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several other questions of interest. Each year reveals the great need for such a State Board, as it also discloses the good work, and 1 commend tins report to you for your careful consideration. RAILROAD COMMISSION. The twenty-fifth annual report of the Railroad Commissioners will be submitted for your consideration, and this wilt contain some interesting figures, as the following tables show : Cross Earnings. 1903?Total gross earnings.$13,117,181 16 1902?Total gross earnings.11,785,946 52 Increase.$1,331,234 64 Net Income, Less Taxes and Expenses. 1903?Total net revenue.$4; 108,080 80 1902?Total net revenue... 3,640,590 24 Net increase. $467,490 56 Taxes. 1903?Taxes due the State. $453,015 28 1902?Taxes due the State. 472,171 14 Decrease. $19,155 86 Percentage of operating expenses to gross earnings.6860 The reason for the decrease in the amount of taxes paid is already explained by the Commissioners in their report. This report includes a number of recommendations, principal among them being that electric railway lines operating outside of municipalities be placed under the control of the Commission. Next, tliat the railroads be required to have an agency in this State to pass updn claims presented for adjustment, and also that they he given authority to employ a civil engineer, to work under the super vision and make such investigation of the physical condition of the railroads as they may find requisite and necessary. These are forceful suggestions and I commend them, along with the other suggestions contained in their report, to your earnest consideration. STATE GEOLOGIST. The report made by the State Geologist of his work during the past year contains much of interest. Systematic geological surveys have been made by this officer during the year, the surveys being devoted principally to the middle and lower portions of the State, where are found, in abundance, fuller's earth, limestone, marls, green sands and good clays. These surveys arc most important, revealing hidden sources of wealth to our State. Regarding, for instance, the. quality of South Carolina marls, this report quotes the following from the Bureau of Chemistry, United States Depart ment of Agriculture. A test of the chemical and physical prop erties of a sample of South Carolina marl was there made, and the report was: "This marl has the highest plasticity and cementing value of any marl tested in this laboratory." The report adds that the "neat briquettes" made from this marl exceeded in tensile strength the requirements of the United States Army by 50 per cent. I am frequently in receipt of communications from distant States asking for official information regarding our mineral resources. This report furnishes full and scientific information concerning this subject and commends itself to all, especially to the consideration of South Carolinians. The State Geologist makes the following recommendation, in which I concur: "That the Legislature authorize the Secretary of State to secure appropriate cases in harmony with the woodwork of the main hall of the Capitol, in order that the mineral specimens exhibiting the resources of the State may be becomingly displayed therein without obstructing that space." THE STATE MILITIA. "The fact that this is a decidedly important department of our State Government is receiving greater recognition each year. In addition to the moral effect of a well-organized and well-disciplined military force, the civil law of the State needs this valuable adjunct, especially upon those occasions when its aid must he invoked. The importance of our State Militia is hard to overestimate, and its proper organization, maintenance and support well deserve our most careful consideration. On several occasions during the past year the need for such services arose, and the response to my sum mons, in'every instance, was spirited, immediate and soldierly. Under the reorganization of the State Militia last year, a consid erable sum was paid to South Carolina from an appropriation made by the United States Government, available in cash and equip ments. The former was used in holding encampments throughout the State, the latter was of great benefit in supplying the needs of oiir soldiers. As a result of the work of the year the improvement in our Militia has been marked. The total strength of our Militia force?officers and eidisted men?today numbers 3,735, giving South Carolina high rank among the militia forces of the States, and these are better equipped than has been the case for years. It is to me exceedingly gratifying to make this report, and I may add that the outlook is most promising for continued improvement and efficiency. I ask your careful consideration of the exhaustive and complete report which has been submitted by the Adjutant- and Inspector General. Here the condition and needs of our State Militia are thoroughly set forth. Among the recommendations made in this report which are well worthy of your attention, I would especially emphasize the need of a State Armory, the building now rented being absolutely inadequate for this purpose. The details of this recommendation made by the Adjutant-General will show how much he is hampered by the lack of a suitable building, and his proposed plan for a State Armory is a business proposition which has my indorsement. The fact that for years our( Militia force has been practically self-sustaining, and their great efficiency, despite this difficulty, should give added force to any request they may make of yoi ?? honorable body. IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. Among other important questions that should have your careful consideration is one in which all \ oople of South Carolina have a vital interest. This is the subject of good roads, a subject of the greatest importance to us all. To you, gentlemen, who understand and appreciate so well the needs of our people, argument here is unnecessary. 