for hearing and determining points of law taken by appeal from the Chancery, Circuit, and Probate Courts. N. W. Cocke, John Foster, of Montgomery, Chancellor Southern Div., 1865, $2,000 of Eutaw, of Jacksonville, 66 Middle 66 1866, 2,000 66 Northern 66 1862, 2,000 The State is divided into three chancery divisions and thirty-nine districts, in each of which one session of the court is held annually, and in some of the larger districts two sessions are held. The judges of the Circuit Courts are elected by the people of the circuit for the term of six years, and are required to alternate with each other in holding the circuits. These courts have original jurisdiction in all criminal causes, and in all civil causes above $50. When less than $50, their jurisdiction is appellate only from the decisions of justices of the peace. Two sessions (spring and fall) are held each year in every county. The Solicitors, besides fees, receive a salary of $250, except in the First Circuit, where the salary is $350. The Attorney-General acts as Solicitor for the Second Circuit. In Mobile County the criminal jurisdiction has been transferred to a special Henry Chamberlain, City Court for Mobile. This court holds three terms each year, on the first Monday of February and of June, and on the second Monday of October, and has concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Courts except in real actions. $604,657.05 Balance in the Treasury, September 30, 1860, This balance is applicable to the payment of positive appropriations, having the prefer. ence for the following objects, besides others, to wit:-To aid the Tennessee and Coosa Railroad Company; interest on State Bonds for 1861; completion, &c., of Insane Hospital; for an efficient Military Organization of the State; for Military Education; for the balance of Educational Fund for 1859; for Civil List; Contingencies, &c. 10,972.92 5,680.00 12,737.50 Commissioner and Trustee for use $11.422.50 of State, 182,614.62 Annual int. on University Fund, 16,500.00 69,503.30 Back interest on same, Members, Officers, &c., of General Assembly, 36,000.00 State Debt. The foreign debt, Oct. 1, 1859, was $3,423,000.00 on which the annual interest is nearly $172,065 55. The domestic debt, Sept. 30, 1859, was $ 1,675,000.00, - being Common School Fund, $1,425,000.00; University Fund, $250,000.00. Annual interest nearly $85,000. The State has made large loans to railroads, and has as security for its loans to roads, mortgages of the roads, first mortgage bonds, and in some cases individual notes. The State also owns Virginia and North Carolina stocks to the amount of $662,000. Banks. For the condition of the banks in this State in January, 1860, see ante, p. 231. Common Schools. — A system of public instruction was established by the act of Feb. 15, 1851, and a Superintendent of Education was appointed. The money raised for the support of schools, and the income of the educational funds, are apportioned among the several townships, according to the number of children therein between 6 and 21 years of age. The amount apportioned for the year 1858 was $271,378.97. The number of children between 6 and 21 was 178,095; average per child, $ 1.30. The returns that were received showed in the summer of 1858 the existence of 2,597 schools. This does not include Mobile County, which has a separate and independent school system. The amount paid for free public schools in 1859-60, was $271,580.72. There is an Insane Hospital at Tuscaloosa. The amount advanced by the State to this institution up to Sept. 30, 1860, was $278,975.44. The State has made appropriations for an institution for the deaf and dumb, at Talladega, which is now in successful operation. There is an asylum for the blind at Mobile. The number of convicts in the State Penitentiary, October 1, 1858, was 217; of these 78 were committed for offences against the person; for offences against property, 121; for miscellaneous offences, 18. State Census. — -The census for the year 1855, taken under a special act, classifies the population as follows:- White males under 21 years, 140,077; over 21 years, 97,385; white females under 21 years, 135,422; over 21 years, 91,572; total whites, 464,456; insane persons, 461; slaves, 374,782; free persons of color, 2,466; total inhabitants, 841,704. There were 17 