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MINNESOTA. 



018.30 in 1885, and $65,135.82 in 1886, and 

 the earnings $43,179.74 and $47,472.60 for the 

 same years, respectively. The net per capita 

 cost of maintaining the convicts has been re- 

 duced from $100.79 in 1881 to $42.88 in 1886. 

 The present capacity of the prison will proba- 

 bly be sufficient to meet the requirements of 

 the State in this regard until accommodations 

 are provided in the second State Prison con- 

 templated by chapter 157 of the General Laws 

 of 1885. This prison, the Governor recom- 

 mends, should be made a reformatory for con- 

 victs sentenced for their first offense. 



Soldiers' Home. The Governor recommends 

 the establishment of an institution for the care 

 of disabled veterans, to be supported by the 

 State. 



Militia. The Minnesota National Guard, as 

 now constituted, consists of two regiments of 

 infantry, one battery of artillery, and a troop 

 of cavalry, representing a total strength of 

 1,299 officers and men. There have als;> been 

 organized, at different points in the State, re- 

 serve companies of infantry to the number of 

 seven, to which the State has furnished arms 

 and equipments. An interesting feature of the 

 Adjutant-General's report is an exhibit of the 

 work of that department in the prosecution of 

 soldiers' claims for pensions. During the past 

 five years it has prosecuted 1,572 claims of this 

 character, secured the allowance of 849, repre- 

 senting a monthly pension of $7,113.43, and 

 arrears of pension of $430,969.47, without the 

 cost of a dollar to the claimants. 



Drainage. In July a delegate convention of 

 residents and property-owners of that portion 

 of the Red river valley lying in Minnesota was 

 held at Crookston, to devise means and adopt 

 methods for a comprehensive system of drain- 

 age for that fertile section of the State. The 

 action of the convention resulted in the em- 

 ployment of competent engineers to make sur- 

 veys, adopt a plan, and report at a subsequent 

 meeting, with estimates of the cost of the pro- 

 posed work. The report has heen submitted, 

 with a request for legislation in furtherance of 

 the enterprise. 



Liquor-Traffic. "You will be called upon, "says 

 Gov. McGill, in his inaugural, "at this session to 

 consider measures looking to the further regu- 

 lation of the liquor business. The people have 

 pronounced in favor of ' high license, local op- 

 tion, and the rigid enforcement of the laws re- 

 lating to the liquor- traffic,' and now turn to 

 yon in the hope and expectation that you will, 

 in the form of suitable legislation, give effect 

 to the verdict which they have found. Outside 

 of the limited number engaged in the liquor- 

 traffic in this State, the people, by a very large 

 majority and without regard to political parties, 

 favor the measures proposed." 



Fish. The Fish Commission have distributed 

 22,813,147 fish and -14,100,000 eggs in the 

 waters of the State during the past two years. 

 These include the most desirable species of food- 

 fishes adapted to the lakes and streams. 



Insurance. The aggregate insurance business 

 transacted in the State in 1886 was: Risks 

 written, $203,829,384; premiums received, 

 $2,770,318.19 ; losses paid, $1,268,387.20. The 

 companies paid in taxes and fees to the State 

 $64,705.76 in 1885, and $75,089.57 in 1886. 



Lumber. The several surveyors general re- 

 port the following statistics respecting the lum- 

 ber interests of the State : 



Railroads. There are now in operation 4,9 

 miles of railroad in the State, an increase 

 738 miles in two years. Cost per mile, as re- 

 ported, $35,744.81. The earnings of these 

 roads were as follows: 



Growth. "During the five years it has been 

 my privilege," says Gov. Hubbard, " to occupy 

 the executive office, Minnesota has experienced 

 a development unprecedented in her history, 

 and hardly equaled by that of any other com- 

 munity of the country for a like period of time. 

 Her growth in population has been nearly 60 

 per cent., and her assessed real and personal 

 estate has increased from $271,158,961 in 1881, 

 to $458,424,777 in 1886. The industries and 

 business interests of her people have kept pace 

 in their development with this growth in popu- 

 lation and wealth, and the foundations have 

 been broadened and strengthened for that 

 greatness of empire which is the abundan 

 promise of our future destiny." 



Banks. There are 237 banks in the State, of 

 which but 107 are incorporated either under 

 State or National law. The remaining 130 be- 

 long to individuals or firms, but all except 11 

 have assumed corporate names. The Governor 

 recommends that they be prohibited from using 

 corporate names, or required to incorporate. 



Hail-Storms. On July 24 a hail-storm of great 

 violence passed through Marshall County, total 

 ly destroying the crops and greatly injurin 

 much other property over an area of mnny 

 square miles, reducing almost to destitution 

 about 200 families. At a later date, Swift and 

 Polk Counties suffered from a similar visitation. 



Political. The Democratic State Convention 

 met at St. Paul on September 15, and nomi- 

 nated the following ticket: Governor, A. A. 

 Ames; Lieutenant-Governor, John Frank; 



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