1 have noticed, with great gratification, the interest which has been manifested in many of our counties in this need of today, and hope soon to sec every county in our State actively en gaged in this all-important work. A large number of meetings have been held at various places and I feel sure that good results must follow. Improvement in all departments and branches should ever be our aim and purpose, and the sure rewards of faithful labors in this field are -worth striving for and should command our most careful legislation. Every practical and business consideration in volved would be: greatly facilitated and helped by the general im provement of our ro?d system. While I am convinced that proper and systematic work of county chaingangs can be of decided benefit, still, very much more than this is necessary in order to obtain a modern road. Under our present system well-built and durable highways cannot be hoped for, as the present condition of our roads do well attest. Experience will prove, I am sure, that it is wise economy to spend time and money in this work, and I believe that our people now realize this sufficiently to be willing to defray whatever cost may be necessary. In my judgment the various counties in our State should be given the legal right to tax themselves for this purpose, should they deem it best to do so. To this end, therefore, I recommend such legisla tion as you may deem judicious and which will give to the counties the right, by a majority vote, either to issue bonds or to levy an annual tax for road improvement. Money voted for the improve ment of our roads will be an excellent business investment, the value of which will be more appreciated every year. As all citizens, whether in town or county, will be equally benefited by such an in vestment, it is but fair that all should be made to bear their share of the burden, and this can only be done by a tax upon property* The. building of public highways is now a national question. Na tional goo'l roads associations have been formed and are actively at work to secure aid for this purpose from the National Govern ment. Senator Latimer has been doing active and vigorous work along this line and is very much interested. It seems to me that if National aid is to be given for this work, there is no reason why we in South Carolina should not have our share of such an appropria tion. The cooperation of our National Government in this matter is no new policy. No particular Stale has paramount claims here and it would, in my judgment, be an error for South Carolina not to secure her proportion of any appropriation for the permanent improvement of our highways that may be available from this source. The plethoric condition of the National treasury is a further favorable consideration of this aspect of the case. BUREAU OF COMMERCE AND IMMIGRATION. The recent movement to secure immigration to our State gives me great pleasure. I have been profoundly impressed, during my ad ministration as your Chief Executive, with the absolute need of just such work. We cannot afford to delay longer in this all-important matter, and systematic business consideration is demanded by the needs of the hour. Our resources are both varied and unlimited. These embrace as fertile lands as can be found on the continent, and at prices far below their intrinsic value; a climate unsurpassed, allowing these lands to produce the entire year; mineral resources of the greatest abundance and of the rarest quality, with water powers, variously located and practically undeveloped. In addition to all of this the cost of living, and of living well, has no lower average and our health record is second to none. Despite these facts we have been simply letting opportunities pass by, because of no effort whatever on our part to let the outside world know, in plain facts and figures, what we have to offer. Facts and figures must be given and must be accurately and officially given. These are absolutely necessary, for a home-seeker generally has nothing else to go upon. Other States, with far inferior advan tages, have in recent years seen these possibilities, and as a result arc reaping golden harvests. The time is now ripe for such a move on the part of our State, and, viewing the present markets, the commercial conditions?Na tional and international, particularly this country's relations to the West Indies and the Isthmus?those who wish to sec South Caro lina strike the crest of the wave should urge that action be now taken in this matter. Any movement to induce immigration in order to be successful must be thoroughly organized and skilfully directed, and this, in my judgment, can best be done by the State itself. Nearly all of the Northern and Western States have Bureaus of Immigration, with a Commissioner in charge, and every effort is being made to attract desirable settlers. Many of the Southern States also arc at work. Alabama has such an office, with a Commissioner of Agri culture and Industries, and much has been accomplished for the State. North Carolina has an Immigration Department connected with the