Page images
PDF
EPUB

$657,955.34, applicable to distribution upon the principal of the State indebtedness. $395,467.96 had at that date been applied, and $262,487.38 were subject to distribution January 1, 1853.

The receipts into the Treasury for the two years ending Novem

ber 30, 1852, chiefly from taxes, were.

Add balance in the Treasury, Dec. 1, 1850,

The expenditures for the same period were:

Ordinary expenses of the government,

Special appropriations and expenditures,

School Fund,

Old warrants,

$ 503,561.68
28,578 41

$532,140.09

$ 138,619.31
125,211.55

113,693.38

8,243.29

The receipts for the two years exceeded the disbursements, being balance in the
Treasury, Dec. 1, 1852,

[ocr errors]

The amount of interest fund tax received for the same period was

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]

385,767.53

$146,372.56

400,515.39

335,801.16

The amount of property subject to taxation in 1850 was, real estate, $86,512,537; personal property, $33,335,798; total, $119,848,335. Rate of taxation 58 cents on the $100. In 1851, real estate $98,748,533. Personal property, $39,069,546. Total, $137,818,07 Rate of taxation, 60 cents on the $ 100.

Banks. 1 - November 1, 1852. Seventeen banks have completed their organization under the general banking law. Their aggregate capital is $8,460.000; value of stocks deposited with the Auditor, $1,142,544; amount of circulating notes, $1,129,622. Sixteen banks have filed certificates, but not deposited stocks, and seven have filed certificates and been since abandoned by the stockholders.

Common Schools. - Amount of funds devoted to Common Schools, December 31, 1852:Three per cent. on net proceeds of public lands (except one sixth), $463,490.93 Surplus revenue from the United States,

335,592.32

$799,083.25

There are besides :

The College Fund, being one sixth of the three per cent. fund,
The Seminary Fund, i. e. proceeds of sales of seminary lands,

$92,682.10

59,738.72

152,420.82

[ocr errors][merged small]

Making, devoted to purposes of education, The whole of this sum has been borrowed or appropriated by the State, and devoted to pay the current expenses of the government. The State pays six per cent. interest on the amount. The interest of the Common School Fund for 1852 was $56,888, which, except of 1 per cent. paid to the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, was divided among the several counties, in proportion to the number of white children under the age of 21.

Beside this State fund, there are county and township funds. The value of the county funds is estimated at $ 50,000; of the township funds, $2,371,592; which would make a total principal of $3,373,096. The interest on the State fund is at 6 per cent.; on county and township funds, at 10 per cent.; making total interest, $299,047. Raised by ad valorem tax in 46 counties, $51,101.

In the 72 counties that made returns for the year 1852, there were 3,504 organized districts,3,076 school-houses, and 78 district libraries. Amount of public money paid for teachers' wages, $113,500; amount paid, besides public money, $ 197,306. Number of schools, 3,966; taught by males, 2,397; by females, 1,569; children taught, 139,255; average length of schools (in months), 6.75; average monthly wages of male teachers, $ 17.64; of females, $ 10.32.

Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, Jacksonville. - Thomas Officer, Principal. Number of pupils during the term, 109, of whom 94 were from Illinois. The annual expenses of the institution are about $19,000.

By the act of February 17, 1851, a geological survey of the State was authorized, and in July of that year Mr. J. G. Norwood was appointed State Geologist. He has organized a corps of assistants, and been since engaged in the prosecution of the survey.

XXVIII. MISSOURI.

Government for the Year 1855.

STERLING PRICE,

of Chariton Co., Governor,

Term ends. Salary. Dec. 1856, $2,000

[and a furnished house.

of Cape Girardeau, Lieut.-Governor, 1856.
Secretary of State and
Public Schools, 1856, 1,000 & fees.
Aud. of Accounts, 1856, 1,600
Treasurer,
Attorney-General,
Register of Lands,

Wilson Brown,
John M. Richardson, of Richmond,
Superintendent of
William H. Buffington, of Jefferson City,
Alfred W. Morrison, of Howard Co.,
James B. Gardenhire,
A. P. Richardson,
Andrew M. Elston,

of Jefferson City,
of Ray County,

1,800

900 & fees.

