fronji now, the stock will be sold out and the State's interest in the rvad lost. li, in the meantime, this stock could be utilized to secure the building of one hundred and fifty tniles of new road, it would be good for the Stated The bondholder would not be hurt by it, because his interest could not be affected, and the purchaser 'would not be for lie will have full the lacts. The State now has an interest in the stock with which she can part, and advise the passage of an act au thorizing to be done upon tne completion of a railrojjwl from Goldsboro to Salisbury, Charlotte (or a hundred and tuty mues in any direction. GOVSR3.0B 8 MANSION. I earnestly ask that you provide for the building and furnishing of a Governor's Mansion On thev square belonging to the State, kdown as "Burke Square," or the "Lovejoyi Grove." It does not comport with the dignity of the State for the Governor to live at a hotel, where he is unable to dispense the hospitality incumbent upon him and due to the State, to say nothing of the peraoinal inconvenience to himself.

I make no bersonal complaint, but I trust you will provide for my successor, before1 the expiratioi of my term, a comf ortable home, suitable jtp his high oifice'and creditable to the This can be done at comparatively little cost in money from the Treasury. If jbuilt of brick, the brick can be made at tjhe penitentiary. If built of red sandstone, Tghich I greatly prefer, the stone can all be cut by the convicts at the penitentiary, and thisfwill be the chief item of cost. I also ask that you allow me to sell the old Mansion and the grounds attached, and when the sale is approved by the Council of State and the purchase money paid into the Treasury! to execute a deed for the same to the purchasers. In making this recommendation, I feel at liberty to uitge it upon youj because.

I cannot be suspected of any personal consideration. I do it because I know so well that the State on many accounts ought to have a Governor's Mansion and to require $he Governor to occupy it. A BCTLDIXG FOB A SCPBEMK COURT ROOM l.VD STATS AND StTREMS OOCBT LIBRARY. In my last message I had occasion to call the attention of I the General Assembly to the crowded condition of the offlce of Secretary of State and of the State and Supreme Court libraries Two years has but added to the cramped condition of these rooms. It is now imperative that something be done to provide a place for the books and records which these rooms have not space to hold, or their; injury and waste are inevitable.

The remedy proposed before was to erect a Supreme Court building and in it locate the Supreme Court and the State and Supreme Court libraries. I how most earnestly renew that recommendation. One of the difficulties in the way then, wasthe want of a proper location for the building. That difficulty has been removed by the purchase of the property contiguous to the capitol square, known as the National Hotel. All will admit that to be an eligible location.

In remodeling the old hotel for the Agricultural Department and the Geological Museum, wf had an eye to the probable location of the Supreme Court in the building. In this re-arrangement of the building I had and. Thei. libraries. The TVe Building in tuts ucsigu i contain the Su preme Court room and offices for the Su preme Court clerk and the Attorney-General.

Ah addition of sixty: feet should be Eut to the west end of the building for the the State library being on the first and the Supreme Court library on the second floor. The front of the whole building ought to be ultimately and at a convenint time made of granite. The designs, drawing and explanations of i the building! can be seen at the Execu tive office, and will be placed in the hands of your committee when called for. I ask that you authorise this work to be donil, and when done, to provide for the removal of the Supreme Court and the libraries to the building. Much of this work can be ddne by the convicts.

When this change is I suggest that the Secretary of State be assigned to the office now occupied by him arid the Auditor, and that the Auditor be assigned to the rooms now occupied by the Supreme Court and its clerk. The' room now occupied by the State Library should be set apart as the repository of the ancient and valuable records of the State, and' these; records should be required by law to be placed therein and never allowed to be By this arrangement, rooms in the Capitol would be vacated, which would afford much needed committee rojom for your body. 1 TH HALLS OF THE TWO HOUSES. One need.but glance through the halls, at the threadbare carpets, the dingy wails and the dirty, torn curtains, to suggest the absolute need of an appropriation to put the halls ia decent condition. I ask you, as you sit in your seats, to look around and minutely inspect Our halls, and say if you are satisfied with them.

If not, then authorize the board! of public buildings, and grounds to put them in proper condition. i TUB AOEICUtTCKAL DEPARTMENT. IcannOf commend the work of this department too higtly to your favorable; It has, in my opinion, been the great instrument by which the State has become better known at home and abroad in the last five years than ever before. Its publications cobceraing the. resources of the State, which have been circulated in this, 1 and the old countries, have awakened an interest and prompted inquiries neyer before known.