Department of Agriculture, and Maryland maintains such a department under the direction of a Commissioner of the Land Office. In other States similar bureaus, varying in the scope of the work, are maintained, and they arc having a most telling effect. We, on the other hand, are doing nothing. Frequent inquiries are made in regard to our resources, but there is no one in a posi tion to furnish official information, and the inquirer goes elsewhere. If today we manage to secure one settler annually from abroad out of the hundreds of thousands coming, it is merely by chance. Out of the 648,743 immigrants who came to the country in 1902, 88,000 were farmers and farm laborers; 80,000 were classed as skilled, and 3,000 professional men were included in the grand total. Many of these came with money to invest. It is estimated that the aver age Scotch immigrant comes with not less than $1,500 in cash. Surely all these are most desirable, and we cannot afford longer to sit idly by and allow none of them to come to us. I am profoundly impressed with the needs of the situation, and recommend, therefore, in view of the advantages we have to offer and of the great need of utilizing them, the establishment of a Bu reau of Commerce and Immigration, with a Secretary or Commis sioner in charge of this department. OFFICIAL COMPILATION OF CONFEDERATE RECORDS. A matter of great importance, not only to South Carolina but to a much larger territory, which very specifically includes the South, well deserves a place in this Message. This relates to a recent Act of Congress, which Act provides for "A complete roster of the Federal and Confederate Soldiers in the War Between the States." The Honorable, the Secretary of War, notified me of the passage of this Act after the adjournment of your honorable body, which I very much regret, as I should have been pleased to have had the benefit of your advice in this matter. The truth of our history is dear to every Southern heart,"and with loyal pride we ask no more than the glorious truth for those heroes of the Confederacy whose lives and deeds have made history for all ages to come. Realizing the importance of the interests involved, I had no hesitancy in undertaking this work, though in doing so I had to arrange for financial aid pending your future consideration and action. South Carolina, above all Southern States, should not fail to respond where the records of the soldiers of the Southern Con federacy are concerned. There are no more glorious deeds of sacri fice and valor recorded than were given to the world by the men who wore the gray, and it is our grateful privilege to see that their names shall have imperishable inscription in the archives of our nation. On March 16, 1903, I received an official communication from Secretary Root, from which I beg to quote the following clause of the "Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation Act, ap proved February 25, 1903": " That under the direction of the Secretary of War the Chief of the Record and Pension Office shall compile, from such official records as are in the possession of the United States, and from such other records as may be obtained by loan from the various States and other official sources, a complete roster of the officers and enlisted men of the Union and Confederate Armies." Acting upon this official information I at once appointed Col. M. P. Tribble, of Anderson, a mcmler of your body, to undertake 1 these responsible duties, knowing that in his care they would be faithfully met. Colonel Tribble's official report of the work done, though brief, is accurate and of comprehensive information. It recites the progress made over great obstacles, and most clearly reveals some of the difficulties in the way of recording, for future ages, some of the truths of history. It shows how these obstacles can be overcome, and contains accurate data concerning what has been actually accomplished. This is interesting information and should have our careful attention. It may be unnecessary to do so, but I beg that you permit me, as a further evidence of Colonel Tribble's fitness for this work, to em phasize his patriotic services in having a meeting of the commis sioners of the Southern States at Atlanta. The resolutions there adopted, memorializing Congress to amend the present bill, so that it may allow the acceptance of such rolls as can be made up by the surviving members of the Confederate States Army, is one of the most valuable services rendered in connection with this work. In all of the work done by Colonel Tribble I am glad to note that this important task has been in capable, patriotic and faithful hand?. His war comrades will unite with me in emphasizing the true value of such service as he has rendered, and 1 recommend that he be I paid the sum of $1,500.00 for this work. Colonel Tribble has been i put to heavy expense, having to reside in Columbia, and also having j to employ a clerk, and I know that this amount is much less than what has been paid for similar services by other Southern States. Colonel Tribble. in his report, acknowledges his indebtedness to Gen. Edward McCrady. to Prof. YV. J. Rivers, and to Generals Manigault, Kershaw and barley. He also takes occasion for special j mention of the valuable work done by Col. John P. Thomas in j connection with the securing of rolls and records, and in all of these j acknowledgements I bog to join. PENSIONS. The members of the General Assembly, acting as the representa tives of the people of South Carolina, have shown that