1,750

of Jefferson City,

[blocks in formation]

James M. Hackney,

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Most of the above officers are required to live during their term at Jefferson City. The Lieutenant-Governor is ex officio President of the Senate, and receives $4.50 a day while presiding. The pay of the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the same. Senators are chosen every fourth, and Representatives every second year. Their pay is $3 a day for the first sixty days, and after that time $1 per day, except at a revising session, when they may receive $3 per day for 100 days, and $1 for the remainder of the session. The Legislature meets at the city of Jefferson, biennially, on the last Monday in December.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

The judges of this court are now elected for the term of six years by the qualified voters of the State. They are re-eligible at the expiration of their present term. Two sessions of the Supreme Court are held annually, one at Jefferson City and one at St. Louis. The Attorney-General is ex officio Reporter of the Decisions of the Court.

[blocks in formation]

George W. Miller, 1st Circuit, $1,250 J. B. Gardenhire,

Salary. $900 & fees.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

Waldo P. Johnson, 7th Circuit, $1,250 B. H. Emerson,

Salary.

$250 and fees.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

14th

66

66

1,250 John R. Woodside, 250

Daniel M. Leet, A Circuit Court is held twice a year in each county. Its jurisdiction extends to all matters of tort and contract over $90, where the demand is liquidated, and over $50 where the agreement is parol. It has exclusive criminal jurisdiction, and a supervision over the County Courts and justices of the peace, subject to the correction of the Supreme Court. The judges of the Circuit Court are elected by the qualified voters of their respective districts, and for the term of six years.

In addition to the Circuit and County Courts, St. Louis has a Court of Common Pleas, with a jurisdiction very similar to the Circuit Court, a Criminal Court, a distinct Court of Probate, a Recorder's Court, and a Land Court, having sole jurisdiction in St. Louis County in suits respecting lands, actions of ejectment, dower, partition, &c. The judges of the Circuit and Criminal Court are elected in the same manner and for the same term as the circuit judges.

[blocks in formation]

These are local tribunals, exercising jurisdiction only in their counties, except the Recorder's Court, whose jurisdiction is confined to small offences and within the limits of the city. From the Court of Common Pleas and Criminal Court, an appeal lies to the Supreme Court; and the judges of the Common Pleas are appointed like the circuit judges, with like tenures. The probate judge is elected by the people of the county for four years, and the Recorder by the people of the City of St. Louis, for two years.

G

County Courts. The jurisdiction of these courts is limited to matters of probate and local county affairs, as roads, &c. A County Court sits in each county, and is composed of three justices, who are elected by the people, and hold their offices for four years. Their pay is $2 a day while in session. An appeal lies to the Circuit Court. The County Court of St. Louis County is composed of seven judges. They are relieved from probate duties by the separate court above mentioned.

FINANCES.

The annual receipts from all sources are about $325,000. The ordinary annual expenditures are $175,000. The Legislature of 1852-53 authorized the additional extraordinary expenditure of $107,000.

The total amount of the State debt is $802,000. The State owns stock in the Bank of the State of Missouri (the only bank allowed in the State by the constitution, and whose charter expires in 1856) to the amount of $272,263. Deducting this, the debt is $529,737. Common Schools. - The principal of the Common School Fund exceeds half a million of dollars. The interest of this sum is distributed semiannually among the different counties of the State, according to the number of children reported, and this proportion is disbursed among teachers therein. The State has also appropriated one fourth part of its revenues to the support of common schools, making the amount to be distributed annually near $ 140,000. State Penitentiary at Jefferson City. - There were in August, 1852, 230 convicts. The prison is conducted by lessees, who pay an annual rent of $5,000.

