taken out and reduced, that has produced four hundred and sixteen thousand two hundred and fifteen dollars ($416,215) in silver bullion. They had on hand, stored at their orehouse, at the mill, four hundred tons of ore, and at their ore-house on the mine, one hundred tons more, estimated to yield a half million dollars in bullion.

The ore is mostly a chloride of silver, and consists largely of that class known as horn silver, and produces bullion of the highest grade, ranging from nine hundred to nine hundred and eighty-five fine. No trace of gold has been found in the bullion. As the ore is already a chloride, it requires no roasting, and can be reduced at one-half the cost that is usually incurred in reducing the ores. The first thirty days' run of the company's mill, which has but ten stamps, produced one hundred and fortyeight thousand two hundred and seventy-eight dollars in bullion ($148,278).

NEW HAMPSHIRE. The public affairs of this State during the year 1868 have continued to flow in their regular course, yet showing a marked tendency to general prosperity. This seems deducible from the reports of the State officers on the matters belonging to their several departments, and chiefly from the message delivered by Governor Harriman to both Houses of the Legislature, at the opening of the session on June 4, 1868.

The sound financial condition of the State appears from the fact that her bonds are easily disposed of at par, and even above it. Of her whole debt, amounting on June 1, 1867, to $3,747,776.98, the sum of $260,364.98 was paid in the following year, so that it now remains at $3,487,411.97. This includes the floating debt, which has been reduced to less than $400,000. Other bills to the amount of some $15,000 were also paid during the same period, which had accrued before June, 1867, but were presented for adjustment afterward, and there are at present no matured bills outstanding. The Governor anticipates that the State debt will be lessened this year at least $300,000 more. And, as the above-mentioned $260,364.98 had been paid on it in 1868, notwithstanding the State tax was $125,000 less than the year before, he suggests for 1869 "a further reduction in the tax to be assessed of $100,000." The State, county, and town debts amount in the aggregate to $11,000,000, paying interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum.

On account of bounties advanced by the cities and towns of New Hampshire during the late civil war, the General Government had paid last year to the State $58,245. Efforts are now made to obtain the small balance which remains due. The sum of $14,000 was also received from the Federal Government, in part payment for uniforms purchased by the State or her militia, and the rest will be allowed on he presentation of the required evidence which 3 now being collected. The Governor avers: 'We have received a larger per cent. on our

whole war claim than has been allowed to any other State."

Concerning the present organization of the volunteer militia, its number, equipment, and discipline, the distribution of its companies into different localities within the State, and the utility derived from its service to the whole community, the Governor refers with satisfaction to the report of the Adjutant-General. "The report gives a clear and practical view of the volunteer militia. It is many years since we have had so efficient and reliable a force in our State. The military force comprises thirty companies, which will be formed into three regiments before the next annual encampment. The uniforms and equipments for the whole force are new and in good condition, and are all paid for. By a change made in the military law last year, it is made the duty of the Quartermaster-General to furnish transportation for the troops when they go into encampments, instead of allowing each person five cents a mile each way for travelling-fees. Under this arrangement there will be a great saving of expense under the head of mileage. The cost of maintaining the State militia will now be very small as compared with last year.

"The beauty of our military system is in its efficiency and its small expense. With us, one person performs the duties of adjutant, quartermaster, inspector, commissary, and surgeongeneral. There is no other State where more than two of these five positions are filled by one individual. The only compensation of our officers and privates is one dollar and fifty cents a day while on duty."

Besides military matters of present practical interest, the greatest part of the AdjutantGeneral's report-some four hundred pages-is devoted to a military history of New Hampshire from 1812 to 1861, a former report having treated the same subject from her first settlement as an English colony in 1623 to 1812. This last-named period is referred to by the Governor in his present message, stating that the first volume, containing the provincial records from 1623 to 1686, was published and distributed last year in obedience to the order of the Legislature; that the second volume, a continuation of the history of the Province from 1686 to 1710, is now in press; and that "materials for the third volume are in course of preparation." The military history of NewHampshire, from its beginning in the seventeenth century to the present time, will be thus complete. By an act of the Legislature, approved July 4th, 2,500 copies of the AdjutantGeneral's report were ordered "to be procured for the use of the State."