they consider it a privilege to provide for the needy survivors of the Confederacy. These veterans, in the vigor of young manhood, offered their lives in defense of their country, and now, in their declining years, it is not only a patriotic duty, but it is also a grate ful privilege, to show our appreciation of such heroism. In their great struggle these soldiers were actuated solely by principle and patriotism, and our care for them today cannot be more fitly nor more appropriately bestowed than upon the foundation laid by these men themselves in the years gone by. We have now upon our pension rolls 8,296 pensioners, an increase of 546 over last year, and among this number your appropriation of $200,000 has been divided. The present laws regulating the distribution of this pension fund, in the main, are working satis I factorily. I am advised by the officers whose duty it is to distribute this fund that frequent changes of this law, particularly such as have local bearing, disarrange its working order and seriously impair its efficiency. I can readily understand how this may be so, and as it is now working smoothly, in charge of the survivors them selves, I think it would be well to leave details to them, so far as j this may be possible. The report of the Comptroller-General fully and comprehensively sets forth the distribution of the amount I appropriated for pensions, and the list of pensioners for each county, with the amount paid to each pensioner, under the classifications ' prescribed by law, are here set forth in full. THE MONUMENT T() WADE HAMPTON. Among all the great men our State has produced there is no one whose name is more beloved, whose memory is more honored, whose fame is more secure than is that of Wade Hampton. Not only was he the brave chieftain, the wise statesman, but to us he was even more: he was?and is?Wade Hampton, the beloved South Carolinian, the redeemer of our State. We can never forget him, I and it is the earnest desire of our people that a monument to his memory should str.nd before the capitol of the. State he loved and served so well. With this object in view, you appropriated, at your last session, the sum of $20,000.00, which sum was to be available when the people of our State should raise $10,000.00 for this purpose, and I had the honor of appointing a committee from your body to take charge of this work. Many reasons have operated against the completion of this subscription, the principle one being the inability of the Committee to reach the people. The Treasurer of this Com mittee has reported to me that $5,467.86 of the required amount has been secured to date. In my judgment it is best that there should be no further delay, as this is a matter where sentiment and pride are concerned, and 1 recommend that you make the amount already appropriated at once available, and instruct your Committee to proceed with its work. CHANGES IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM. For a few years past the congested condition of the calendars of I the Circuit Courts in nearly all of the counties of our State has I been a problem which forced itself upon the consideration of the people. To relieve this condition, in 1900 an Act was passed pro viding f^r the holding of .Special Courts. While, through the instrumentality of such courts, much work has been done this year? despite the continued illness of two of our Circuit Judges?still it is obvious that they have not met, and cannot meet, all the require j mcnts for which they were intended. Only a brief presentation of the present condition of this problem can be included in what I desire to say to you in this Message. Since the passage of the Act above referred to, each year has j shown a rapid increase in the number of Special Courts held, demonstrating the fact that among other objections such a meas ure docs not tend towards economy. Last year a Civil Contingent Fund of $2,500.00 was appropriated by your body, to be applied to payment of the expenses of these Courts. This fund has been entirely exhausted, leaving twelve terms of Court still unpaid for, payment for which will have to be referred to your Committee on Claims. Besides this, there are perhaps even more unsatisfactory conditions involved, which, if these Courts are continued, will still further diminish their effectiveness. The discussion of this phase of the subject has been general, and the conclusion seems to have been reached by thoughtful men that it is unwise to make a temporary judge out of a practicing attorney. This certainly involves the highest principles of our judicial system, and, in my judgment, it is an error. That such appointees may be gentlemen of the highest character and ornaments of the profession to which they belong docs not lessen the fact that the permanence, stability and highest meaning of our judicial system is menaced. On the other hand, our system of v having eight circuits proved satisfactory until it was outgrown by the progress of our State. When these circuits were created there were thirty-four counties only, whereas we now have forty-one. Our growth in population and wealth has been great, making naturally a very large increase in the business of the courts. Without going further into tbe details Of this fnort important subject, it needs only to be stated that existing conditions clearly prove that the present system is alike unsatisfactory and inade quate, and a remedy must be found. In my opinion, it would be very hard to overestimate the set inns import of the situation with