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bay. I recommend that authority be conferred on the Commis sioners, their action to be approved by the Governor and Attorney. General, to select one or more of these blocks of land and build a dry dock, and operate the same, or lease it in the interest of commerce, under such restrictions as the Legislature may devise and enact, that an embargo may not be placed on shipping. The remainder of the lands thus reclaimed should be deeded to the City of San Francisco in trust; to be under the control of the Park Commissioners, and to be by them laid out and cared for as public parks; said land to revert to the State whenever uncared for or put to any other use than that for which they are donated.

One of the most charming features of New York city front, and that which gives the immigrant and returning traveler the most pleasure, is its Castle Garden; and nothing would so befittingly adorn and relieve our great commercial city front of its barren aspect, as a few clusters of evergreen trees. The cost will be but a trifle, while the benefit to our people, in the beauty and comfort to the eye and senses, is beyond price.

INSANE ASYLUMS.

The call for additional buildings for the accommodation of the insane evidences an increase of insanity in this State assuming a condition that is alarming. Both asylums ask aid for this purpose. The Resident Physician of the Napa Asylum affirms the impossibility of receiving any more patients therein. He suggests that a new building be erected on the peninsular near San Francisco, or if this cannot be done, to extend the capacity of the present asylum, which latter plan I trust will meet your favor and approval. It has everything to recommend it: a climate unsurpassed for health; land either on the Coombs or Spencer tracts could be used for the location of the buildings; no change of management would be required. thus making it the most economical plan that could be adopted.

In my visits to these institutions I have been forcibly impressed: with what appeared to me numerous cases of partial mental derangements. These cases in many instances are but temporary ailments, and the parties suffering therefrom should not be regarded as possessing that degree of insanity necessary for confinement and treatment in our asylums.

I cannot but express the opinion that sufficient care is not given in the examination of patients prior to commitment being granted. I believe, also, that the counties, and not the State, should pay the transportation expenses. Boards of Supervisors are the best judges of the costs and remuneration such services demand; this would result in more stringent examination and relieve our asylums from the support of that class of patients to which I have alluded.

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VITICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL INTERESTS.

The creation of the Board of Viticultural Commissioners attests the wisdom of the legislation which gave it existence. It has performed its labor with credit to itself and profit to the State. Established but three years, it has seen the increased plantation of from fifty to sixty thousand acres of land in vines, which plantations were made mainly through the encouraging influence of this Board, it being also instrumental in choice of the vines planted and the

locations selected. The actual present value of these new plantations is over fifteen million dollars, and the increased value by this reason given to the surrounding properties must be fully as much more. The impetus thus given to the plantation of vineyards still continues. The future permanent wealth to be derived from this pursuit can hardly be foretold; as it is, the present plantations will vield the producers after the next vintage not less than six and a half million dollars per annum. There are now planted not less than one hundred thousand acres of vineyards, of which probably seventy thousand are planted with the choicest of imported vines.

The home consumption, as well as the demand for our wines in other States of the Union, has also greatly increased. In 1875 we exported 1,031,507 gallons of wine, while in 1881 the amount reached 2,845,365 gallons. Our exports of brandy during the same periods were 42,318 gallons in 1875, and 209,677 in 1881. It is natural to expect that this will materially increase as the quality of our productions improve and become more abundant and cheaper.

The Horticultural Department of this Commission, under the superintendence of Matthew Cooke, Esq., merits the highest commendation. Through his untiring labors and thorough practical knowledge he has been enabled to recover from the ravages of insect pests thousands of acres planted as orchards, thus not only giving back to the family a home and a competence, but giving confidence in the pursuit of this branch of agriculture, and increasing the material prosperity of the State. The salary and traveling expenses of this officer should be increased.

Many valuable recommendations are made by the Commission, to which your attention is invited.

STATE MINING BUREAU.

I commend the report of the State Mineralogist to your careful consideration. It is one of the most important documents submitted for your investigation.

