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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 1897)
THE FRONTIER. PUBLISHED EVFKY THURSDAY By Tea Frostim Printing Oo. O'NEILL, ^ NEBRASKA. NEBRASKA. * .tt-eessful five days’ bible meeting *Vm» beta at Ciiad ■ on. Henry Brockman, who lire* four miles northwest of West Point, dropped dead in the kitchen at his home, from heart disease Andrew McCart was bound over to the district court at Indianola by Squire lieck, charged with assault with* intent to commit rape on a Mrs. Eber ltng of Lebanon. The state board of school lands and funds last week purchased 9100,000 worth of Saunders county 4J-, per cent bonds and the treasurer issued his check for the amount. While running to a fire recently one of the members of the North Platte fire company fell and was run over by the hose cart He was badly bruised, but not dangerously injured. I . The McCook band, which played al! the state fair in Omaha, had a concert recently, and the proceedings werd wound up by presenting Director Suti ton with a gold mounted baton. I Hog cholera has been raging in Saunders county for some time, but is now abating. One man lost 123 head, another 137, one 47. In some localities there is not a pig left to tell the tale. The citizens of Long Pine are be coming very much interested in the culture of game fish, especially the rainbow trout and brook trout, At no place in the west have the reports been as favorable as there. The Omaha Savings bank, the oldest of its kind in the city, has suspended. The liabilities are nearly a million dol* The president c airns that the deposits are well secured and that the bank will pay out in time. Leander Jones, an old man who has been working at what be was able to do for a Pierce county farmer for sev eral years for his board and clothing, froze his hands while at work some time ago. Ills injuries were neglected until it is feared he will not recover. A farmer named Worth, living in north part of Unrt county, was robbed by bis hired man last week of 361, the proceeds of a sale of cattle made the day before. Worth’s son took the cat tle to Lyona and returned in the even ing with the money. Ills father not being at home the boy retained posses elon of the money. He slept with the bired man that night, and in the morn-1 tag both man and money were gone. ! Henry C Zehrung, one of- Lincoln's best known business men, committed •uictde last week by hanging himseli * rafter in the loft of the barn at his residence on C street Mr. Zehrunsj was connected with the Standard Glass and Paint company, and with his parti ner had bought out all the other inter-j eats since the organization three years •go. The business is said to have been fairly prosperous. > The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. John Maxwell was celebrated at the poor farm adjoining Nemaha, which been kept by them for about twen ty-flve yearn No people aro more ntghly esteemed than Mr. and Mrat Maxwell. About 135 people were pres ent at the reception, besides the child grand-children, and one great grandchild. Friends presented Mr. f*Maxwell with gold watchea in addition to other valuable presenta The esse of the etate of Nebraska ■gainst VI iliiam Baker on a charge oi burglarizing, waa tried in the district »• Wshoo. The jury, after e abort deliberation, returned ■ verdict of guilty. Baker broke into a barn at Valparaiso, June 1, last, and stole a set of harness. He escaped to Lancaster eonnty, where he was arrested by Sher iff Trompen, who found the stolen har ness in Baker’s wagon, and brought aim to Saunders county, and he has lain in jail until now. The records of the office of the coun ty recorder ehow that in Otoe county twenty-two farm mortgages were filed during December, aggregating *35,935. On fourteen releases were filed, in •mount of *17,766. Six city mortgages, •mounting to *3,553.38, and ten re J?**®o* 23,945, were placed on record. The record for the year shows 395 aggregating •431,33a08; 341 releases, 3305,679.88; mortgages, in amount of *59, *32.86; and 82 releaaes, *48,970.13. xwcv. rauisier accused the church janitor of going1 through his d*ak end appropriating $15 which he had left there. The janitor denied the I and after a wordy war the ■ minuter struck him over the head with hU cane, breaking it into three pieces, then he seized a chair and tried to com plete the chastisement with that Dur ing the encounter the janitor seised tbe stove poker and endeavored to re turn blow for blow. Later on the two met.at the minUter’s house and each apologized for hU hasty actions and had conduct The Fremont beet sugar company was incorporated last week with an authorized capital of f1,000,000 divided Into shares of »50 each. The article* were signed by Nils Johnson, L. D. BichaMs, L. M. Rene, B. W. Reynolds, B- Schneider, W. H. Hunger and Wnt Ruwe. Work on the organiza tion of thia company has been in pro gress several months It is not th< expectation of the company to furnish to cruet ft factory and carry on ■ Jf • business, but to be in shape to en list the co-operation of capitalists else where in the enterprise. George Popp,a young man living with ata parents five miles southeast of Sut tea,committed suicide by tsking strycb f}®*; a letter in hU pocket bidding his father and mother good aya. They were in Lincoln on a visit at the time, and a messenger was sent far them. The coroner's jury summoned to ex ; ' amine into the aaicide of Henry C Zeh •tef of Lincoln returned a verdict that fae deceased came to his death by hit ; awa act, while laboring under a speh af temporary insanity. So far as as eertaiued the verdict seems to be ana ' faiaed by the facta and meet* the ap jnmal of thote Intermted in the cam GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE A VERY LONG AND ABLE DOCUMENT. The Nebraska Executive Discusses State Affairs Thoroughly and With Becoming Dignity— Defends the State and Slakes a Number of Kecoinniendatlous. SECTION ONE. To the Members of the Twenty-fifth Session of the Legislature of 'Nebraska.