A work of eminent public utility to NewHampshire, namely, the revision, amendment, and codification of the general statutes, ordered by the Legislature in 1865, was finished last year by those to whom its execution had been intrusted. The Governor expresses his gratification that "the great body of the public laws has

now been condensed within the limits of a single volume of six hundred and seventy-six pages," the constitutions of New Hampshire and of the United States, besides the marginal notes of reference, a glossary of technical words, and a copious index of ninety-five pages included. Hereupon he observes that "laws should not be repealed nor amendments made more frequently than the essential good of the people may demand."

This was soon brought to a practical test. By the end of the month in which the advice was given, a joint resolution of both Houses repealed the usury law then in force, making it dependent on the will of the parties to agree on a higher rate of interest than the one prescribed by law. On July 3d, the Governor returned the bill unsigned, and accompanied it with a message declaring the act not justified by any public demand, the great mass of the people being satisfied with the law as it is, and desiring no change. He stated, on the other hand, that such a measure, being clearly in the interest of capitalists and money-lenders, was fraught with danger to private individuals as well as the State, since her creditors would have thence a most plausible occasion to demand the payment either of a rate of interest higher than six per cent., or of the principal. This veto, wherein the Governor says that it is the first time in which he must disagree with the legislative body, gave occasion to a hot debate in the House of Representatives; but his reasons seem to have been appreciated by a large majority among the members, since his veto was finally sustained by a vote of 162 yeas against 96 nays, and the usury law stands unrepealed.

Governor Harriman calls the attention of the Legislature to the state of public instruction in general and the condition of the common schools in particular, deploring that the Normal School and Teachers' Institute, which once existed in the State, had been injudiciously abolished. He urges the necessity of reviving it as soon as possible.

To improve the system of popular education, some effectual measures had been taken by the General Court at its last session, and several changes introduced, the most important of them being the creation of a general superintendence of public instruction as an independent office and a distinct branch among the executive departments. The new superintendent, though he had entered upon the duties of his office only a few months before, by the beginning of June, 1868, submitted his first report, which exhibits the present condition of the public school system in New Hampshire, its wants and defects, in detail, and points to the proper means of supplying and correcting them in order to ameliorate and complete the system. The Governor refers the Legislature to this report, highly praising it for its fulness and accuracy as well as for the soundness and apparent utility of its suggestions. He

recommends them as worthy of being acted upon and put in execution. The report, containing a summary of statistics in regard to the public schools, teachers, and pupils in New Hamp shire, except some ten cities and towns which had made no returns, is as follows: The number of school districts reported are 2.287; decrease for the year, 22; number of schools, 2,487; number of scholars attending, 77.138; decrease for the year, 709; average st tendance, 52,476; decrease for the year, 590; number of children between four and fourteen years not attending anywhere, 3,228: increase for the year, 414; number of male teachers, 477; number of female teachers 2,465; average wages of male teachers per month, $34.64; average wages of female teach ers per month $19.78; whole length of summer schools in weeks, 22,292; whole length of winter schools in weeks, 22,241; average length of the schools in weeks, 165; estimated value of school-houses and lots, $1,130,698; increase for the year, $133,865; estimated value of school apparatus, $13,327; number of unfit schoolhouses, 427; decrease for the year, 55; exper ditures in building and repairing school-houses, $86,192; increase for the year, $10,226; compensation paid school-committees, $10.245: increase for the year, $395; number of volumes in libraries reported, 55,079; amount raised by tax for support of schools, $282,606.58; in crease for the year, $39,890.62; amount raised by tax beyond what the law requires, $66,528;. increase for the year, $8,010; amount contrib uted in board, etc., to prolong the schools $24,599.41; increase for the year, $4,596.92: total amount expended for schools, exclusive of school-committees' compensation, $33465.62; increase for the year, $43,158; average amount to each scholar, $3.69; number of vis its of school-committees, 11,804; number of visits of prudential committees, 2,518.

3509

For the promotion of agriculture and the mechanic arts in New Hampshire, the Fed eral Government, by act of Congress, dated July 2, 1862, donated to the State 150.0 acres of the public lands, or their equivalent in scrip. Governor Harriman informs the Le gislature that the scrip was sold for $80.00), and that, in compliance with the require ments of the grant, an Agricultural College, embracing instruction in the mechanic arts has been established at Hanover, in connec tion with Dartmouth College. As appears from its programme, published in August, 1868, this new "institution will be open for the reception of students on the 4th of September next. The course of study covers three years. with two terms a year, answering to the fall and spring terms of the Dartmouth College The fall term is from the 4th of September to the 26th of November; the spring term from the 8th of January to the 18th of April. O portunity is thus given the students to spend the summer months at home, and, if they please, in such agricultural or mechanical en