Lunatic Asylum at Fulton. - Superintendent, Dr. T. R. H. Smith. Number of inmates 93. The last Legislature appropriated $30,000 for its enlargement, and $ 37,300 for its support.

Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Fulton. — Principal, William D. Kerr. It is now in operation, and has 43 pupils. The last Legislature appropriated $ 36,400 for its support. Asylum for the Blind, St. Louis. Rev. Wm. G. Eliot, President. W. D. Wheelan, Principal. $30,000 were appropriated for its enlargement by the last Legislature. Internal Improvements. · -There are three railroads now in course of construction in the State:1st. St. Louis and Pacific Railroad. Of this about 38 miles are completed, from St. Louis westwardly. The whole will be finished to the western line of the State, about 360 miles, in about three years. Its proposed terminus is San Francisco, in California. 2d. Iron Mountain, from St. Louis to Iron Mountain. Length about 75 miles. 3d. Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. It connects the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers at the points named in the title of the road. Its length is about 280 or 300 miles, and the probable period of its completion will be two or three years. The State has lent its credit to the first road to the amount of $ 3,000,000; to the second to the amount of $750,000; and to the third to the amount of $1,000,000.

The loans are made to the roads thus:- When the directors report that the sum of $50,000 is bona fide subscribed by individuals, the State issues its bonds for a similar amount; and so for each similar subscription of $ 50,000, until the whole appropriation is exhausted. To secure the State, the entire railroad, buildings, locomotives, &c. are mortgaged to the State. The directors are also bound to pay the interest as it accumulates.

The following railroads are now undergoing survey:-1st. North Missouri Railroad, from St. Louis to the northern boundary line of the State, distance about 250 miles. To this railroad the State has lent its credit, on the same terms as to the others now in progress for the sum of two millions. 2d. The Southwestern Railroad, from St. Louis to Springfield, distance about 300 miles. To this road the State has given the lands granted by the general government, consisting of each alternate section of land, on each side of the track, for 15 miles, and also lent its credit on the usual terms for one million of dollars.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

J. H. Bonney,

George Gillaspy,

of Van Buren Co., Com. Des Moines Impr't, 1,000 of Marion Co., Register

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

1,000 The Legislature meets biennially, on the first Monday in December. The pay of the members is $2 a day for the first fifty days, and $1 a day for the rest of the session, with $2 for every twenty miles' travel.

Joseph Williams,
George Greene,
J. F. Kinney,

D. C. Cloud,

G. S. Hampton,

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

of Muscatine Co., Attorney-Gen. and Reporter, 1,000

of Lee Co.,

of Johnson Co.,

Clerk,

Fees.

The judges of the Supreme Court are elected, by joint vote of the General Assembly, for six years, and until their successors are elected and qualified.

The Supreme Court now holds two sessions annually at Iowa City, on the first Monday in June and December.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

The judges of the District Court are elected, by the voters in their district, for five years, and until their successors are elected and qualified.

FINANCES.

The funded debt of the State is $81,795, on which the interest is about $8,000. The revenue is derived from taxes upon real and personal property.

The receipts into the State Treasury for the two years ending Oct. 31, 1852, were $ 139,681.69 In the Treasury, Dec. 1, 1850,

The disbursements during the same period were

Balance in Treasury, Oct. 31, 1852, .

1.39

$139,683.08

131,631.49 $8,051.59

The annual expenses of the State are, for executive, $3,850; judiciary, $9,000; interest, $8,000; printing, $6,500; deaf, dumb, and blind, $1,750. The expenses of Legislature – the sessions are biennial- — are hear $17,000. The assessed taxes for 1852 were $ 57,607.05. In 1852 the number of polls was 36,395; number of voters, 43,019; aliens, 7,211; males, 118,769; females, 109,004; acres of land, 5,618,207; value of same with improvements, $20,658,180; capital in merchandise, $1,261,532; mills, distilleries, &c., $ 280,438; horses,

« PreviousContinue »