Gentlemen of the Senate, and House of Representatives: The progress of the State, during the past two years has been extraordinary, and in many respects, unexampled. In population, in wealth, in productive power, in educational facilities, the advance has been such as to astound the doubtful and to surprise the most sanguine. Iowa occupies a proud position, and with wise legislation a glorious destiny awaits her. You are called to assist in shaping that destiny, and to aid in laying the foundations of a future empire. It is impossible to be too deeply impressed with the responsibility and delicacy of the great trust confided to you. STATE STATISTICS. An enumeration of the inhabitants of the State, and of her productive resources, was taken in June last, as required by the Constitution. It is somewhat defective; two counties and several townships in other counties not having been returned at all, whilst in almost all the counties there are very great omissions. Many townships and some counties are returned without any statistics, save those in relation to population. Such will always be the case so long as the census shall be taken by township assessors, instead of being taken by marshals, to be appointed by the Census Board. The census returns show that the State has increased in population from June, 1854, to June, 1856, from 326,014, to 503,625. The following statement will show the increase of population since the settlement of what is now the State: The population of the State is probably, at this time, not far from 600,000. The vote polled on the 4th day of November last reached 92,644, and indicates the truth of this supposition. The following table shows the annual increase of the value of assessable property in the State during the past six years: In 1851, the assessable value was, $28,464,550 38,427,376 49,540,304 72,327,204 106,895,390 164,194,413 As the census returns may not be published before your limited session will expire, I present a summary of some of the most important facts disclosed by it: Accompanying this you will receive the biennial report of the There has been paid out upon the order of There has been loaned upon the order of the same commissioners, 6,480 60 $41,480 60 Fifty-five thousand dollars of the State bonds fall due at the Philadelphia Bank, in the city of Philadelphia, on the first day of January, 1857, and provision should be made for their payment with out a moments delay. I was authorized by the joint resolution of the General Assembly, approved July 15th, 1856, to borrow the sum of one hundred thousand dollars from the Superintendent of Public Instruction, for the purpose in the resolution specified. On that day I obtained from him the sum of forty thousand dollars, which I deposited with the Treasurer of State. The remaining sixty thousand dollars, I have not been able to obtain, as was anticipated, and it still remains in the hands of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. SCHOOL FUNDS AND SCHOOL LANDS. I am unable to state the amount of school lands and school money belonging to the State, nor do I know of any means of speedily as certaining the amounts. I again call your attention to the propriety of entirely disconnecting the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction from all control over the School money and School lands. The five per cent. fund arising from the sale of public lands within the State, has always, until the past year, been distributed by the Superintendent among the several County School Fund Commissioners, under what was supposed to be the requirements of the laws of this State. The amount of $226,800 56 received from the General Government as the five per cent. accruing on the 31st of December, 1854, has, I learn, been partially distributed among the County School Fund Commissioners, and partially loaned out by the Superintendent of Public Instruction; but, as I conceive, wholly without authority of law. This is too important and too large an interest to suffer any doubt to exist as to the proper disposal of the fund, or as to the powers, rights, and liabilities of any officer connected with it. I therefore commend the subject to your immediate consideration. There is now in the Treasury of the United States, as the proceeds of the sales of the public lands within our limits, from 1st January to 31st December, 1855, $185,785 32. STATE LAND OFFICE. I also have the honor to transmit to you the report of the Register of the State Land Office, and take pleasure in calling your special attention to the suggestions of that officer. The operations of this Office have been quite responsible and laborious, and the benefits arising from it have far exceeded the expectations of those who were instrumental in its creation. On the third day of November last I received the resignation of the Hon. W. McKay, as Commissioner of the Desmoines River Improvement. I learn incidentally that he has removed, or is about to remove from the State, and it is therefore presumed that no official report will be received from him. On the 17th day of November I appointed Edward Manning, Esq., of Van Buren County, the successor of Mr. McKay. Mr. Manning has not yet entered upon the duties of his office, and may not be able to submit a report to the General Assembly until near the close of the session. I received on the third day of last October from W. C. Johnson, Esq., President of the Desmoines River Improvement and Naviga |