The cbrres-poudence of the department concerning these things will: upon examination more than sustain this declaration. The exlubi-. tion made at Atlanta by the department attracted the attention of the thousands of visitors, and induced many persons to visit the State to invest in the sources of wealth hitherto uhknowh and' there for the first time exhibited. The protection the depart-mentraes to the agricultural interest in, protecting the farmers against spurious fertilizers is of itself worth to this great interest hundreds of thousands of dollars every year ant If the department was of no other benefit, this alone ought to commend it to your favorable consideration. But the department does holt rest upon this alone for its support In many ways it is fostering old industries and encouraging new ones, and in divers ways working for the good of the State! and the development of her resources.

The? effect of its work diffused over the State, cannot be ascertained like one numbers his barrels of corn and his bales of cotton in harvest time but it is Just as certainly adding to the aggregate wealth of the State each year as does the corn and cotton add to the wealth qf the successful farmerl i The General Assembly at its last session authorized the department to erect an "Agricultural building, to be paid for out pf the funds of the department." Soon after the adjournment of the Legislature, the old National Xlotel and lot were advertise! to be sold. There were many reasons why I thought tjie State ought to own this property. In fact, its value to the State in years to come, Jn my opinion, will be beyond estimate. Impressed with this idea, JKen-tered into negotiations with iti owref for the purchase of the property; and lendlig these negotiations, I submitted ei vo ttw lutboritgr of the board to now or some six or seven years, and they are soon finished, they will nec- saruy-pe injurea, 2. 1 think the work already done on this jwini amounts to one-fifth, or, it may be, iDnefourth of th brick work, and that is oo mucji to permit to go to waste, i -SlfTlierels a considerable quantity of ma-erial left over from the work on the main building and the other wing, which can be utilized in building this wing, but which kill bring but little, if sold.

I lhe buildinz force is already orcan- zediand familiar with the work and it is pest to continue it. 51 At Dresent both male and female ha- icnts will have to be kept in the same wine pf the building, which is objectionable. 6." lne wing js greatly needea to provide or the insane 6f the State, whosej misfor-un(B appeal to us for help. The present capacity of the building is only about two hundred and that leaves a large number Unprovided far. 7.

It is not certain we can ever get such ftnoUierDuilcung committee and superin- tlentj as the ones who have had this work hand. It is a marvel ofc cheapness, com- bleteness and absolute freedom from job i I Want these same men to tro riirht on wiuj the work and finish the building. They are willing to do it, and in making tho appropriation, I suggest that the duties and responsibilities be placed upon that com mittee, as heretofore. -This will not inter- fere with the authority Of the board of di rectors over the completed part of the build- in crJloccuDied bv patients. I vou to pouslder the report and recommendations 01 lne commissioners, superintendent and boaikl of directors on this subject herewith ftent si HUt rXJflTXSTTABT.

TSe progress of the work on the bhild- of the penitentiary in the last two 'years has been satisfactory, and it biast.be xcceditigly gratifying to you, as it Surely is tome, mat tne wont on tne prison proper begins to near the end. For the first time $ie convicts this winter occupy the permanent Heretofore they haye been quaitered in the temporary, but old build-IpgSi To get these cells ready for use, it was necessary to spend in tne summer a nsaaeraoie sum ior apparatus: and ma- inery for heating and ventilating the building. The exact amount is stated in tie; 'repbrtl herewith submitted. It doubtful at the time whether the appropriation would justify so large an outlay, at icck and tne' board consulted witn me $)QUt thetnatter. It was evident the outlay to be made at some time and unless made then the convicts would be obliged tl tbend the winter in 'the old quarters lhre it cost more to care for them; than in the safer arid more comfortable brick cells, directed the board to go on and make the $eeded purchases so as to get the cells rady for winter, and if they over-ran their appropriation, I would share with them the rfsponsibility and appeal to your body for approval, i Whether they have over-run taejr appropriation depends on whether teit fiscal year begins and ends on the first of January or the first of April.

