made a special commission to select this land and they were required to do it immediately.

The selections so made were to be reported to the State Land Board. As representatives of the people, who would very reasonably be desirous of taking all advantage possible of this denation, it was their duty to select the best land available, and without delay.

However, in every instance where selections were made of irrigable land objections were immediately made to the acceptance thereof by the State Land Board, by the people themselves, co-partners who would be benefitted by the selection of good land. These protests were so vigoriously made that selections to the amount of 200,000 acres were rejected by the State Land Board. The Board of Control are placed in a perplexing position. Their duty to the State urges them to select land that is valuable, but when they attempt to do so they are met with the charge that they are taking for the State, land that should have been left open for individual settlers.

To satisfy these objectors the Board of Control would need to select land of no very great present or prospective value, which would render this large grant to the State practically valueless. As the Board of Control have acted in a conscientious manner in the discharge of the onerous duties imposed upon them in this connection, and as the nature of their duties as Water Commissioers afford them exceptional facilities for becoming acquainted with the character of the lands of the State, I recommend that they be continued as a Special Commission for the selection of land. I also suggest that your honorable body express an opinion, by resolution or otherwise, as to the kind of land that should be selected. I advise a careful reading of the Engineer's report. It contains many suggestions that will be of service in framing legislation calculated to promote the best interests of the State.

IMMIGRATION.

The Legislative Assembly in 1888, recognizing the neces sity of promoting immigration, appropriated $2,500 to be expended under the direction of the Territorial Secretary. An elaborate report of the resources of the Terrritory was widely distributed, but no settled policy was adopted to encourage immigration, either by colonization or otherwise. With the renewed interest in agriculture throughout the State, the opportunity should not be lost to advertise the great induce. ments which the State has to offer for the investment of capital and to the home seeker, whether he be a farmer, miner or artisan.

The success of large irrigation enterprises will greatly stimulate the settlement of the State. The policy of several

States in authorizing the Boards of County Commissioners to establish county bureaus of immigration and appoint an agent to carry out the objects of the bureau, would no doubt be well adapted to a Sate like Wyoming covering as it does such a vast area of diversified interests. I would recommend, however, that an ex-officio beard of State officers be designated to look after the general interests of immigration. They could greatly aid in disseminating information about the resources of the State. The system of distributing circulars or brief pamphlets on special subjects is better than sending a large volume devoted to all the interests of the State.

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

It would be opportune to establish a State Historical Society for the preservation of all books, papers, pamphlets, charts, maps, manuscripts, paintings, engravings, photographs and other property relating to the early history of the State, to be placed under the care and custody of the State Librarian and a board of trustees, who shall adopt rules and regulations for the proper guidance of the society. The importance of collecting historical records and preserving a history of the State cannot be too highly estimated. I recommend that a moderate appropriation be made for this purpose.

COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

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Every county of the State has at least one of its boundaries defined as being upon a degree of latitude or longitude, lines which are not marked in any way upon the ground except where they form the boundaries of the State. As a quence of the entire absence of any well defined lines between the counties thus bounded, it is impossible to determine in which county property lies, which is situated near these boundaries, or in which county citizens should vote who live near them. In one instance a dead body was found near the supposed line between Fremont and Natrona counties and it was impossible to determine which county should hold the inquest. This condition causes great uncertainity and confusion assessment matters and might lead to serious complications in determining the jurisdiction of the courts. I recommend the passage of an act to define these boundaries more definitely by placing them upon the section or township lines nearest to where the lines now appear to be upon the United States maps. This can be done without entailing any expense upon the State. When it is done the description of all real estate will at once determine the county in which it is situated, and the residence of its occupants, and all legal processes can be served with certainty.

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BIG HORN COUNTY.

The last Territorial Legislature passed an act creating the county of Big Horn, defining its boundaries and prescribing the conditions uder which it could be organized. This county comprises what is known as the Big Horn Basin. All the waters of the Big Horn river and its tributaries lie within this county and it also contains the largest area of irrigable land of any county of the State. The greatest irrigation and agricul tural development of the State will necessarily be made in this county. During the winter season the county seat of either of the three counties to which this basin is tributary, can only be reached with great difficulty and danger, owing to the intervening mountain ranges with which it is surrounded. There are many settlers living 150 miles from their county seat. The setttlement and reclamation of the lands lying within this Basin would be greatly facilitated by the organization of Big Horn county. Believing that the development of the vast resources of this part of Wyoming is of great importance to the State at large, I respectfully recommend that the Legislature take whatever action is permissable under the Constitution looking to the complete organization of Big Horn county at the earliest possible date, consistent with a due regard for the welfare of the cler counties from which the territory is taken.

GOOD ROADS.

