EXECUTIVE DOCUMENTS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, FOR THE YEAR 1860. By Authority. SAINT PAUL: WILLIAM R. MARSHALL, STATE PRINTER. EXCHANCE UNIVERSITY OF CM CACO MAY 8 $36 GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: It is permitted me, in presenting the customary communication "touching the condition and state of the country," to congratulate you on the very considerable and happy improvement in the condition and circumstance, both of our people and the State. The financial liabilities of our citizens existing since the fall of 1857, are in a great degree liquidated, or provided for. Upon no community, probably, could the immediate effect of the difficulties of that year, have been more serious or severe. And no people have made greater exertions and greater sacrifices to meet their obligations than the citizens of Minnesota. Applying themselves to the task with a hopeful confidence characteristic of the Northwest, and an energy which our very air seems to inspire and make universal, they have been largely successful, and a very early period would have witnessed, but for the present factitious commercial derange ment, an almost complete revival of business and the return of general prosperity. Upon these efforts of our own, a benign Providence, which ever seems to favor those who strive, has smiled its blessings, peace, health and plenty. The population of the State was estimated in my communication to the Legislature of January, 1860, at one hundred and eighty thousand. The United States Census, taken in June of that year, shows the number of inhabitants to have been about one hundred and seventy-six thousand. The immigration during the summer months of families seeking farms and homes, considerably added to the number, but our present population cannot safely be estimated above two hundred thousand. The total assessed value of the taxable property of the State in 1859, was $35,564,492,70. The total valuation in 1860, as equalized by the State Board, is $36,673,879,47. From the Bureau of Statistics, which, though established but a few months, is proving itself of an importance and value that confirm the wisdom of its organization, the following statements are obtained, showing the condition and results of the agriculture of the State during the past |