At a comparatively small cost it contains more practical information relative to the mineral wealth of the State, than will be found in the reports of the State Geological Survey, at an enormous outlay. The appointment of Professor Henry G. Hanks, as State Mineralogist, was a fortunate selection, and I take pleasure in thus publicly acknowledging his services, eminently deserved by his unceasing exertion and devotion in advancing the interests and influence of the Bureau.

Its usefulness has been recognized by the leading scientific institutions of Europe and America, attested by a voluminous correspondence on file in his office.

The catalogue of its collection of minerals, metals, and other articles, bears testimony to the labor required, and which must have been expended, not only in procuring, but in placing them in classes appreciable to the visitor; and I would here suggest the propriety of transferring the mineral collection now in the State Library to the Bureau.

It will be seen by the financial exhibit that it will be impossible to continue the Bureau unless an appropriation is made for its future support. The State should pay from the General Fund, the salaries of the Mineralogist, Secretary, Chemist, and Janitor, and the

rent and insurance of the building; and permit the moneys raised by the provisions of the Act to be used for the benefit of the Museum proper, the traveling expenses of the State Mineralogist, incidental expenses, and such extra help as I am satisfied is at times required. To remove the burden and responsibility, which so important a trust devolves on one person, I would recommend the Act creating the Bureau be amended by placing its management under the charge of a Board of Trustees who, in connection with the State Mineralogist, shall have the control and supervision of the same. This is also the desire of Mr. Hanks, as expressed in his report.

DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND.

The Directors of this institution ask for an increase of appropriation for several uses, all of which are presented in full in their report. I recommend they be allowed. Personal examination into the management of this institution has satisfied me that it is one of the best conducted, both educationally and financially, of any of our State charges.

The assistance asked for is necessary in promoting its usefulness and enabling it to carry out the intentions designed by the law creating it.

Especially is your attention directed to the matter of sewage, which not only involves the health of the inmates, but affects the immediate neighborhood, who have no power to abate the nuisance that at any moment may bring pestilence and death to their door.

COMMON SCHOOLS.

The details of the educational system of the State will be found in the able and exhaustive report of the Superintendent of Common Schools. The increased expenditures in their support is treated of elsewhere. A few changes in the school laws are necessary, which, if made, will place our school management on a permanent basis, and bring it to that high state of perfection which is the desire of the people.

The question of the printing by the State of the text-books to be used in the public schools will doubtless come before you for discussion. Should it meet your approval, it will be necessary to amend the Constitution so as to make their adoption uniform throughout. the State.

Our Normal Schools are under excellent management, and serving the purpose for which they were designed. The Branch School created by the last Legislature is already assuming a prominence which argues well for its future prosperity. The State has reason to be proud of her educational institutions.

THE ORPHAN ASYLUMS.

The support extended by the State in the care and maintenance of the several orphan asylums, attests its liberality. The institutions are well managed, and examinations made through the Board of Examiners, have been in every instance satisfactory. Nearly three thousand children are thus looked after and protected, education imparted, and homes found for them, and I have been informed that instances of criminality are exceedingly rare among them,

even after years of separation from these homes. This of itself speaks volumes in their favor, and should bear its weight in your consideration of their continued patronage.

IRRIGATION SURVEYS.

During the past two years the State Engineer has been engaged in closing up his work on the irrigation investigation over the portions of the State where it had previously been commenced, and in collecting and compiling data for the general State maps as contemplated by the terms of the last appropriation made for the purpose. His account of operations, which will be presented to you immediately, shows that this work is approaching completion, and an inspection of the results leads me to say that provision should be made for bringing them before the public in permanent and useful form, believing that a general knowledge of the actual physical facts concerning our State and the industry of irrigation will be of inestimable value to her citizens, and that the diffusion of such knowledge will tend to produce a confidence abroad in the stability of our present condition of prosperity.

STATE EXPOSITIONS.