i iThe board has sought in every way pos-ifblej which the law authorized, to make tf epnTictt earn support, and to that ex-inti relieve the tax-payers. They have uliFiZed the labos Of the old and decrepit ajid thelwomen on a farm near the city and hltfe made it pay, as their report will show. addition, to this, the convicts; bave done nfuch work for the State, for which otherwise no, inconsiderable sum of money would hive been paid from the Notably the elegant stone curbing around the cpitol Square, the stone floors in Uie pas-llges and rotunda of the capitol, the' sewer large cistern in rear of the ngricul-tSral building. Intact, it is our habit to py no money for labor which the convicts cjn perform. "-ji-'v 1 'i- vi BTA-nt jv ItSwill seen on examination of the.

lTeasurere report that under the general ait to compromise and settle the State debt, took up in lieu of whicb he bfs Issued new four per cent. hnds upon which the interest has been iguiarty paid as it ieu due, i ms- leaves or the old bonds still oatstand- iue uoiucsrs m. must, not au os wbko, come in and accept new. bonds upon terms of the act of March 4th. 1879.

if CAai act be re-enacted. act expired On t4elt dav of January. 1882. and I I I iatyou re-enact it with the single modifi- coupons, suggest tms modmcauon because the act of Jdarch 4th, 1879, fixes the TVA Ka. il.

begin and lder 4haf act the Treasured had: bonds eflOUch printed to take ud the whole' debt. hese bonds are still on hand and have con-eons oh them from Julv IslS iftso. 'l' asurer (if the act is re-enacied) ought to ja( off and cancel before he delivers the bonds all the coupons due np to the date of tlid delivery. In this wav. the Wtnia nnw -band can be used without fixing the Ute with the accrued interest! li- TAX COKSTRVCnoS BONkM.l I introduce the discussion of this subject ta a quotation from my message of two 1j I said 'The Legislaturel on the 4w day Pf March, 187, ratified i an act 138) to provide for an adjustment that part of the State debt incurred in eid Nerth Carolina Rdlroad.

By iig act If was requiml to apoint three commlasioners to make the settlement. sbi duty pta performed by ma by the appointment of the lion. George Davis, of the mil of Wilmington, mtford the county of Person and Donald fWBaln, of the city of Raleigh. They entered at once upon ths labors assigned them. The steady ad vai ice in bonds, li common witji: all classes of securities, tfie Bwasey suit, and a second lien upon the State's stock in favor of bonds.

issued to tiie Western North Carolina Railrdad, Ued-sdifflculties andcauseii delays in fj-achihg anything like an agreement. Some tm early; in. November the bondholders fcada conference with one of the commis-Iponbrs in person, and a plan ol adjustment 'was'greed upon and signed by the bond-folder; representing about two millions, B.nd the commission. I herewith send vou copy of the agreement and the report of nimuiimiuuciB, wmtn euruesuy corn-end to yOur patient consideration. i an.

a hot be Consummated without the ao- fxvai oi tne uovernor and treasurer, 'nfle we knew the commissioners had me the best they could, after taking a view of the situation, we felt that Jc fix new debt of 3,790,000 upon the jeopie was a matter so serious that we ugnt to wait till you assembled, and learn rhsjt the people desired. We ionseOuently etermmea to withhold our armroval. and ubmitthe; whole matter to yoL fin your investigation ol thU important uestion, those who are not fsmiliar with les tacts: may i find the fdllowinir in. formatfen serviceable. -The State' is the woerpf 13,000,000 of stock In the North Carolina Railroad Company, and the private stockholders Jof tl.000,000.

To pay for this stock, the State, in 1853-'54-'65, is sue a ner oonas to run lor thirty years, -at ix percent. Interest and to secure their payment, pledged the. dividends accruing fcn her tock for the payment of the interest. nd the stock itself for the payment of the Mjus-s la.jow, oi itnese bonds ie tiken up in fOr stock State in the IUleiirh and Gaston tauroad Company, and bv i investment ade by. the literary board, leavinsr out.

btaading $2,705,000. The interest then due 7o bonus was funded ta 1868, under- the 3 funding act of August of that year. The road was leased to the Richmond and Dan ville Kailroad Company in 1871 for six and a nan per cent, on tne capital stock, and very soon suit, known as the Swssey suH, was commenced in the Fwforal tho lease money to the payment the interest on tkeje bonds. Hie Curt made the order and appointed Hop. S.

