month of September, on its grounds, which have been extensively
improved. Each year there is a marked increase in the magnitude and
variety of exhibits, and extended interest and attendance. Its financial
statement for the year 1898 was: Receipts, $62,523.70; expenditures,
$56,850.83. It has just closed its fair for the year 1899, which in
extent and perfection of its exhibits and financial results surpassed
any of its previous attempts.
There are in the state the following named societies, all more or less
connected with agriculture, and all in flourishing condition: The State
Horticultural Society, the State Forestry Association, the Dairymen's
Association, the State Butter and Cheese Makers' Association, the State
Farmers' Institute, the State Poultry Association, the State
Bee-Keepers' Association, and perhaps others. These associations have
done much in the promotion of the agricultural interests of the state,
and by their intelligent guidance will, no doubt, soon make it the
leading agricultural state in the Union.
THE MINNESOTA SOLDIERS' HOME.
In the year 1887 it became apparent that the Civil War and the Minnesota
Indian War had left a large number of soldiers of the state in dependent
circumstances from old age, wounds and other disabling causes. The
state, recognizing its obligation to these men, determined to provide a
home for their comfort and maintenance. By an act of the legislature,
passed March 2d of that year, provision was made for the purchase of a
site and the erection of suitable buildings for that purpose. The act
provided for bids for the purpose of a site, and also authorized the
acceptance of donations for that purpose. Minneapolis responded
handsomely, by offering fifty-one acres of its beautiful Minnehaha park
as a donation. It was accepted, and is one of the most beautiful and
picturesque locations that could have been found in the state, being
near the Mississippi river and the Falls of Minnehaha. The beginning of
the home was small, one old house being used for the first six months,
and then, from year to year, handsome and commodious brick houses were
erected, until the home became adequate to accommodate all those who
were entitled to its hospitality. The conditions of admission are:
Residence in Minnesota, service in the Mexican War, or in some Minnesota
organization in the Civil or Indian Wars, honorable discharge, and
indigent circumstances. As there are no accommodations for the wives
and families of the old soldiers and sailors at the home, provision is
made for relief being furnished to married soldiers at their own homes,
so as to prevent the separation of families. There were in the home at
the date of the last report (August 3, 1899) 362 beneficiaries. The home
is conducted by a board of trustees, consisting of seven members, whose
election is so arranged that they serve for six years. This beneficent
establishment is to be commended as an evidence of the generosity and
patriotism of the state.
OTHER STATE INSTITUTIONS.
I have been somewhat explicit in mentioning the institutions of the
state which are connected with its prominent and permanent
industry--agriculture; but it must not be supposed that it has not
provided for the many other interests that require regulation and
control to constitute a perfectly organized state government. There are,
besides those I have mentioned, four normal schools (located at Winona,
Mankato, St. Cloud and Moorhead), all devoted to the education of
teachers, state high and graded schools scattered all over the state, a
state board of corrections and charities, and state hospitals for the
insane (of which there are three), located as follows: One at St. Peter,
one at Rochester, and one at Fergus Falls, and a fourth in
contemplation. According to the latest report, these hospitals contained
3,302 patients, as follows: St. Peter, 1,045; Rochester, 1,196; and
Fergus Falls, 1,061. For a small, new state, this showing would seem
alarming, and indicate that a very large percentage of the population
was insane, and that the rest were preparing to become so. The truth is
that a case of insanity originating in Minnesota is quite as
exceptional and rare as other diseases, and can usually be accounted for
by some self-abuse of the patient. The population is drawn from such
diverse sources, and the intermarriages are crossed upon so many
different nationalities that hereditary insanity ought to be almost
unknown. The climate and the general pursuits of the people all militate
against the prevalence of the malady.
The explanation of the existence of the numerous cases is, as I am
informed by the very highest authority on the subject, that in nearly
all European countries it has become the habit of families afflicted
with insanity to export their unfortunates to America as soon as any
symptoms appear, and thus provide for them for the rest of their lives.
I cannot say that the governments whence these people emigrate
participate in the fraud, but it is not reasonable to suppose that they
would interpose any serious objections even should they have knowledge
of the fact. A comparison of the nationalities of the patients found in
these hospitals with the American element, given by the census of the
state, proves my statement, and an inquiry of the medical authorities of
these institutions will place the question beyond doubt.
MINNESOTA INSTITUTES FOR DEFECTIVES.
There are also state schools for the deaf, dumb, blind, and the
feeble-minded. These institutions are all located at Faribault, in Rice
county, and each has a very handsome, commodious, and in every way
suitable building, where these unfortunates are instructed in every
branch of learning and industry of which they are capable. During the
last two years there have been enrolled 275 deaf and dumb children in
the school especially devoted to them, where they receive the best
education that science and experience can provide. This school has
already been instrumental in preparing hundreds of deaf and mute youth
to be useful and intelligent citizens of the state, and year by year a
few are graduated, well prepared to take their places beside the hearing
and speaking youth who leave the public schools. About one-third of the
time is devoted to manual training.