— Gentlemen: In the discharge of the obli gation imposed on me as the chief execu tive of the state to communicate to you such information and recommendations as may suggest themselves,I deem it not in appropriate to express hiy gratification that this message is presented to a legisla tive body, a majority of the members of which I have reason to believe are in har mny and sympathy with the executive department; and that we can hopefully, look for a hearty accord between the ex ecutive and legislative branches of th’s state government, in the respective capac ities to which we, the servants of the peo ple, have V*een chosen by their suffrages to act, respecting the plans to be adopted and the policies we shall pursue. The ex istence jof such harmonious relations will, I am sure, enable us to acc -mplish much good for our state. I feel confident that every branch of our slate government is Imbued with an earnest desire to promote the general welfare of the people, advance the prosperity of the state; guard, protect and encourage every Interest which will add to the development of Us resources and preserve the rights of its citizens. 1 feel a deep sense of gratitude to my fellow citizens for the confidence mani fested in me by my re-election, and de sire only in the future to profit by the ex perience of tho past and thus prove myself worthy of the high honor bestowed upon me. HI «.uiii::n:i»fi u:k uic annua ui t*tc jjcu pie In a govcrnment such as ours, those chosen for that purpose are but Instru ments to ascertain and then carry out the will of the people. This should be done with diligence and fidelity. The faithful servant merits and receives the approval of a sovereign people, and enjoys the sat isfaction of mind which comes from the knowledge of a duty well performed in the discharge of weighty responsibilities. That the members of this legislature are impressed with the grave responsibilities resting upon each of them, and with the Importance of the varied Interests of this commonwealth which are for a time com mitted to their care, 1 believe and shall assume to be true; that you are deter mined to discharge your duties faithfully and fearlessly for the best interests of our beloved state and the welfare of our fellow citizens, I doubt not In the least. You will doubtless be called upon to solve many difficult and perplexing prob lems of grave Interest to the state, and I feel sure you wllll give to each Important question, as It Is brought before you, that mature deliberation and wise consideration which Should characterize all legislation affecting the welfare of a great common wealth. I am not In my Judgment, overstating the case when I say that at no time In the history of the state has there been more urgent need for wise and Intelligent ac tion on the part of the lawmaking body; nor a more opportune time for the enact ment of prudent legislation. Abuses and Imperfections In existing statutes, which permit of inequalities, wrongs and hard ships upon a part of our people, should be corrected, bearing ever In mind that the object of all legislation la to entirely eradicate, or reduce to a minimum, these various forms of evil In the enforcement of law and order. As a nation we confidently assert that our people are among the most enlightened and progressive on the face of the earth; and you have the honor to represent the people of a state having the smallest per centage of Illiteracy of any In the union, and who are the peer of any people In the land. In patriotism. Intelligence, Integrity and love of equality, truth and Justice In the affairs of mankind. ATTACKS ON THE STATE. Our public schools, our colleges and uni versities testify to the love of our people for education. Situated geographically In the center of the United States, we are afforded every opportunity for constant and mutually profitable Intercourse with all parts of our common country. It la to be regretted that partisan newspapers, having seemingly no regard for the pub llo welfare, and with a spirit of Intoler ance entirely cut of place where free in stitutions are admired, have attempted to prejudice the minds of men who are unac quainted with our state and Its citizens, by the publication of mendacious and slanderous articles reflecting on the Intelli gence and integrity of the people of Ne braska. It has been intimated by men high In the councils of our national gov ernment, as well as by some newspapers of gsneral circulation throughout the country, that the present session of ths lsglslature of 'Nebraska would undertake by vicious and