colleges, 160 academies, 1,074 common schools, 40,280 children at school, and 93,443 white children between 8 and 16 years of age. II. ARKANSAS. Capital, Little Rock. Area, 52,198 sq. m. Population, 1860, 440,775. Government for the Year 1861. HENRY M. RECTOR, of Little Rock, Governor (term of office expires November, 1864), John J. Stirman, of Little Rock, Sec. of State & * And $200 for rent of house. Salary. $2,500* School Commissioner, Perquisites and 1,000 Salary. William R. Miller, of Little Rock, Aud. of Pub. Acc'ts, Fees and $ 1,200 66 2,500 Oliver Barham, Bradley Bunch, of Johnson Co., State Land Agents. - W. H. Martin, Little Rock; Robert Maloney, Helena; W. M. Steel, Batesville ; J. C. Powers, Clarksville; J. P. Erwin, Washington; V. L. Kelley, Champagnolle. John D. Kimbell is SwampLand Secretary. The Secretary of State, Auditor, and Treasurer are elected by a joint vote of both houses of the General Assembly. The term of office of the present members ends in November, 1862. The Legislature meets biennially at Little Rock. A session will commence in November, 1862. Number of Senators, 25; of Representatives, 75. Their compensation is $4 a day during the session, and $3 for every 20 miles' travel in going to and returning from the seat of government. Clerk and Reporter, Fees as Clerk, [and $400 as Reporter. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction only, except in particular cases pointed out by the constitution. It regularly holds annually two terms at Little Rock, in January and July, but by the act of 1858 it is required to hold four terms a year until the arrears of business are disposed of. The judges are elected by the General Assembly, by a joint vote of both houses, for eight years. The Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over all criminal cases not expressly provided for otherwise by law; and exclusive original jurisdiction of all crimes amounting to felony at common law; and original jurisdiction of all civil cases which are not cognizable before justices of the peace; and in all matters of contract, where the sum in controversy is over $100. It holds annually two terms in each circuit. The judges and prosecuting attorneys are elected by the people, the former for four, and the latter for two years. Chancellor of Pulaski County.-U. M. Rose, Term ends Nov. 1862. Salary, $1,800. Judge. Term ends. Salary. Prosecut. Attorney. Term ends. Salary. 1862, $1,500 Lucius Featherston, 1862, Fees & $300 1st Circuit, E. C. Bronaugh, 66 J. C. Murray, 2d 1862, 1,500 David W. Carroll, 1862, 66 300 Judge. Term ends. Salary. Prosecut. Attorney. Term ends. Salary. For the Two Years ending 30th September, 1860. Balance of specie in the treasury, October 1, 1858, Receipts in specie from all sources during the two years, Total, Total expenditures in specie for the two years, Balance of specie in treasury, October 1, 1860, $258,183.68 484,911.81 743,095.49 411,571.86 $331,523.63 Of this balance, $304.106.98 were applicable to State expenditures, the rest being due certain funds. The receipts are chiefly from taxes. The principal items of expenditure for the two years were substantially as follows: Legislature, $57,000; Executive and contingencies, $35,000; Judiciary, $47,000; Prosecuting Attorneys, $5,200; Penitentiary, $18,500; Printing and distributing laws and law reports, $ 12,000; Salary and expenses of State Geologist, $ 16,765.61; Conveying convicts to penitentiary, $6,052.75; Seminary Fund and Schools, $12,000; Internal Improvement Fund, $80,000. State Debt. Outstanding bonds issued to the Real Estate Bank, principal, Interest accrued and unpaid, October 1, 1860, Total debt on account of Real Estate Bank, October 1, 1860, Outstanding bonds issued to Bank of the State of Arkansas, to October 1, 1860, Interest accrued and unpaid to same date, Total debt on account of Bank of State, October 1, 1860, $610,000.00 677,717.50 $899,000.00 905,905 00 $ 1,804,905.00 1,287.717 50 $ 3,092,622.50 By its charter, the Real Estate Bank is bound to pay the interest and redeem the principal of the bonds issued to its use, and the State took for security a mortgage from the 180 stockholders of 127,520 acres of land, valued at the time, by commissioners under oath, at $2,603,932.32, which mortgage it now holds. By the Act of Feb. 24, 1838, the western branch was established, and 100 persons became stockholders, and mortgaged 60,290 acres of land, valued as above at $776,840.06. This makes in all, 187,710 acres, valued at $3,380,172.38. It is thought that from the increased value of the lands the State will be secured from loss, unless it waive the lien; and this would leave to the State the debt due for bonds issued on account of the Bank of the State. The bonds of this bank fall due Oct. 26, 1861. Taxable Property in 1860.