In the month of June last I received from Governor Pitkin, of Colorado, an invitation from the Directors of the National Mining Exposition, to be held at Denver in the months of August and September, requesting me to appoint a Commissioner to represent this State therein. Believing such representation would be advantageous to our people, and be the means of advancing its commercial as well as its mineral interests, I urged on Warren B. Ewer of San Francisco, the acceptance of such appointment. His commission as such agent was forwarded him, and in accordance therewith he proceeded to discharge the duties required of him. His report, which accompanies this message, is the strongest evidence of the wisdom of the appointment, and further shows the necessity of the State's encouraging such expositions; the meager exhibition of the mineral and metallic production of California does not speak very favorably of the business qualifications and energy which is the boast of a Californian. I commend the report as full of suggestions, many of which, if adopted, would bring the State more prominently before the commercial and scientific men of the world, as well as to those who are seeking to create homes, thus advancing the commonwealth in all its varied interests.

I respectfully call your attention to the fact that no appropriation was at my command to pay any of the expenses incurred by Mr. Ewer, and he was so informed, with the understanding, however, that I would refer the matter of compensation to you. I, therefore, ask that the Legislature pay the same, being the trifling sum of one hundred and thirty-one dollars.

An appropriation of five thousand dollars was made at the last session to provide for a proper representation of California at the World's Exhibition, to be held in New York, in 1883. None of this money has been used, the exhibition having been postponed, hence the small sum recommended above may well be granted.

I have been officially notified, by James De Fremery, Esq.,, Consul of the Netherlands, of the intention of his Government to hold an

International Exhibition at Amsterdam during the present year, and inviting the participation of this State therein. Great efforts are being made to insure its success. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to bring to notice the resources and advantages of California. The leading countries of Europe have already taken measures to have their several industries represented therein. The great usefulness of these international exhibitions has so frequently been demonstrated that it seems unnecessary to call special attention to them.

The State should avail itself of this opportunity to impress the advantages for settlement, for agricultural and industrious pursuits, etc., upon the multitudes that will visit this exhibition, and who will carry their acquired knowledge and impressions to every nook and corner of Europe.

I have been informed that articles, representing the resources of California, with specimens of her minerals, would be donated for this purpose if the expenses incident to their care and transportation were provided by the State.

VETERANS' HOME.

I deem it a pleasant privilege to call your attention to the fact that a fund has been raised in this State by voluntary subscription, to aid in building a Home for officers, soldiers, marines, and sailors who honorably served in the army and navy of the United States during the war with Mexico, or in the late civil war, and who are in indigent circumstances, or who are by reason of age or infirmity incapable of self-support.

A valuable site for the Home has been purchased in Napa County, and the erection of buildings for the accommodation of its intended beneficiaries commenced.

A communication received from a committee of the Veterans' Home Association informs me that a bill will be introduced in the Legislature asking State aid for the Home. The object is one that will be at once recognized by our patriotic and liberal minded citizens as a worthy one, and entitled to proper recognition from the State.

Applications to the Legislatures of many of the States of the Union have been made for State aid with which to establish Homes for the veteran soldiers, and in no case, I am informed, has it been denied.

To California such an appeal has a peculiar and added force that cannot apply to other States of the Union, as aid is asked on behalf of the veterans of a war that gave to the United States the domain that now constitutes the State of which such aid is asked.

I think the Association should receive from the Legislature proper recognition, that it may be able to establish and maintain a Home where the needy veterans of the Mexican and civil wars may reside in a Home of their own, apart from the degrading and distressing associations of almshouses and asylums, where the most of them who will be benefited by such a Home now are, as a county charge. To belong to the "Veterans' Home" will constitute an honorable distinction instead of a degrading badge. In such a Home will be kept alive the incidents and traditions of the wars in the concentrated ranks of a grateful and enthusiastic old soldiery, and the coming generation will gather new lessons of patriotism, and find new incentiyes to self-sacrificing and heroic deeds.

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