hostile legislation to per mit the repudiation of the debts of Us citi zens, to vitiate private contracts, and to discriminate In favor of one party to a contract so as to demoralize the business of the people of the state. These wanton attacks upon the free and enlightened people of Nebraska would not be worthy of attention were they not calculated to Incite the iUwlll of a class of citizens of older and more populous states whose knowledge of Nehaskans Is gleaned from newspaper comment and not from actual contact with our people. It has 'been threatened that the people of eastern states who have money Invested In Ne braska property would withdraw their In vestments because the majority of our citizens have espoused a different politi cal policy from that having general In dorsement in the eastern portion of our REMEDIAL LEGISLATION MUST COME. Those unmerited reflections on the Intel ligence and Integrity of our citizens will not. I am sure, deter you from discharg ing your full duty to your constituents by enacting any new laws or remedial legis lation upon which you may determine. By wise and judicious action you will dispel any doubts which may exist of the deter mination of our people to be strictly just to all men; of their capacity, through their representatives, to enaot legislation tor the protection of all Interests In the Intimate relations of our citizens with each other, or with the citizens of other states, and for the conservation of all legitimate business Interests. Nebraska Is not the child of any other state, or group of states. She Is a sover eign state among the sisterhood of states of the union, with equal privileges, pre rogatives, duties, and responslldlltles. Her citizens are Intelligent, Industrious, honest and patriotic. 8he has within her borders the natural and acquired resources and all the elements -of strength and grandeur necessary to maintain her proud position as one of the foremost states of the unlop. Nebraskans demand only the right, and | that they will maintain, of governing their own affairs, without any desire to Infringe upon the rights of any other people. A sudden change In the business rela tions existing between citizens of Nebras ka and citizens of other states would quite probably work much hardship and unnec essary suffering upon many of our people, yet I am of the opinion that ultimately greater permanent Injury would be wrought to the states and communities adopting such an extraordinary and unusual course toward our citizens. Nebraska Is not dependent on any one etate or section of the oountry for the final or complete development of hqr resources and the pom fort and happiness of her citizens; and aha does r.ot appeal as a dependent to have accorded to her citizens tile fair treatment and consideration which should, and usu ally does, exist among the people of one common country, all having a mutual In terest In the development of the whole. Rather, she demands this treatment be cause of the elements of strength in re ciprocal relations which she possesses, and the ability of extending Inducements to the business world, which make her terri tory an inviting field for the Investment of capital and development of Industrial en terprises. PROPERTY RIGHTS SAPPED, That all property Interests now in ex istence or that may hereafter be estab lished will be treated with gas-red r g rd and scrupulous honesty should net be questioned. To question It is to dou .t th.j honesty of mankind and challenge the In tegrity of a nation. -Our. people deserve friendly relations, commercially and soci ally, with the citizens of other stat s, and realize that In the maintenance ard extension of mutual, cordial regard all are alike benefited. One and a quarter mil’ions of patriotic, law-abiding people Inhabit the » ate of Nebraska. They have bulldcd thriving cities and villages. They have br ken the sod over which the Indians and the buffaloes roamed a few decades agj. They are a hardy. Independent people, and arj proud of the great fields and growing commonwealth they have created. The fertile fields of Nebraska yield grain suffi cient to supply the nation. Homes, cat le, and sheep fatten upon her broad prai loi and meadow lands. Thousands of oar loads of pork are shipped annually from her farms to feed the people of cth r states and countries. Her transportat on facilities are unexcelled. She has fac tories for sugar, for chicory, for the man ufacture of dry goads and various otiier commodities. She has mills for grinding grain; great packing houses and dairies all over th© state—In fact everything which makes a people prosperous In a great agricultural country, and goes to build up a great commonwealth. These are the advantages which an In telligent, Industrious, thrifiy and energet ic people present to the business world, and they will enable her to maintain, by virtue of merit alone, an bonorabl • posi tion among the gTtat Industrial commun ities of our country. The more Important of the subjects to be considered by you were general y dis cussed/ during the recent campaign and the people made known their desires by the election of officers committed to re forms In the management of the state’s affairs, thereby rendering less difficult far you to perform your duty In executing tlie will of the people thus expressed. I