The school for the blind is entirely separate from that of the deaf and
dumb, and is equipped with all the appliances of a modern special school
of this character. It makes a specialty of musical instruction and
industrial training, such as broom-making, hammock weaving, bead work
and sewing. The course of study embraces a period of seven years,
beginning with the kindergarten, and ending with the ordinary studies of
English classes in the high schools. The school is free to all blind
children in the state between the ages of eight and twenty-six, to whom
board, care and tuition are furnished. The average number of pupils at
this school for the past few years is between seventy and one hundred.
There is also a
STATE SCHOOL FOR DEPENDENT AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN.
This school is located at Owatonna, in Steele county, and is one of the
most valuable of all the many establishments which the state has
provided for the encouragement of good citizenship. There are eleven
buildings, which comprise all the agencies that tend to make abandoned
children useful citizens and rescue them from a life of vagrancy and
crime.
The object of this institution is to provide a temporary home and school
for the dependent and neglected children of the state. No child in
Minnesota need go without a home if the officers of the several counties
do their duty. There is not a semblance of any degrading or criminal
feature in the manner of obtaining admittance to this school. Under the
law, it is the duty of every county commissioner, when he finds any
child dependent, or in danger of becoming so, to take steps to send him
to this school. The process of admission wisely guards against the
separation of parent and child, but keeps in view the ultimate good of
the latter. Once admitted it becomes the child of the state, all other
authority over it being canceled. Every child old enough to work has
some fitting task assigned to it, to the end of training it mentally,
morally and physically for useful citizenship. They are sent from the
school into families wanting them, but this does not deprive them of the
watchful care of the state, which, through its agents, visits them in
their adopted homes, and sees that they are well cared for.
On Jan. 1, 1899, there had been received into the school, from
seventy-two counties, 1,824 children, of whom 1,131 were boys and 693
were girls. Of these 233 were then in the school, the others having been
placed in good homes. It is known that eighty-three per cent of these
children develope into young men and women of good character.
THE MINNESOTA STATE TRAINING SCHOOL.
This institution was formerly "The Minnesota State Reform School," and
was located in St. Paul. In 1895 the legislature changed its name to
"The Minnesota State Training School for Boys and Girls," and its
location has been changed to Red Wing, in the county of Goodhue. This
institution has to do with criminals, and the statute provides, "That
whenever an infant over the age of eight years and under the age of
sixteen years shall have been duly convicted of any crime punishable
with imprisonment, except the crime of murder, or shall be convicted of
vagrancy or of incorrigibly vicious conduct," the sentence shall be to
the guardianship of the board of managers of this school. Here they are
given a good common school education and instructed in the trades of
cabinet making, carpenter work, tailoring, shoemaking, blacksmithing,
printing, farming, gardening, etc.
The inmates are furloughed under proper conditions, but the state
watches over them through an agent, who provides homes for the homeless
and employment for those who need help.
MINNESOTA STATE REFORMATORY.
This institution was established in 1887, and is located at St. Cloud.
It is designed as an intermediate correctional school between the
training school and the state prison, the object being to provide a
place for young men and boys from sixteen to thirty years of age, never
before convicted of crime, where they may, under as favorable
circumstances as possible, by discipline and education best adapted to
that end, form such habits and character as will prevent their
continuing in crime, fit them for self-support, and accomplish their
reformation.
The law provides for an indeterminate sentence, allowing of parole when
earned by continuous good conduct, and final release when reformation is
strongly probable.
Honest labor is required every day of each inmate. Almost every
occupation and employment is carried on in a practical way, and each
inmate is learning to fill some honest place and to do useful work. The
workings of this reformatory have been very satisfactory, and have
undoubtedly rescued many young people from a life of crime.
THE MINNESOTA STATE PRISON.
All prisons where criminals are sent to work out sentences for crimes
committed are alike on general principles, and the Minnesota prison,
situated at Stillwater, differs only in the fact that it combines in its
administration all the modern discoveries of sociological research which
tend to ameliorate the condition of the prisoner and fit him for the
duties of good citizenship when discharged.
The plant is extensive and thorough. The labor of the prisoners is now
devoted to three industries: the manufacture of binding twine, high
school scientific apparatus on state account, and the manufacture of
boots and shoes.
The discipline and management of the prison are the best. The most
advanced principles of penology are in force. Sentences are reduced by
good conduct, and everything is done to reform as well as punish the
prisoner. A newspaper is published by the convicts, and a library of
five thousand volumes is furnished for their mental improvement. Nothing
known to modern social and penal science is omitted from the management.
THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
This society, as I have said before in speaking of the work of the first
territorial legislature, was organized by that body in 1849, and has
been of incalculable value to the state. The officers of the society are
a president, two vice presidents, a treasurer and a secretary, and it
is governed by an executive council of thirty-six members, which
embraces the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary, auditor,
treasurer of state and attorney general as ex-officio members. The state
makes an annual appropriation in aid of the society. The executive
council meets once a month for the transaction of its business, at which
meetings, and at its annual meetings, interesting papers and essays are
delivered on historical subjects, which are preserved, and with other
matter are published in handsomely bound volumes when sufficient
material is accumulated.
The society, in the manner prescribed in its by-laws, may establish the
following separate departments:
Department of Annals and General History of Minnesota.
Department of Geology of Minnesota.
Department of Zoölogy of Minnesota.
Department of Botany of Minnesota.
Department of Meteorology of Minnesota.
Department of Northwestern Geography and Chartology.
Department of American History.
Department of Oriental History.
Department of European History.
Department of Genealogy and Heraldry.
Department of Ethnology and Anthropology.
It has corresponding members all over the world, and official
connections with nearly all the historical and learned societies of
Europe and America, with which it interchanges publications. It has a
membership of 142 life and 37 annual members. It may receive donations
from any source.
Its property, real and personal, is exempt from taxation of any kind. It
has accumulated a splendid library of about 63,000 volumes of all kinds
of historical, genealogical, scientific and general knowledge, all of
which are open and free to the public. It also has a gallery of pictures
of historical scenes in Minnesota, and portraits of men and women who
have been prominent in, or who have contributed to, the history or
growth of the state, together with an extensive museum of Indian and
other curiosities having some relation to Minnesota. One of its most
valuable attractions is a newspaper department, in which are complete
files of all newspapers which have been and are published in the state,
except a very few unimportant ones. The number of our state papers,
daily, weekly and monthly, received at the beginning of the year 1899 is
421. These papers are all bound in substantial volumes, for preservation
for the use of future generations. On Sept. 1, 1899, the society had on
the shelves of its fire-proof vault 4,250 of these volumes. Its rooms
are in the capitol at St. Paul, and are entirely inadequate for its
accommodation, but ample space has been allowed it in the new capitol
now in the course of construction.
STATE INSTITUTIONS MISCELLANEOUS IN THEIR CHARACTER.
Besides the general state boards and associations having special
reference to the leading products of the state, and those of a
reformatory and educational character, there are many others, regulating
business of various kinds among the inhabitants, all of which are
important in their special spheres, but to name them is all I can say
about them in my limited space. Their number and the subjects which they
regulate shows the care with which the state watches over the welfare
of its citizens. I present the following catalogue of the state
departments:
The Insurance Commission.
The Public Examiner.
The Dairy Food Commission.
The Bureau of Labor.
The Board of Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners.
The Board of Game and Fish Commissioners.
The State Law Library.
The State Department of Oil Inspection.
The State Horticultural Society.
The State Forestry Association.
The Minnesota Dairymen's Association.
The State Butter and Cheese Makers' Association.
The State Farmers' Institutes.
The Red River Valley Drainage Commission.
The State Drainage Commission.
The Commission of Statistics.
The State Board of Health and Vital Statistics.
The State Board of Medical Examiners.
The State Board of Pharmacy.
The State Board of Dental Examiners.
The State Board of Examiners in Law.
The Bureau of Public Printing.
The Minnesota Society for the Prevention of Cruelty.
The Geological and Natural History Survey.
The State Board of Equalization.
Surveyors of Logs and Lumber.
The Board of Pardons.
The State Board of Arbitration and Conciliation.
The State Board of Investment.
The State Board of Examiners of Barbers.
The State Board of Examiners of Practical Plumbing.
The Horseshoers' Board of Examiners.
The Inspection of Steam Boilers.
It is difficult to conceive of any other subject over which the state
could assume jurisdiction, and the great number which are embraced
already within its supervision would lead one who is not in touch with
our state administration to believe that state paternalism dominated the
business industries of the people; but nothing is further from the
truth, and no state in the Union is freer from governmental interference
in the ordinary channels of industry than Minnesota.
STATE FINANCES.
Since the settlement of the debt created by the old railroad bonds that
I have heretofore mentioned, the finances of the state have always been
in excellent condition. When the receipts of an individual or a state
exceed expenditures the situation is both satisfactory and safe. At the
last report, up to July 31, 1898, the receipts of the state from all
sources were $5,429,240.32, and the expenditures were $5,208,942.05,
leaving a balance on the right side of the ledger of $220,298.27. To the
receipts must be added the balance in the treasury at the beginning of
the year of $2,054,314.26, which left in the treasury on July 31, 1898,
the large sum of $2,184,612.53.