- Number of acres of land 10,479,231; value with improve ments, $55,753,311. Value of city, &c. lots and improvements, $4,761,836. Slaves between 5 and 60 years of age, 60,799; value, $45,075,417. 258 saw-mills; value, $350,948. 105 tan-yards; value, $ 37,480. 57 distilleries; value, $6,165. Value of household furniture, taxed, $ 109,845; of pleasure-carriages, $337,424; number of horses over 2 years old, 68,918; value $5,006,205; number of mules over 2 years old, 2,347; value, $ 2,226,081; number of jacks and jennies, 1,174; value, $150,536; number of neat cattle over 2 years, 247,417; value, $2,801,170; of stock in trade of all trades, &c., $2,362,527; of loans over debts, $ 1,112,010; capital in steamboats, ferries, &c., $ 96,632; gold watches and jewelry, $240,666. Capital in manufactories, $ 45,289. Total value of taxable property, $120,475,236. Amount of State tax, $204,160.56. Number of polls, 43,181. State Census of 1858. Returns were received from all the counties. From these it appears that there are in the State 132,790 white males, 114,341 white females; 387 free male negroes, and 361 free female negroes; 83,334 slaves. Total, 331,213. 331,628 acres of land were cultivated in cotton, and 979,366 in grain. There were raised 182,217 bales of cotton, 17,181,867 bushels of corn, 1,143,656 of wheat, 2,050,753 of oats. Common Schools. - The Secretary of State is ex officio Commissioner of Common Schools. His last report that we have seen is dated November 13, 1854. The returns to him from the School Commissioners were exceedingly imperfect; only 40 schools were reported in the whole State. There is a great indifference to the subject of common school education throughout the State. The law provides for a large school fund. The seminary and saline funds are distributed to the counties to aid in the support of common schools. The seminary fund has distributed $92,369.36, and the saline fund $ 16,485.89, up to July 1, 1860. The accruing annual interest on money arising from the sales of the 16th section of land in any township is made a perpetual fund for the support of schools. The annual State and county taxes assessed upon 16th sections sold, proceeds of escheated estates, fines for certain offences and crimes, are by law to be paid into the treasury of the proper county for the support of schools. There is no official report of the amounts arising from these sources. The Arkansas Institute for the Blind. This institution, incorporated Feb. 4, 1859, is established at Arkadelphia, Clark Co. Mr. Otis Patten is Superintendent. There were ten pupils - five males and five females in the institution in September, 1860. State Prison. The number of convicts, Oct. 1, 1860, was 121; of whom 107 were sent thither by the State Courts, and 14 by Courts of the United States. There were, besides, 3 runaway slaves in the prison at that date. The State pays to contractors thirty-five cents a day for the keeping, care, attendance, &c., of each convict. Geological Survey. - The Legislature in 1857 provided for a geological survey of the State. Dr. Owen was appointed State Geologist. During the years 1857 and 1858, assisted by William Elderhorst, Chemical Assistant, and Edward T. Cox, Assistant Geologist, he made a reconnoissance of the northern counties of the State, the results of which appear in his first report, already published. The second volume is now (Oct. 1860) in press. It contains a full synoptical description of the result of the survey from 1859. III. CALIFORNIA. Capital, Sacramento. Area, 160,000 sq. m. Estimated population, 1860, 348,770. Government for the Year 1861. The Governor and Lieutenant-Governor are elected by the people, by a * Mr. Downey was elected Lieutenant-Governor, and became Governor upon Governor Latham's resignation when he was elected Senator to Congress. Officers of session of 1860. |