will merely call your attention to such of these Important matters as have come under my observation during my term of effle-e. By a wise provision of the constitution, the officers of the executive department and the heads of all the public lr.s'Itu tlons of tho state, are required at levst ten days preceding each regular sexiest of the legislature to make a report to tho governor concerning the condition cf the state's business In their change, sdth reports In turn to be submitted to the legislature. These reports were r.ot all presented to me within the time required by the constitution, and I have therefore been unable to give them the considera tion I would have desired. They are sub mitted to you for your careful considera tion as they contain much valuable Infor mation which will be of great assistance to you In determining the needs of the different departments of the state gov ernment and of the various institutions for t/helr proper management for the coming biennium. Right of Suffrage. One at the moot Important duties de volving upon you as legislators Is the amendment of the election laws of the state. The legislature cf 1891 very wisely adopted the Australian ballot Bystem and It has undoubtedly had an appreciable effect In purifying our elections Experts enee In the use of the Australian system suggests many Improvements which will have a tendency to render the perpetra tion of frauds still more difficult and give additional protection to the voter In the exercise of his right of franchise. FORM OF BALLOT. I heartily approve the general form of our ballot and believe It to be vastly preferable to the so-called "blanket" bal lot system, In which the party tickets are each printed in separate columns, smith provisions generally by which the elector can vote the entire ticket by one mark or stump. The Independence of the voter Is encouraged by our system whl.'h leads him usually to read the names of the candidates for the various offices be fore casting his ballot, and he is encour aged thereby not to rely solely upon party designation. It has been urged by some as on objection to the form of our ballet that It Is In effect the establishment of an educational test for voting. I do not regard this as a very serious objection. The voter has become accustomed to this form of ballot, and any marked change In the general form, In my opinion, la en tirely unnecessary and would serve no good purpose. * “Xv X l AHUiNa. Other objections, however, and more substantial which I regard more the result of abuses than of the law ttsetf and which can be remedied by proper amendments. As an Instance, William J. Bryan was nominated by the democratic party for the presidency. Afterward he was also nominated by the people's party for pres ident, A convention of dissatisfied demo crats met later and, styling themselves “national democrats,” nominated John M. Palmer for president. The candidates placed In nomination by the Palmer wing for electors, as well its for state officers, were denominated on the official ballot In Nebraska as "democrats" with no means of distinguishing them from the regular democratic nominees. The result of such a course was necessarily the deception of many voters. I would respectfully recommend that such amendments be made to the law as would prevent the use of the party designation by “bolting" factions tor the purpose of deceiving vot ers. The regular party nominees only should appear on the official ballot with the designation of the party which nomi nated them. Where one candidate has been nominated by more than one politi cal party the party designations should be so arranged as to permit the elector to express by his vote his party prefer ence os well as his preference for the candidate. Protection should be secured to the voter who, unacquainted with the names of all the nominees on the ticket. Is desirous of casting his ballot for th«t nominees of the party he espouses, ELECTION BOARD. I would also suggest that each party having a fair proportion of the electors In the state be given representation on the precinct election boards, and that no more than two members of any onq political organisation be made Judges la any election precinct. The representa tives of no one poll; leal organisation, should have entire control of any election booth, and, where competent men repre senting different political parties can be secured, the result must be more satis factory to all concerned. I believe this matter might be satis factorily arranged by vesting the power of naming the Judges and clerks of elec tion In the county clerks or boards of county commissioners (and the mayors of oltlea of the first and second classes), restricting them to a choice from lists furnished by the chairman of the county (or city) committees of the various polit ical parties. Provision could be made allowing at least one representative on the election board to each political party re ceiving a certain percentage of votes cast at the last general election held In the state, and providing that, in no event, ghould any ppe party have to exceed twu Judges mud one clerk on any elc<!tt:a board. NO COERCION. In order to secure a free ard untram melled ballot for every elector stem should be taken to prevent coercion. In timidation and undue influence on