Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-07-14
SCHOOL LANDS OF WISCONSIN.

subject is of such magnitude and importance, as
might well entitle cntleit to obtain the preference
Of all others of public nature now demanding the
prompt and careful attention of the people in their
early exercise of the prerogatives of State Govern
ment
The statistics to which we have referred, show
the number of school sections in the State to be
1890. Number of acres which they contain | !
iOs 900. Lands granted by the General Govern
ment for purposes of public improvement, and set
apart by the State for the support of schools 500,
900 acres Total number Of acres, 5000
Five per cent. on all the government lands that
may hereafter be sold within the State, certainly
not less than thirty millions of acres, which, if
sold at the minimum price of 1928 per acre, the
five per centage on the same would amount to ST.
$4,000 The 100000 acres owned by the State
Fascinated at the same price, ,25 per acre, ST.
$4,000 Total Of the school lands now virtually
owned by Wisconsin, reckoned at 81 ,25 per acre,
SI,2jOOOO.
This, of course, does not include the lG 900 acres
of University land tho best which can be selected
Of the excellent lands within the limits of the
State Our estimate is certainly not large for al
though there are undoubtedly many thousand acres
Of unsalcable land included in what we reckon
above there are also included many thousand acres
which will sell as high as from SIS to $50 per acre,
The school sections in the towns Of Racine and
Milwaukee are cheap at 500 per acre; and will
shortly be worth, at least two or three times that
amount. Many other school sections have high
value.
| Wisconsin has 10000 children of the proper age
the of a fraction over 500, of the State school
fund, according to the above estimate.
The state of Connecticut has, if we mistake not
the largest school fund of any State in the Union
According to her population, it is certainly the
largest. And yet, that State, with population of
$4,000, has less than hall the school fund which
Wisconsin has TO population of 215,00O In
Connecticut, twenty years ago, the school money
which most districts were el titled to, one year
with another, was equal to the pay of teachers $
months in the year Females were employed with
rare exceptions for the summer school, and in about
one third of the districts, for the winter school
What the statistics are "or Tor that Statc,we have
not the means of determining. We are certain,
however, that The growth OF the school fund has
been much greater than the growth Of population.
And we deem 1T safe to conclude, that the yearly
avalIs of the school fund now full equal in the
aggregate, to the pay of teachers and cost of fuel
throughout the State. Connecticut school fund
again, affords an income OF only about $4,000,
yearly Allowing the sales OF government land IN
Inc state OF " Isconsn TO be oooooo acres yearly,
ra'e oil SAFE winch would require more than forty
years iot 'e "SPosa OF 'he Whole' ana the HVe per
cehtage on TINS amount IS S1nDoo annually. Add
'''' '''"' "''''"' require" 70 oo l'se" oy tax loF
s'noo' purposes "S ''e 'o"o'''oh Oh "hch Tue
P'O''' "io"'y '"" ~ u'"""' anu WISCONSIN mas
nom "'l' one So"'''' "i'"ou' mc"u''"s WIN Tue
S''''o' '''''' ct "''' ""'' WIN NC "e"y VI qui'e
'I"" 10 'c'cHeI pay LOT her present PoPWa'loh.
'' II '"''' VI e''o'' '''''' ''''o'9 'o"'
the state VIII nSSE than co respond 10 the growth
OF It's popoatom AeTy little OF the school sections
ice" NC SOFA "l less thah 81" per acre. Ia such
coun''eS as milwaukee, Racine ana some Others,
INC school sections would now average that price
VII 'ne S"pPosIuo" 'h"' 'hey should ultimately com
'""'d 10 average mat price throughout the State,
Wh'ch 'hey must DO about as last as IL becomes
co"Pe'e'y Se''I'" We nave from 'he school sec
Mons ana o'""I sCloo' la'' owned by the state,
School luna amounting toabout twenty millions OF
oo''Fa' seven per cent on ms amount gives one
hundred thnnSDnI yearly