ployment as will be both remunerative and practically profitable. Topics are to be given them at the close of the spring term, on which, from observation, experiment, or study, during the summer, papers are to be prepared for the fall term." In the division of the varied studies to be pursued during the triennial course, the programme provides "for three classes, junior, middle, and senior. Only the junior class is to be formed in 1868, taking the studies of the first year. A partial course may be pursued by any who choose." The requisites for admission are, "at present, only the studies pursued in the common schools. Candidates must be at least sixteen years of age, and, with testimonials of good moral character, will be required to pass a satisfactory examination in English grammar, geography, and arithmetic."

By a joint resolution of the Legislature, approved July 3, 1868, the Governor was authorized "to appoint a State geologist, whose duty it shall be to commence and carry on, with as much expedition and dispatch as may be consistent with minuteness and accuracy, a thorough geological and mineralogical survey of this State,... make an annual report of his progress to the Secretary of State, who shall submit the same to the Legislature, and forward from time to time such specimens of mineralogical substances as may be proper and necessary to form a complete cabinet collection of specimens of the geology and mineralogy of the State; one complete set to the Secretary of State, for preservation at the capital, and one complete set to the Agricultural College, to be used in the instruction of the young men who may resort thither for an agricultural education." They appropriated at the same time a yearly sum of $3,500 "for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this act."

A suitable room for the State Library, with shelving for 15,000 volumes, having lately been fitted up at a cost of $3,000 appropriated for it in the previous session of the Legislature, the Governor requests them to provide for the purchase of books, especially those for "reference in law and legislative matters, and of the nissing volumes in law reports." He also asks hem to forbid the removal of books from the ibrary. By a joint resolution, approved July the sum of $500 was appropriated "for he purpose of supplying missing volumes and illing incomplete sets of the statutes and dirests." The removal of books from the library was also forbidden, with some necessary exeptions, limited to the time when the Legislaure is in session, and subject to such condiions as the trustees may impose..

In respect to charitable institutions, the Board of Visitors of the New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane, the Board consisting of the Governor, the Executive Council, the 'resident of the Senate, and the Speaker of he House of Representatives, presented to

the Legislature their official report for the year ending May 1, 1868, stating that "they have made a personal examination of the condition of the patients, buildings, farm, and finances of the institution, and find it highly prosperous and satisfactory. The patients afford every appearance of being well and kindly cared for. The new building for the accommodation of excited female inmates has been finished, and will be furnished and ready for occupancy in a few weeks. Additional room is greatly needed for lodging apartments for employés of the asylum, for a new and larger kitchen, for a cellar, and for a convenient chapel. The finances are in a sound condition, and the institution is now, as it has ever been, self-supporting; being no charge to the State, except for the erection of such buildings as are necessary for the successful prosecution of its beneficent work." In order to meet the pressing wants of a new kitchen, a cellar, sleeping-rooms for employés, and a more spacious chapel, the trustees recommend the erection of a building of brick, three stories in height, seventy-five feet long and forty-eight feet wide. The estimated expense of the designed structure is $17,000, which amount is asked of the Legislature. This appropriation is recommended also by the Governor in his message, besides a further one of $5,000 expended in the erection of the above-mentioned new building for excited female patients, beyond the amount previously provided for. Both these sums have been appropriated by an act of the Legislature approved June 24th. As to the expense of the asylum and the number of its inmates, the reports of the treasurer and superintendent give the following items: "On the first day of May, 1867, the number of patients was 246. Of these 122 were males, and 124 females. The number on the roll May 1, 1868, was 235, eleven less than one year before, though the number of women was only one less. The decrease in the number of inmates is attributed to the removal of patients to county almshouses, as these establishments go into operation, for the purpose of reducing the cost of their support. The Asylum was opened in 1843, and the whole number of patients ever admitted is 2,579. On the 1st of May, 1867, there was a balance in the treasury of the institution of $44.97. During the ensuing financial year there were received from various sources $64,942.41. Whole amount expended during the year, $63,351.73, leaving cash on hand May 1, 1868, $1,635.65."

By two other acts, approved July 2d and . 4th respectively, the Legislature appropriated $2,000 for the education of indigent deaf and dumb persons of the State, at the American Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Hartford," with $500 more for others laboring under the same misfortune, to be educated "at such other similar institution as the Governor and Council may select ;" and $2,700 "for educating the

indigent blind, or partially blind persons of the State at the Institute for the Blind in Boston." All such persons are to be elected and approved by the Governor.