tha part of the employers. Every ctt'm n, whatever may be hts station In life, shcull have every protection thrown around h m In the exorcise of his citizenship. Ot.er States have seen fit to enact very s?tr ngent legislation to prevent undue Influence on the voter by his employer. As an Instance the laws of Indiana provide that whcev r, for the purpose of Influencing a voter, threatens to enforce the payment of a debt, to Injure the bu-lnes-s or trade uf an elector, or, If an employer threatens to withhold wages or to dismiss from service any laborer In his employment or refuses to allow employes time to at tend to the place of election and vote, shall be fined not more than 51,000 nor les3 than 520, Imprisonment In the s ate prison not more than five years, nor less than one year, and disfranchised and ren dered incapable of holding any office of trust or profit for any determinative per iod. The enactment and strict enforce ment of some such provision In the elec tion laws of Nebraska would lessen the Intimidation of voters and give encourage ment to a free expression of the will of the people at the polls. Provisions should also be made directing all employ ers to allow each voter sufficient time cm election (lay to deposit his ballot. RAILROAD DISCRIMINATION Some action might very properly be taken to discourage discrimination be tween political parties by railroad corpo rations operating within the state. The issuance of passes to an army of political workers and the giving of special rates for the political meetings make the rail road companies a power in shaping the political destiny of the state. Where this power is all wielded In the interest of one party and to the prejudice of another party. Its weight cannot well be over estimated. Railroad companies do the business of the public and should be re strained by wholesome legislation from active participation in party politics. The officers and employes of such railroad companies should be free to vote as may seem to them for their own best Interests. Charges of fraudulent registration In the larger cities of the state have been fre quently made and I would suggest the advisability of having the last day of registration at least ten days prior to election day In order that the complete list of voters may be scrutinized by all Inquiring citizens and ample time be af forded for the apprehension of those who THE USE OF MONET. It ir, obvious that one of the chief sources of corruption in elections is the use of money in providing means or hiring the voter to go to the polls and vote, by this means placing him under obligation and thus unduly influencing his vote, or to hire the voter to stay away from the polls, thereby causing him to neglect his duty as a cltlaen. In order to encourage and stimulate the free and honest exercise of the elective franchise it has occurred to me that It might serve a good purpose were a non voting poll tax of reasonable amount levied against each elector who may re lieve himself by voting at the general election, or by producing a certificate of sickness or disability or by absene from the county or state. Such a provision might incidentally be made a source of revenue to the state and the burden fall upon a class of citizens who fall to dis charge a very Important duty devolving upon every qualified citizen. I suggest this idea to you for your consideration. I hope that you will take the neces sary steps for the remedying of defects in our election laws with a view to giv ing every possible opportunity for a free and fair expression of the will of the people at the polls. Belief of Drouth Sufferers. When I assumed the duties of the office of governor of the state, two years ago, the people of Nebraska were distressed, not only by reason of the general de pression in business affairs, low prices and steady and continued depreciation in property values, but also from the result of an unprecedented and disastrous drouth. These adverse climatic condi tions were not confined to Nebraska alone, but prevailed in various parts of the coun try. It was an abnormal condition and may not be experienced again during a generation of ovr people. Absolute want and distress could only be prevented by prompt and efficient organization for the purpose of supplying the pressing needs of the unfortunate drought sufferers until another season should bring the usual bountiful harvest. GENF.ROU8 CONTRIBUTIONS. I found that, under the direction of my predecessor, steps had been taken looking to a systematic method of collecting and distributing provisions to alleviate the im mediate wants of the people in the af fected portion of the state. When it be came generally known that provisions would have to be made to relieve those impoverished by the drouth, there was a generous and spontaneous response from all sections of the nation. The con tributions became so liberal that it taxed the ingenuity of those in charge of the distribution of these free offerings to place them in the hands of those most deserving of assltance and, at the same time, to not tax the generosity of the benevolent people to a greater extent than absolutely required to prevent suffering. I deem it my duty, in behalf of the unfortunate people who were affected by this calamity to express to all who so nobly