F. Fhillibs receiver to receive and puy out the This fund has been sulficient the interest on such of the: bonds as hare ibeen presented up to and including, I think, the January interest, ir- The General Assembly; adjourned -without taking any action upon $be question, leafing the the Com missioners and the Governor and Treasurer A second agreement was entered into be. Uiv comaiigioaers tid the bond. officer having given as nis opinion mat the board bad the authority to make the contract, the property was purchased for $13,000 cash. As soon as the purchase was consummated, the board set about fitting up the building for permanent quarters for the department, This included offices for the Commissioner of Agriculture, offices and laboratory for the State Chemist and offices for $he Geologist and rooms for the Museum.

The Commissioner now has convenient and comfortable offices, the Geologist convenient offices and commodious museum and the Chemist ample rooms for his offices and his laboratory. I think I hazard nothing in saying that in all the South there is not a museum or laboratory equal to that now owned by North Carolina. It is hoped that every member of the General Assembly will visit them and inspect them for himself and in so doing, it is believed that he will see much to increase his ideas of the magnitude and value of the State's resources. After a careful investigation of the title by the Attorney-General and under his supervision, the deed was taken, not to the Department of Agricul- ture, but to the State. So the State now owns the property.

It extends from Halifax to Salisbury street on the front and one hundred and eighty-eight feet back. There lies just back of this property and adjoining it a part of the same lot, another piece which the State ought to own. It can be bought for $7,000 and I suggest that the Attorney-General be directed to purchase it at once. With this lot belonging to the State, there will always be ample room for all the public buildings which will ever be needed, and the State can never be forced to pay exorbitant prices for land. The old closets in the northwest corner of the Capitol Square, which were destroyed by fire some two years ago, have not been rebuilt.

It was not deemed advisable to again encumber the Square with another such an unsightly building, and hence the sinks were filled up and the place sown in grass and planted with trees. This rendered it necessary to make other arrangements for closets and sewerage for the Capitol. This necessity will soon be met by the completion of suitable closets in the rear of the Agricultural with proper sewerage, which are now in process of construction. The sewer is being built Jointly by the Board of Agriculture and the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind Asylum on the part of the State and by quite a number of the citizens of Raleigh, and extends a considerable distance beyond the city limits. The Deaf and Dumb and the Blind Asylum Joined in building this sewer and the asy-um sewer will hereafter empty into it, because the city authorities had declared the old sewer a nuisance and had given hot ice of their, purpose to tear it up.

There was no law under which the cost of constructing this sewer could be paid out of the; State Treasury, so the State's part of it up to this time has been paid by the Board of trustees of the Asylum and the Board of Agriculture. The work will shortly be completed, and I recommend an appropriation to pay the State's share of the balance of the cost. The work of the Geologist, as stated in mv last message, is now under the control of the Board of Agriculture and is paid for out or its funds, the new map ot the State just issued was delayed much longer than was expected, do also has the publi cation of the second volume of Professor Kerr's Geological Report been delayed beyond jpublic expectation. It is but due to that officer that I give in brief the cause of delay in the publication of the map and his geology. Frequent applications were made by the Chief of the Census Bureau to have certain subjects, such as the water-powers of the State, its mines, woods, soils, cotton culture, written up for the census report.

I thought it all important to the State that these things should be truthfully and properly represented in that report. It was either to delay the work on the map and the report or to leave the work of prop erly representing tne otate in the census to uninformed and, it might be, to incompetent men. The Board did not hesitate to direct Professor Kerr to prepare the work for the census reports. The i Congress of the United States recently? passed an act ordering a geological survey of the Atlantic States. The government does this work on a much more minute, extensive and expensive scale than the State can afford.

It, is able to employ a large force of scientists and experts and to publish its work in a costly and finished style. The A Kerr in that part of the work which em- I v. i xriw nru: Ll IKXU Xiurbll VBIUlUil. iuib unci came just as he had finished his work upon his map and just as he was ready to commence on the second chapter of the second volume of his geological report. lie submitted the question to me and I called a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Agriculture.

President Battle of the University and myself attended and considered the question. We thought it very important that the State should have a faithful record of her geology and resources given in this survey, which is to be sent broadcast over the world, jwith the government vouching for its correctness. We thought it fortunate that the opportunity was offered to put a North Carolinian at the head of this work, and we did not hesitate, to authorize Prof. Kerr to accept the offered position. He thereupon at once organized a force and entered upon the work with the understanding that when the winter weather came on sd that his field work had to be he would write up the remainder of the second volume of his geological report for publication.