Governor Harriman praises the management, discipline, and financial condition of the State Prison, stating that it earns at present, "and will continue to earn, a thousand dollars a month above expenses," and that its workshop, having lately been extended by authority of the Legislature, "is now one of the best shops to be found in the country." He asks an appropriation "to pay off an old debt against the prison, and to pay for certain fixtures recently put in ;" and recommends "the addition of eighteen cells" as pressingly wanted. These wants are also spoken of in the report of the warden and inspector for the year ending May 1, 1868, and in those of the chaplain and physician, furnishing some not uninteresting facts relating to the State Prison of New Hampshire, as follows: "The number of convicts at the date of the report was 135, five of them females. From the tables of prison statistics, it appears that the present roll of convicts is the largest ever recorded. The whole number committed since the opening of the prison in 1812 is 1,406; number discharged, 669; pardoned, 473; removed to the Asylum for the Insane, 6; died in prison, 91; escaped, 19. Of those now confined three are committed for life, three for thirty years, one for twenty-five years, and one for twenty years. A majority of the remaining terms vary from one to seven years. Five of the convicts are Government criminals.

"The expectations, in regard to the advantages to be derived from the new contracts for the labor of the prisoners, are fully realized. The committee from the Governor's Council state that a careful estimate for the last two months goes to convince them that the prison, for the next year, will earn $8,000 above its ordinary expenses.

"The commutation law passed by the last Legislature has been productive of the most favorable results. By this enactment, every month of exemplary conduct on the part of a prisoner gains him a certain amount of time to be deducted from the term of his sentence. It is thought that nine-tenths of the inmates will so deport themselves as to secure the whole amount of commutation allowed by the law. Every convict who avails himself of the benefits of this provision is released in advance of the expiration of his original term of imprisonment and thus retains the rights of citizenship."

The Governor speaks well of the State Reform School, affirming that it continues to do the good work for which it was instituted twelve years ago, in reclaiming the erring youth from their wayward course, and educating them to become useful members of society to their own advantage as well as that of the whole community. He earnestly recommends

its wants to the favorable consideration of the Legislature, which, by a joint resolution approved June 24th, appropriated for it the sum of $12,000. It appears that "the State Reform School at Manchester has cost $17,236 during the year, a balance against the estab lishment of $7,718 above all resources, except State appropriations. During the last school year there were 111 boys and 24 girls in the school, and the average time each spends is a little more than two years."

As to banking institutions, Governor Harriman informs the Legislature that they are gen erally sound and carrying on a profitable bus ness. He dwells particularly on the condition of the savings banks, of which there are in New Hampshire thirty-one, their deposits amounting, in the aggregate, to $14,250,00 $3,250,000 more than in the previous year. A motion having been offered and advocated by many members of the Legislature, at the last session, to increase the tax on deposits in these banks from three-fourths of one per cent., it now is, to two per cent., the Governor warns them against the probable dangers of such s measure, lest it should drive the money out of the banks and out of the State, or so disperse it as to elude the vigilance of the tax-gathere. He recommends an increase of the rate of sa tax no higher than one per cent., which would secure to the State an income of above $140000. He also recommends a graduated seale fixed by legislative enactment, regulating the percentage allowed the savings banks treas urers in lieu of salaries, as these now swell some cases to seven, eight, and nine thousan dollars a year, to the detriment of depositors. whose dividends are diminished thereby.

The Board of Insurance Commissioners state in their annual report that there are twelve mutual insurance companies now in operition in New Hampshire, doing a safe busires. the increase of which they anticipate. Beside these, there are thirty-two foreign fire twelve foreign life insurance companies do business in the State. Their agents have con plied with her laws by presenting to the com missioners the detailed statements of their re spective assets and liabilities, "the amount of capital stock actually paid in, the outstanding risks, and the premiums thereon, the amount of premiums received during the preceding year in the State, and the amount of losses paid therein during the same period." The report of the several fire insurance companies of other States show the aggregate amount of cash pre miums which they received in New Hamp shire the past year to be $223,804.44; the gregate amount which they have paid in this State for losses during the same time is $15 859.59, showing a balance of premiums ef $9,944.85. The report of the several life in surance companies located out of the State, but doing business therein, shows an aggregate amount of cash premiums received in New Hampshire for the past year of $370,701.91;