responded to their distress by con tributions of provisions or money, and also to the railroad, express, telegraph and telephone companies which so liber ally assisted in the work of alleviating suffering, our sincere gratitude and lasting thanks for their manifestations of human sympathy and benevolence exercised dur ing this trying period. Since that un fortunate calamity, as before, Nebraska has been blessed with bounteous crops and the disagreeable experience she passed through appears to her people as a hideous dream. THIS KKL1KF COMMISSION. After the organization of the legislature an act was passed creating a relief com mission, composed of five well known citi zens, giving to them entire control and management in the discharge of this im portant work. The report of the relief commission has been submitted to me and you will doubtless be supplied with copies. You will observe by this report, as well as by reference to the acts of the last legislature, that the state contributed 160,000, which wns placed at the disposal of the relief commission, and an additional sum of J200.000, which was by the relief commission distributed among the sev eral counties of the state where the peo ple were regarded as being entitled to as sistance of this character for the purpose of purchasing seed grain for the following crop season, making a total appropriation by the legislature of *250,000. In addition to these cash donations by the legislature and the people of the country at large, an Immense amount of supplies and provis ions of different kinds were contributed, to obtain an accurate estimate of which requires a careful study of the report In detail of the commission. The work of the commission of necessity was of the most dlfllcult character, carried on under trying circumstances and I am of the opinion that the work of distributing sup plies was done In a most thorough and systematic manner. I was of the Impres sion at the time, and have since found no reasons to change my views, that the organisation and method of distribution of relief supplies was upon a cumbersome and expensive plan. By an examination of the report It will be observed that there were funds donated In the sum of 08.999.38 and realised from the general and special appropriations .of the legislature tliD furfr.cr cum oY $55,23 CT?, maHnsf a ! total of $81,364.08. Of this amount there was expended $48,113.82 in printing, trav elling and transportation charges and office expenses. The freight charges amounted to $36,809.03, divided Into two Items, one denominated “transportation'’ | being In the sum of $30,181.67, and the j other designated “In-freight” being in ! the sum of $6,627.36, leaving the sum of ! $11,301.79 to represent the other expenses I of the relief commission In carrying on j this work from its inception until Its | close. NEBRASKA CONTRIBUTIONS. It is perhaps proper to remark In this connection, and it is a source of grati fication to myself, as I havia- no doubt it will be to all others who examine into the details of this work, that our own people who were more fortunately situ ated than their hretnren contributed most generously to this work of relief and did tht'ir full share in alleviating want and distress among their fellow citizens. With a generosity unequalled, the people of every section of our country vi*ed with each other in doing everything necessary to prevent want and suffering. It is to be sincerely hoped that no such calamity will again reduce our people to the ne cessity of asking or receiving aid from their more fortunate fellow countrymen; nor is there occasion to believe that un der the influence of the ordinary laws of nature they will evar again bo called upon to do so. Appreciating the magnificent gen erosity of our fellow countrymen, dis played in this instance, Nebraska will ever stand ready to extend a helping hand to the unfortunate and suffering of man kind wherever thev mav he found. i DROUTH LESSONS. The drouth has not been without Us lessons, which will doubtless add much to the material welfare and permanent prosperity of our people. In no state in the union is the rainfall more uniform, both in time and amount, nor can the precipitancy of the moisture be deter mineii with greater accuracy. In any por tion of Nebraska a study of the climatic coniltlons will disclose with reasonable certainty the average amount of rain “ell during the crop growing season, thus enabling the people to determine in whet portion of the state they may safely en gage In agricultural pursuits, relying upon the natural rainfall to cause the crops to grow to maturity and ripen in per fection. In the extreme western p:r ion of the state, experience has demonstrated that i'grioulture cannot be safely carried on with reliance upon .the natural rain fall for a sufficiency of moisture to suc cessfully grow and mature the crops. This condition has been made more ap parent by the disastrous season of IS A and the people have promptly turned their attention to Irrigation, which has been developed with great rapidity and which has replaced partl-U failure of crops with its attending disappointment, want and suffering, with bounteous crops which can be relied upon with certainty as regularly as the seasons follow each other. The nor-irrigable portions of the country within