Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 109, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1899 — STATE CAPITAL CHAT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STATE CAPITAL CHAT.

The annnnl report of State Geologist Blatchley makes a volume of 1,741 pages. The greater part of the report deals with . the coal supply, and. in this work Dr. George H. Ashley of California has assisted.' The origin of coal and its various processes are treated at length, and the geology of the coal fields and the life existing daring the coal age is treated. Fourteen counties of the State hate coal underlying them, and there are twentysix counties in which coal is found, covering an area of 6,500 square miilee. 'Die geologist estimates that there is enough workable coal in the State to last 300 years. It is estimated that 100,000,000 tons of coal,have been removed, that 40,000,000,000 tons of coal remain nnder the surface, and that 8,000,000,000 tona can yet be mined. Knox County is said to have the most coal, Sullivan County has more in “sight” and Clay County is the most actively engaged in mining. In the consideration of the economic and financial side of coal an estimate is made of the distribution of $2.50 which an Indianapolis man would pay for a ton of coal, which shows that 5 cents of the amount goes to the original owner of the coal, 3 cents goes to the capital invested, 87 cents goes to labor and mine expenses, 15 cents goes to the man who operates the mine, 50 cents goes for transportation and 90 cents goes to the retailer. Robert Fisher. State mine inspector, shows that 5,177,044 tons were mined in 1898, which is an increase of 948,958 tons over the output of 1897, and an increase of 628,233 tons over that of any previous year. In 1898 9,325 miners were employed in the State. The report states that the demand for coal will increase as the supply of gas diminishes, and it is estimated that the output of coal will increase to 10,000,000 tons before 1910. The total production of petroleum in 1898 was 3,751,307 barrels, as compared with 4,353,138 barrels in 1897, or a loss of 601,831 barrels.

.w. t The results of this year’s work of the State, board of tax commissioners are shown in the appended tables. The board assesses railroads, telegraph and telephone companies, express companies and sleeping car companies originally. The tax is distributed to the counties in accordance with mileage. The real estate assessment is not done by the board. It heard many appeals, hotvever, and changed many assessments by county boards. Miles. Assessment. Main track 6,4*93.96 $122,721,030 Second main ........ 304.54 3,636,435 Side track 7.... .2,180.87 7,858,260 Rolling stock ,6,233.90 16,529,496 Improvements on right of way 2,947,285 Total $153,693,506 Telegraph, telephone, express and- sleeping car companies: Telegraph and telephone companies $4,382,047 Sleeping car companies... 393,084 Express companies 1,811,395 Total assessment railroads, telegraph, telephone and sleeping car and express companies... .$160,968,700 Real estate: Assessm’t by County Board. Inc. Dec. Rands $449,561,158 $5,843,212 $793,544 Improvements on lands... 84,692,205 392,767 Lands and improvem’s 534,253,363 Lots 162,741,325 433,097 30,753 Improvements on lots .... 163,371,325 435,756 56,103 Lands and < Improvem’s 326,112,409 Personal property ... 315,540,675 $1,175,936,247 $7,104,832 $880,400 Net Increase. $6,224,432 L. P. Mitchell, assistant Comptroller of the Treasury at Washington, D. C., in the matter of the application of the State of Indiaaa for the reopening of a settlement of the balance of the claim of the State for $606,979, has decided that, although in his judgment the claim is a perfectly just one, he is without power to afford any remedy, and therefore? the application is denied. It appears that at the breaking'out of the war of the rebellion the State was almost entirely without funds, and that to enable the State properly to respond to the call of the President for troops it became necessary to raise money on a loan upon the credit of the State. These bonds were sold at a discount of $243,107, which, with interest, brokerage and other expenses, brings the amount still unpaid np to the snm stated. The claim is made under the provisions of the act of Jujy 27, 1861, which directs the Secretary of the Treasury to-pay to any State the costs properly incurred in raising troops. The second annual session of the National Association of State Librarians will be held at the state house in this city from Oct. 24 to 26 and the first session will be at 8 o’clock on Tuesday evening, Oct. 24. The address of welcome will be delivered by Gov. Monnt and the response will be by Arthur N. .Chase of New Hampshire. Thursday morning only will jje devoted to a formal session. The afternoon will be given over to sightseeing. The election of officers will close the session. Secretary of State Hunt has received letters from K. Schilling, royal Prussian Government assessor, and Comte C. B. des Monts of France, asking for information concerning the. agricultural and mineral products of Indiana. Both are traveling in America, gathering information along this line, to be presented to their respective countrymen. Brief State Happenings. Bad $lO bills are floating in Anderson. Milo Stump, 38, Union City, went “up town” some time ago, and has not been seen since. Lafayette soldiers’ home has more applications than room. , S. H. Goble’s livery barn, Connersville, is in ashes. Loss $3,000. , Dolly Daniels, 67, Valparaiso, married Miss Pearl Hammond. 19. JQSttISSSEL nna ' “*, A coffee pot exploded xsd Mrs.