This he is now doing and he hopes to complete it during the winter. I ATLANTA AND BOSTOJT. The great Exposition at Atlanta in the fall of 1831 offered the Southern States an unusual opportunity to advertise their resources The Agricultural Department availed itself of the opportunity and made a display there of which I think every North Carolinian who. visited the grounds was The Department was greatly aided ia its efforts by the courtesy of the various railroads of the State in free transportation and in assistance in collecting materials. To the Richmond and Danville Company, whose lines reached Atlanta, and which itself made a fine display of the State's resources, we were especially indebted.

Commissioner McGehee, Secretary Wilson and Professor Kerr gave months to collecting, arranging and displaying tlje exhibition one or the other or these gentlemen being nearly all the time there. Good results have followed from the exhibition thus made, and I am satisfied that the few thousand dollars expended in making the display gave the outside, world some idea of the great natural resources of the State. Many who saw her ores, timbers, there, looked at them with wonder. Wljlle I think much good was done by the exhibition, we did not, as a general thing, reach the class of- persons able to utilize the information they there obtained, for the most of the visitors were Southerners or Northern exhibitors. But there will be an opportunity offered the State to make an exhibition of her resources where she can reach the very classesof the people whom we want to attract to the State.

The people of Boston have organized and had in successful operation. the New England Manufacturers' and Mechanics' institute. The Association, de-sirour'of making the exhibition, which they will hold nexl fall, a grand success, have invited the Southern and Western States and railroads to make a display of their resources upon their grounds. A committee from the Association visited me in person a few weeks ago and tendered the State, without charge, all the space which might be required in the ample duildings and grounds. I urge you to accept the offer and to provide for an exhibition.

The Board of Agriculture already has the authority, and will be able to bear a good share of the expenses out of it own funds, and, it may be the whole expense but I ask you to. allow me to draw upon the public treasury for such further sum for this purpose as you may designate. I am clear in my judgment that this a great opportunity for the State, and I am anxious that we shall avail; ourselves of It, We have what' the New England people want a surplus of 1 the materials out 'of which, they can accumulate wealth. They haye what we want a surplus, of capital and labor. Let us go (AIVIV SBUVk UV VT BjUUU ustiv snv llUVOt MM) and they will bring tueir capital, laboxaad 1 farts Justify, and the rate taxation should appear a low aft possible.

i i thx TBXisntxB'a bspobt. I i I earaestly endorse the recommendation ta the Treasurer's j-eport as to the consolidation tf the diflereit objects" lor which the taxes are kvied. iPracticallv. as sucirested lh TMunMVBA onL. rmeft Of SCPa- ience.i I or instance ia the last reveiuM uicic was For the general fund for the support of orable body can create a better one, I shall gladly co-Operate with it.

and so will the board. What 1 insist upon Is that the exhibition shall bei made. THE SUPREME COtTRT. The work of tfie court is mOre than ought to be required of three men, and I advise thai an amendment to the constitution be submitted to the people to add two additional Justices to the Bench. The population and business of the State is much greater now than it was seven years ago, and there is a correspondingly greater need for five Judges.

1 further advice that a tax fee of twenty dollars be required as costs every case docketed in the! Supreme Court, to be col lected and paid' over to the trustees of -the Supreme Court Library, and to be by them expended in books for the library, In this wav a fund can soon be accumulated suffi cient to republish some of our old reports which are now out of print and nearly out of existence. Certainly nobody can object to this, lor these reports must sooner or later be republished, and in all probability it will have to be done by the State, as it is not likely any individual will undertake it. Is it better to make those who get the use of the law library pay for it, or the taxpayers, who never use it This precedent has been set in the fkw which requires two dollars to be taxed against the losing party to raise a fund to pay the jurors in tha courts where jikrors are used. The idea is to make the man who occupies the time of the jury pay tte expenses of the jury. In the same manner, let the litigants in the Supreme Court Ihelp buy the books which are needed In the trial of their cases.

A twenty dollar tx fee in each case wUl ac complish that result. THE ISrPERlOR COURTS. The present number of judges is unable to do the work required for the good of the people, and 1 renew my recommendation of two years ago, tliat their 'number be in creased. The Necessity for this increase Is so great and so apparent, that I need but call your attention to it. i TUE CODE.