this territory being exceedingly well adapted to the raising of stock, the western part ctf Nebraska is thereby made ore of the most inviting fields for in.end ing settlers of any part of the great west. Irrigation. In the reports of the secretary of the slate board of irrigation will be found much interesting and useful information. It is very gratifying to note the rapid development of this phase of agricultural industry. The work is as yet in its in fancy, but so much ha3 been accom plished it may confidently be predicted that that portion of our state which 11 in the seml-arld region will soon become ono of the most attractive places in any agricultural community. Millions cif acres of Nebraska land will be brought under the favorable influences of irrigation and made to produce the most bountiful crops, and there is no limit to the development except by the exhaustion of the water supply before this result has been fully accomplished. The Immense wealth, brought into existence through the devel opment of irrigation and that which is created annually by the production of bountiful harvests, gives assurance of plenty and prosperity to the Inhabitants of this favored portion of the state. NEW CANALS. It will be seen from the records in the office of the secretary of the beard of canals that there bave been complete! 8,740 miles of canals and that there are in process of construction 1,046.6 mtles, mak ing a total mileage at the present time of canals completed and in process of con struction of 4,785.6., The estimated cost will exceed 83,000,000, of which over half has already been expended. This will bring under irrigation 1,207,966 acres of land, increasing the value of the land nearly $10,000,000. In addition to this there are applications on tile for contemplated canals of a total mileage of 2,946. These statistics can but Impress you with the importance of giving to this subject such further consideration as may be neces sary to correct any imperfections exist ing in the present law, and of provldirg for a continuation of the work so aus piciously begun. IKKUiAilUrS LAWH. The first general law upon the subject of irrigation was enacted In 1889. This law whs found entirely Inadequate for the proper development of the irrigation Interests of the state. This law was superseded by a much more comprehen sive one enacted by the last legislature, since which the work has progressed more satisfactorily and with much great er rapidity. Many suggestions have been made respecting the wisdom of amending the present law. In considering the sub jects of amendments, however, I deem it advisable to call attention to the fact that no amendments should be made which' would materially change the un derlying, essential principles of the pres ent law, which has the sanction of the highest-Judicial tribunal of our land. The principles involved in this subject have been forever settled by a Judicial deci sion of the character referred to, it would seem unwise, except upon urgent neces sity, to so change thorn by legislation as to render less certain the principles in volved and perhaps Invite further liti gation with Its attending tediousness and wearisome delays. The advocates of Irri gation interests, as I understand It, favor amending the law relating to the organlza^ tlon of Irrigation districts so as to provide for uniform Issues of bonds under the direction of the state board of Irrigation, as well as legislation touching the Issue and negotiation of the bonded' obligations of the irritation dl«*rl-fi- «n ns to afford the taxpayers all needed protection, as well as having due regard for the Interests of those who purchase such obligations. It has also been suggested that an amend ment might properly be made with ref erence to the organization and control of Irrigation districts so as to permit ev ery resident freeholder to participate in and have a voice in the selection of offi cers and all other matters pertaining to the affairs of such districts: also that the officers of district treasurer and as sessor might be abolished and the dut'es of these officers be Imposed upon the county and township treasurers and as sessors. Other amendments to the pres ent law of more or lass Importance have likewise been suggested, and will no doubt be presented to you for your considera tion. I earnestly hope that you may bo able to make such needful improvements as may seem advisable to encourage fur ther and to the utmost extent this very important feature of the agricultural de velopment of the state, and that all nec essary appropriations may be made la order that the work may be carried on with renewed vigor. State’s FI nances. I desire to earnestly call your serious attention to the condition of the state’s Anances. This U a. subject of more than ordinary concern to every taxpayer TH Nebraska. Several factors contribute to the unfavorable condition of the floantlgl Interests of the state aa we at present find them. The very general depression In business and the low prices received for the products produced by the people of our state are of themselves sufficient to render the state’s finances much more unsatisfactory than might be expected under normal conditions. This has pre vented the prompt collection of taxes due the state, and required in order to meet Its