Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-01-09

EOa. a0t t. attract TCQz closest scrutiny
and favorable act.en. Having d.scu ed
the educational interests Of the State al
large in my former message, [ shall COR
tent myself by directing your attention to
the views there expressed
The Report Of the State Superinten-
dent viii furnish you with the situation
and progress made in perfecting the COM
mon school system, aud the plans deemed
most effective for its improvement. \
careful perusal and examination of the
Report Of this officer is invited The ser
vices of competent and qualified teachers
in our common schools. are indispensable
to the successful progress of this branch
of our State policy. To secure such ser
vices. has been an object of the utmost So
licitude, and has received the untiring eff
forts of those of elevated intellect, and
devoted and experienced in the art of in
struction.
The discussions upon this subject, have
resulted III the establishment of normal
schools Tor imparting the art of teaching.
as the means to effect the desired end
most worthy of governmental patronage
The views of the Superintendent relative
to this branch of our educational system
seem to be just. and deserving the atten-
ton Of the legislature The constitution
declares that the income of the school
fund shall be applied to the support and
maintenance Of common schools acade-
mics and normal schools. and suitable ap-
paratus and Libraries From this it clear
y appears to be the duty Of the legisla
ture to appropriate 4 part of this income
for the establishment Of a normal school,
if adequate benefits are received by the
common schools
The Board of Reeeuts. in organizing
the University, have established a normal
department, designed exclusively for i'm
parting the art of teaching. elementary
and practical, to the instructors of our
district schools. With the view to enable
the primary schools to realize the benefits
Of the normal department. at an early day
the Board, after constructing building
for the collegiate department of the Uni
vcrsity, have commenced another struc
ture for the normal department
This second edifice the Regents viii not
be able to complete at present. without en-
larging the permanent debt Of the institu-
ton. to which | am at present opposed. as
its present income is inadequate to meet
the annual interest of this debt, when en-
larged and its current annual expense =
| hold that the State, its municipal corpo-
rations. and every Institution under its
direction, should be provided with reli
able income, equal to the interest of It's
debt, if any, and its ordinary expenditures
Should the University be permitted TO ac-
iEu'ate its permanent debt by reason of
its inability to discharge its current an
nual liabilities it would receive a repulse
requiring years to overcome
I trust, that the representatives of the
people Will keep 4 watchful guard over 1t,
aud not permit its permanet debt to be in
creased, until It's income IS adequate for
the purpose stated. or unless the lcgisla-
ture will grant it assistance from the in
come Of the school fund. in aid Of the nor
NAL department. Inasmuch as the second
building is already commenced, and IS to
be appropriated in its use for the sole in
terest Of the common schools. and for their
more efectual Improvement, / submit the
propriety of granting the University a
farther loan. sufficient to complete the
structures already commenced, and that
a sum equal to the interest upon the prin-
cipal of the cost of the normal structure,
be appropriated from the income of the
school fund. to be expended under the d.
rection of the Board Of Regents, to estab-
lish and in aid Of normal schools The
views expressed. in my opinion, are just
proper. and within the purview of the con
stitution, therefore | present them for
your consideration
The Report of the Board of Regents
will place before you history Of their
transactions during the year, with state
mcnt of their expenditures and the fnan-
cial condition Of the Institution
Several vacancies exist in the Board. as
shown by the report, which it IS your du-
ty by law to fill.
l,056,9S-l00 acres of the University
lands, have been sold for the aggregate
sum of Sl0.699, 28-a full statement of
which will be found in the Report of the
Board Of Commissioners for the sale Of
these lands
At the last session Of the Legislature,
an act was passed fixing the minimum
price Of these lands at 3 10 per acre, which,
IN most eases. exceeded the apprised value
Prior to the passage Of this act, | am Ia
formed that under the act Of lS4Q scve
raj presumption rights had accrued, and
that the pre-emptors insisted that they
had vested right to purchase these lands.
to the extent Of their pre- cmpti0ns. at the
minimum price established by the act of
lo49. which was the apprised value By
reason Of this alleged right, the Commits
sjoners were unable to make sales of lands
in this situation. My own opinion is. up
on full investigation of the law, that
these pre- emption rights had vested and
that tie State ought in good faith to per-
NIT the pre- emptors under the act Of l849
to purchase at the apprised value, En-
tertaining this view, urge p modification
Of the act Of 1880 70 protect the pre-emp-
tors in their just and legal rights.
The five per cent Of tie nett proceeds
Of the sales of public lands within the
State for The Eears ISIS AID 1910 amounts