Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-02-02
Report OF the Beard OF Public
Works.

We have only space for a glance at some
of the leading statistics in this report, which
was made TO the Assembly on Friday last
The first meeting of the Board was held
in this place on The 10Th Of Sept. last, C..
Il. ALTON was employed as engineer, and
directed to procure the necessary assistance,
and proceed at once 10 make the necessary
surveys and estimates for the work.
The quantity of land within the Fox Ri
yer reserve, surveyed and located thus far,
is l23,08S acres.
Lands within the reserve. heretofore sold
by the general government, in lieu of which
other lands are to be located by the state,
$3.50 acres.
Lands within the reserve, recently coded
by the Menomonees, and granted to the
state, estimated from 70 to $4,000 acres.
Total number of acres, about 100000.
Waste, or valueIess, lands about 10000
acres; leaving 2s0,000 acres of good land.
Value at l,25 per acre, $350,00O.
To this available resource is to be added
water>rents, which it is supposed will be of
some value when the work is completed.
The cost OF the improvement of the Fox
River, and the canal across The Portage, is
estimated at $379,G06 %. That is, sup.
pose the canal lands to be worth all they
are estimated at, it will require the whole,
and some $4,000 in addition, to complete
the improvement of this stream with the
canal.
The Wisconsin river will surveyed ear
" next season, and it is believed that the
e., T,r ia ST will no
adequate to its accomplishment.
1t is earnestly urged that the work on the
line should commence and be vigorously
prosecuted early in the spring. The land,
it is advised, should be immediately brought
into market, and sold as fast as funds are
required to advance the canal. Wien this
is done, the opinion is expressed that in fif-
teen months time, one hundred Thousand
dollars will be realized from such sales.
The principal and earliest Improvements
recommended TO be made and the cost OF
each, are thus enumerated:
Cost Of Portage Canal, S50,oJ4 90
Improvement of the Neenah above
Lake Winnebago, oo71 so
Do. at the Rapids Croche, 1876 So
DO. al Depere, l6,4l3 ~
Total S9I,GS5 40
1t is estimated that the above works can
be completed in one year from the COM
mencement, and would at the enc of thai
period open water communication between
the Mississippi and Green Bay, with the
exception of about ten miles Of land carriage
from the foot of Lake Winnebago to the ra-
pids of the Grand Kakaulin, and some i'm
provements on the Wisconsin.
The report presents very favorable pros.
pect for the completion in due time, of this
important improvement, Ii the estimates
made should prove correct, and the lands
can be sold so as promptly TO meet the ex-
pense, without calling for aid from the state,
the legislature should at osce authorize its
commencement. We hope ii may be done,
and that the improvement may turn out to
be real bona fde canal, instead of series
of water-powers built at the public expense,
but retained and used exclusively for indl-
vidual Standardization .9rguS.
AN ACE relating 10 Interest.
The People Of he State Of WISCONSIN,
represented IN Senate and assembly,
do enact as joiiotoS:
Section /. ANY rate of interest agreed up