The original indebtedness arising from the adjustment of the state
railroad bonds was $1,659,000; other bonds, $300,000.00. This
indebtedness has been reduced by payments to the sum of $1,475,647.22,
on July 31, 1898, the date of the last report. If this debt had
matured, it could at once be paid by the funds on hand, leaving the
state entirely free from all indebtedness.
The taxable property of the state by last assessment, in 1897, including
real and personal property, was $570,598,813.
THE MONETARY AND BUSINESS FLURRY OF 1873 AND PANIC OF 1893.
It has been customary in the United States to expect a disturbance in
monetary and business affairs about once in every twenty years, and the
expectation has not been disappointed since the panic of 1837. I have
described the effect of the panic of 1857 on the Territory and State of
Minnesota, and the difficulties of recuperating from the shock. The next
similar event was not due until 1877, but there is always some special
disaster to precipitate such occurrences. In 1857 it was the failure of
the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company, and in 1873 it was the
failure of Jay Cooke & Co., of Philadelphia. This house had been very
prominent in placing the bonds of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company,
and in the construction of the road, and was relied upon by many classes
of people to invest their money for them, and when their failure was
announced, its effect in the East was disastrous, but here in Minnesota
it only affected us in a secondary or indirect way, in stopping railroad
building and creating general alarm in business circles. We had been
diligently at work for sixteen years, endeavoring to recuperate from the
disaster of 1857, and had to a great extent succeeded. Real estate had
partially revived, but had not reached the boom feature, and the state
was on a sound financial basis. Fortunately we had not recovered
sufficiently to become investors in railroad securities to any great
extent, and land speculation had not reached its usual twenty years'
mark. We had, also, on hand a local affliction, in the presence of
grasshoppers, so that, although it disturbed business generally, it did
not succeed in producing bankruptcy, and we soon shook it off.
This periodical financial disturbance has been attributed to various
causes. From the regularity of its appearance, it must be the result of
some impelling force of a generally similar character. My opinion is,
that the period of twenty years being the average time of man's active
business life, the actors of the second period have not the benefit of
the experience gained by those of the previous one, and they repeat the
same errors that produced the former disasters; but be that as it may,
when the period extending from 1873 to 1893 had passed, the same result
had occurred, and with quite as much force as any of its predecessors.
Land speculation had reached the point of absolute insanity. Everybody
thought he could become rich if he only bought. Values, already
ridiculously expanded, continued to increase with every sale. Anyone who
had money enough to pay down a small amount as earnest and intelligence
enough to sign a note and mortgage for the balance of the purchase price
became purchasers to the limit of their credit. When a party whose
credit was questioned needed an indorser, he found many requiring the
same assistance who were ready to swap indorsements with him. Everyone
became deeply in debt. The country was flooded with paper, which was
secured on the impossibility of values continuing. The banks became
loaded with alleged securities, and when the bubble was strained to the
bursting point, and some one of supposed financial soundness was
compelled to succumb to the pressure, the veil was lifted, which opened
the eyes of the community and produced a rush for safety, which
induced, and was necessarily followed, by a general collapse. In 1888
and 1889 banks suspended, money disappeared, and in 1893, in the
expressive language of the West, everybody who was in debt, and all
stockholders and depositors in defunct banks "went broke." Had the
cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis been captured by an enemy and a
ransom of ten million dollars been demanded from each, paid and carried
away, the consequences upon business would not have been worse. It was
much the same in all the large cities of the state, as land speculation
was more active there than in the rural districts, and no matter what
may happen, some value always remains to farm lands, while under such a
collapse as that of 1893 the greater part of city property becomes
utterly valueless for the present, and much of it forever.
There was, however, a great difference between the consequences of 1893
and the previous disasters of 1857 and 1873. Although the disturbance
was great, we were better prepared to meet it. Population had increased
immensely. The area of civilization and production had kept pace with
immigration. Manufactures of many kinds had been introduced, and
although we were seriously wounded, our hopes of recovery had solid
grounds to rest upon, and we were not dismayed. The only remedy in such
cases--industry and economy--was applied, through necessity if not from
choice, and recovery has been slowly progressing up to the present time
(1900), when we may be classed as convalescent.
Will this experience serve to prevent a recurrence of the follies of the
past? Most assuredly not. Those who have reaped wisdom will have
surrendered the speculative arena to others before the financial cycle
rolls around, and history will repeat itself, notwithstanding the state
never had a better future outlook than at present. It does not follow
that the panic due about 1913 will be caused by over speculation in real
estate. It is more likely to be produced by the excessive and fraudulent
capitalization of all sorts of corporations, called trusts, which will,
of course, succumb to the first serious blow.
With the exception of the events I have narrated, including the
financial troubles of 1873 and 1893, nothing of special importance to
the state has happened, except a few occurrences of minor moment.
MINOR HAPPENINGS.
Sept. 5, 1878, President Hayes made a short visit to the state, and
delivered an address at the state agricultural fair.