necessary expenditures, so that at the present time it appears there is a very large amount of delinquent state taxes. In addition to this the method of hand ling the finances of the state and meet ing Its obligations, could. In my judgment, be very much Improved upon. Not Only Is it commendable to secure the prompt collection of taxes levied for the purpose of meeting current expenditures, but also the prompt payment of the taxes tine collected in satisfaction of the stale's obligations. Good business judgment would dictate the prompt discharge of the state's outstanding obligations as rap idly as money may be accumulated by the ordinary method of collecting taxc3 to meet the same. STATE! OBLIGATIONS. I'rom the report of the state treasurer a brief summary discloses the following n» to the state’s obligations: Bonds outstanding. Issued In funding the state's Indebted ness at the time of the adop tion of the present constitu tion .$ 449,217 58 Bonds issued under the present constitution In 1891 and yet outstanding . 19,000 0> General fund warrants out standing .$1,924,065 13 Total .32,402,333 OS'. STATE CREDITS. To meet these obligations we liave tha fol!owing credits: Sinking fund to meet bonds first above mentioned .$ 217,840 04= Sinking fund to meet bonds last above mentioned . 324 39 Uncollected taxes due to the general fund .32,330,692 78-' Cash in the treasury, general fund .I... 6S9 370 89* Total ..33,238,227 68 In addition to the liabilities already In curred, and of which mention has here tofore been made, there Is also the addi tional liability for current expenditures yet to 'be made for the remainder of the •biennial period for Which the last legisla ture made appropriations and which can be approximated by ascertaining the total unexpended balances as shown by the report of the state auditor. These will have to be met from the uncollected taxes above mentioned (continued) DIFFERENT WAYS OF SLEEPING. Europeans Like Soft Flllnvi, bat Eastern. Races Like Blocks. Though it is true, as the author of a. school composition once asserted, that “sleeping is a universal practice among all nations, ” it is also true that there is a great diversity in the methods of sleeping among people of different nations and different ways of life, says the Youth’s Companion, The things that one needs to make him. sleep are precisely the things which would keep another awake all night. Even the sedative medicines which put one person immediately into a heavy slumber excite another into a condition of nervous restlessness. The European or American, in order • to sleep well, ordinarily requires a downy pillow under his head; but the Japanese, stretching himself upon a rush-mat on the floor, puts a hard, square block of wood under his head, and does not sleep well if he does not have it The Chinese makes great account of his bed, which is very low. indeed— scarcely risiDg from the floor—but is often carved exquisitely of wood: but it never occurs to him to make it any any softer than rush-mats will reuder it. While the people of northern coun tries can not sleep unless they have plenty of room to stretch out their legs, the inhabitants of the tropics often curl themselves up like monkeys at the lower angle of a suspended hammock, and sloep soundly in that position. j.ne roQusi American oiten covers himself with a pair of blankets and throws his window wide open to the air, even in the winter time, and he does not complain if he finds a little drift of snow across the top of his bed in the morning. The Russian, on the contrary, likes no sleeping-place so well as the top of the big soapstone stove in his domicile. Crawling out of this blistering bed in the morning he likes to take a plunge in a cold stream, even if he has to break through the ice to get into it. The Laplander crawls, head and all. into a bag made of reindeer skin and sleeps warm and comfortable within it. The East Indian, at the other end of the world, also has a sleeping-bag, ' but it is more porous than the Lap I lander's. Its purpose is to keep out mosquitoes more than to keep the sleeper warm. While the American still clings to his feather pillow he is steadily dis carding his old-fashioned feather bed in favor of the hair or straw matress. The feather bed is relegated to the country and many people who slept upon it all through their childhood find themselves uncomfortable upon it in their maturity. The Germans not only sleep upon a feather bed, but underneath one. The feather covering used in Germany, however, is not as largo or thick as the one which is U3ed as a mattress, and the foreigner who undertakes to sleep beneath it often finds his feot suffering from cold, while his should ers are suffering from heat. A Wig Shower of Meteors. Of the 14 huge masses of meteorio iron which fell on a spot less than 64 square miles in area, near Fort Dun can, Mexico, tho largest is bee-hive shaped and is buried five feet in the soil and rises four feot above tho sur face. The second mass ir. point of size has been moved to the national mu seum at Washington. It weighs over 4,000 pounds. The other 13 pieces j weigh from 97 K to 650 pounds. The ; whole mass of fragments as mentioned I above are scattered over an area of C4 square miles with Fort Duncan at about the cent'- of the point of dis persion.