The new code, prepared by the commissioners, is ready for your consideration. It has been a work of great labor, and from the review I have been able: to give it, has been well done. The book is necessarily large, and I trubt I am not trenching upon your prerogatives in suggesting that you strike out all of its obsolete parts. For example, I think that upon an examination of the chapters! on Cherokee lands and the flbard of Internal Improvements, it will be seen that the I most of these chapters are now obsolete, and the most, if not all of them, can be omitted. The commissioners felt obliged td bring these chapters for ward, but I think they will agree with me that they should not encumber the book.

As you are now about to enact a code which ought to be made as perfect as possible, and hereafter ought to to be amended as little as possible, I desire to recommend to you two radical changes our criminal jurisprudencei The one is; in the form of our 1l BILLS OP INDICTM EXT. From an examination of the statutes and forms in other States, I find that in many of these the ollowing ia substantially the form used In an indictment for murder; State of ,) County of 4 f. The grand jurors for the State on then oath do charge that N. B. did, on the day of 1882, in the county of feloniously, wilfully, and with malice aforethought, kill and murder C.

by shooting him, contrary to the form of the statute in such cases made and provided, and against the peace and dignity, of the Bute. i I ,5 I Now, I submit to the candid judgment of any man, that this form charges everything necessary for the defendant to know to prepare his defence. If so, then why is it not sufficient, and if sufficient, why not Bubsti-- our present form of endless ssids and aforesaids and of wounds an inch long and ah inch and a quarter deep, (as if it makes any difference how, wide or how deep the wound, was; if it killed), and of pistols held in the right hand and loaded with one leaden1 bullet, (as if it makes any difference which held the pistol orwhether the bullet was lead or iron) and so on with "so aforesaid shot and discharged out of the pistol aforesaid," to the end of pages after pages of paper. What is true of bills of indictment for murder is also true of bills of indictment for all other offences, to a greater or less! degree. In fact bills of indictment for perjury severely tax the resources of the best criminal pleader to stand the test of the courts; They can all be wonderfully simplifiied.

Every person charged with crime ought to know what charge he is to meet; and if the bill of indictment gives him that information ho matter how unartistically drawn it ought to be held sufficient, and no court ought to be allowed to quash it or toi arrest juVlgment upon it. A criminal ought not to be allowed to escape conviction or punishment, or to put the county to the expense of a new trial, upon the mere omission of technical words in the bill of indictment, provided he knows the particular offence with, which he is charged and for which he is to be tried. I only refrain from elaborating this subject for the want of If. your honorable body shall agree with jme, now is the opportune time to make th change. The Code Commissioners can, early in the session, be di- I rected to prepar the; necessary legislation, and it can be passed as part of the Code The other change to which I allude, is the method of selecting SPECIAL VENIRES IN CAPITAL OASES.

So many Criminals have escaped just punishment by procuring in many ways, a portion of the special venire to pe selected in their interest, that it ia important that the method of selecting jurors be changed. In calling attention to this evil, 1 ddThot mean to charge that it jis always done corruptly by the sheriffs. It is often done by the defendant's friends, who place 'themselves hi the way of the sheriff and are selected upon the special venire without any purpose of the sheriff to pack the jury in the of the criminal, i The remedy, in my opin ion, is to require the judge ta have the jury boxes brought into court, and the special venire drawn by himself, the. clerk and the sheriff. To the prompt and certain administration of the criminal law, must society look for safety and protection.

If criminals escape through the delays and technicalities of the or the corruption of the juries, society soon begins to lose confidence in the aa-mistration of justice' through the courts, and tolerates, ff it does not in fact encourage a lawless species of punishment that endangers the very foundations of civil government. i KOCOATION. i The education of the people I consider the great Interest of the State, Upon it depends in a greater or less degree every other interest that affects the glory of the State and the welfare of the Let tjhe people be educated and prosperity and light and good government will abide with us to bless but let the people be' kept in ignorance, and vice will prevail, the demagogue will flourish, and bad government will curse us. There has been a considerable advance made in this great cause in the last two years, but there remains yet a great work before us. i tub tnsrrVEasiTT i.

Thisygrana oia institution is in a more flourishing condition than at any in twenty years. It is now well equipp with a Faculty of able, young, active processors, There are in attendance about one hundred and ninety students. The trustees ssk for. no more and the appeal Jtha now; make comes from me. 'I want to seethe Legislature endow a ctuSa- to be the "Chair of Moral Science -and Christian Evidences," and pay the professor each year direct from the State treasury.