The United States Department of Agriculture is taking an active interest in the improvement of highways. An office of road inquiry has been established with a special agent and engineer in charge. Through this office an effort is being made looking to legislation of a uniform character, in all of the States, for the better construction and management of public reads. No State has better facilities for maintaining good roads at a reasonable expense than Wyoming, and still large sums are expended annually on roads and bridges. In the consideration of legislation pertaining to highways, much valuable information could doubtless be obtained from the Agricultural Department.

BOARD OF PARDONS.

T I respectfully recommend the passage of a law providing for a Board of Pardons to whom shall be referred all appli cations for executive clemency. Section 5, Article 4, of the Constitution evidently contemplates the formation of such a board. In this connection I also recommend the enactment of a law providing that where the conduct of a prisoner has been such as to entitle him to a release before the expiration of his full term of sentence, the Warden shall report the

facts to the Governor, who shall consider such report as an application and recommendation for pardon and restoration to citizenship.

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPORT.

The Attorney General presents a detailed report of the business transacted in his department, including a statement of all cases disposed of, or pending in the Supreme Court, in which he has appeared, and a copy of the official opinions furnished from his office. There are a great number of the latter given at the request of State, county and district officers upon a great variety of legal questions. As many of the points pass. ed upon are likely to called up again by newly elected officers, it would be a matter of convenience to have printed at least a digest of the opinions of the Attorney General. Such a publication would be a valuable contribution to the law terature

of the State.

Pusuant to the duties imposed upon him the Attorney General makes the following suggestions for the improvement of the laws of the State. That provision be made for the continuance of the publication of the decisions of the Supreme Court, which I wish to add is especially advisable by reason of the high estimation in which these decisions are held by the courts of other States. He recommends that the Legisla ture provide by law for the distribution of the income from the school lauds of the State, and that the law be so amended as to allow the investment of the permanent school funds, which is found to be impracticable under existing laws. These recommendations are also made by the State Treasurer. The Attorney General holds that the law should be so ammended as to allow the distribution of school funds upon the division of school districts and also to provide for the reorganization of school districts in new counties. He recommends that the banking laws be so amended as to authorize the increase or decrease of the capital stock of State banks. Also that provision be made for the transportation of nauper insane.

Attention is called to the diversion of the waters of some of the natural streams located in this State, but having their source in neighboring States, by parties in those States. This is a matter of importance, and merits your investigation. Necessary legislation is recommended in order that advantge may be taken of the donation of one million acres of land by the general government. Your attention is also called to the matte" of taking the census in 1895, as provided for by the Constitution. The report will be found of great value in the formation of new legislation.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The bill making appropriations for the period ending March 31, 1895, passed by the Second State Legislature, contained three

items to reimburse certain persons therein named for land rentals. These items were vetoed by the Governor at that time for the reason that the Constitution prohibits the introduction of any appropriations in the general appropriation bill other than those for the ordinary expenses of the legislative, executive and judiciary departments of the State, interest on the public debt and for schools. In so doing, however, the Governor expressed the belief that the claims were just and should be paid, and states that he would recommend their payment with accrued interest by the next Legislature, which he now does through me. The items referred to were in the

House bill number 15, Sections 19, 38 and 47.

are hereby

Section 4 of the Act of Admission grants to Wyoming. Sections 16 and 36 in every township for the support of the common schools, and provides that where such sections have been sold or otherwise disposed of by or under the authority of any act of Congress, other lands equivalent thereto granted to the State. Section 2, of the Act of Admission, provides that the State shall not be entitled to select indemnity school lands for the 16th and 36th sections, that may be in the Yellowstone National Park. The Shoshone Indian reservation contains 160,000 acres of school land for which the State is entitled to indemnity land. In the Yellowstone timber reserve, set aside since the admission of Wyoming, there are 64,000 acres of school land. It is recommended that the Legislature take such action as is necessary to secure this land while there is plenty of unoccupied land from which to make selections.

Your attention is called to the desirability of enacting a law which will permit State, county and municipal officers to procure a bond for the faithful discharge of their duties, from guarantee or surety companies. Obtaining bonds in this manner relieves officials from the embarassment of asking their friends to sign their bonds. The guarantee companies also afford a safeguard against the probability of default and are thus performing a material service to the public.

UNITED STATES SENATORS.

Owing to the failure of the Second State Legislature to elect a sucessor to Senator Francis E. Warren, Wyoming has been represented by but one Senator since March 4th, 1893. It will be your duty to fill the existing vacancy and also to elect a successor to Senator Joseph M. Carey, whose term expires March 4th, 1895. Balloting for the election of both Senators must begin on Tuesday, January 22nd. As the election of Senators often inteferes very grievously with the other business of the Legislature, it is hoped that you may perform duty without unnecessary delay.