All I of the" crofessors. I think, are Christian gentle men, and titty tetcb in tit recitatiot rwci ius ouio six cents on the nun- 1 drfid dnllam wnrih nt nmnnn 2. For the support and completion of the 5 asylums for the Insane, eleven cents on the hundred dollars worth of nronertv. i A A. 'If 'it 11 i I i 4 "4 3.

For the support of convicts and coh- StmCtiOB nf tho hundred douars. worth of property. or.ulc Payment or the interest on the puouc aeDt, six cents on dollars worth1 of broDCrtv. In preparing the blanks for the tr this requires the printing of i four separate uu IUC uix 11818, II requires the county commissioners to make four separate calculations for each tax payer, and consequently, it increases the chances of errors, as well as the expehse to he county. These same- separate calcula- tiona hare to be gone over at the Auditor's in his settlement with the sheriffs and separate entries made by the Treasurer nis The practical effect this system la to leaveasurnlus'insomeof the funds and to cause a deficiency in Others.

For instance, there was a surplus of: fifteen thousand dollar in the funds; for; the asylums, and a large surplus the amount levied to pay the interest oti the public debt, while there a (tendency the general fund. Under the constitution, the surplus of the asylum fund and the debt fund cannot be used to par general appropriations, although great might be the necessity-therefor. The change I suggest is, that in the draft of the revenue bill the item shall be, the general fund for the support of the State government, for the support and completion of the asylums, for the support of the convicts and the construction of the penitentiary, and for the payment of the interest on the public debt, twentyight cents on i every hundred dollars' worth of property" This method will get clear of three columns on the tat list and the expense of three different computa- tion by the persons that make them out for the several counties, will lessen the labor of the Auditor, will simplify the Treasurer's books and get clear, of the constitutional question now in the way. Out of the moneys raised by this levy, you can make epecihe appropriations for the asylum! and the penitentiary as heretofore, and that will limit the amounts to be paid to them. The will belong to the general fund and -will then be applicable to the ordinary ex- penses of the jiiate government and to the payment of any special appropriation you may pass; and if the; taxes are levied in thi will be sufficient to meet all the ppropriation I shall recommend or that you are likely to make.

TBa ASTIXX4 AXD TUX DEAF AKD DCMB AXV thb BLiiro liiBTirrnojr. These institutions have all been i well uisnagea, ana i neea out relr you to the tKvyum vi UKii respective officers and to -k ask you to visit and inspect them. The v1 centre building and one wing of the West- ern Asylum has been comDleted. ant in a month more; will be ready for the reception whvkuui. iuu uuiuu ui uirectors recently appointed have organized and elected a su- perintendent and One assistant.

Thev will I understand, fill the other offices of the institu- tion and get everything roady for patients a speedily as possible. In the meantime wurjLie necessary for you to provide im- weuiaie iuuus ior ua support. Au important question for to consider atwfrio. terminc in connection with this institution is whether you no4 liavc the work on it stopped or tlie other" winjjsssliall be I hiiVe made a personal in spectioii of tliw wprk and have tried fully 'to infoiiu ui) elf iibout the matter in all its bearings, and I do not: hesitate to advise that the work be continued, and that there-be made an appropriation of thirty-five thousand dollars year, for. two years, to complete and furnish the other wing.

Borne of the reasons that induce me to make this recommendation are In brief a- follows i 1. Tne foundation of Hit- wliu- in laid and 1 the wails re above ground; and although 3 icy re A-overediup and protected wu I aroitrary power suuuoniy invested, nearjy half a uhkmf f'8t4UrwiCX I all the right of ciUuahip, -wen but fewj of them ware prepared to aonxaciat ita re-, sponsibiliUes of, (UscluJ'tttese accepted en.m.iv!u. uu oars, mm WO VUttlU, vUi Wl. UUJMUIOW www newly made citizens for a proper discharge -f of their duties jojlheir country and to them- selves. In thfJ work have beenUfreatly; :5 -j aided by.the philanthropy of many, of the Agood people of the North, but the govern- ment has done Qn the contrary, it has steadily maintained in our midst anSj3; odious system of Internal tevenni and taken from us year by yea enough have maintained a anlendid svstem of froa 1 I Ml A I children of; both; races: By odious, system ol internal revenue, ana au oppres -f wjrrortjxo tga xwxa tiat-X 1 4..