Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-01-20
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

GENTLEsizS Since your last anna
al session, nothing has traHsPire3 e ez
traordinary Importance n the eiyli affairs
Of tie State. During the Fast season oar
citizens have enjoyed uuusgal prosperity.
IL the ample products aud remuneration
Of their industry and enterprise. Alum
dant harvcsts. and hisn markets an in
crease IN muIIied circulation and the down
ward tendency Of the rates Of Interest
prevailing confidence among business men
aud III business enterprise. continued nc
cession to our population by emigration
the energetic prosec stioI of internal ia
proyements under tic ski!ful management
of companies. the extension Of permanent
agricultural Improvements and the rapid
growth oe our cities and Villages. are
mong the encouraging i8dieations of the
present. and give Cheering promise of tie
future.
We have sufficient reason for con2rata
lation IN the condition aal prospects Of
our State
In respect to naanE advantages. she oc
cupies highly favorable position that
cannot well be overlooked, either by the
emigrant seeking 4 home in the West. or
by those wishing u make safe and pr0Gta
bic Investments Of capital
1t appears by The returns Of the last
general census, that the ratio Of Increase
in population has been greater. and the
health Of the people better. in Wisconsin.
than in any other State in tue Uaiou.-
And In soil, climate mineral resources
md commercial position, she may justly
claim to be equal and in many respects
superior, to the other " Western States
With large are Of territory. and com
paratively a very small part uusaitci 10
cultivation, and all Of it favorabiv situa-
ted in respect TO wood aud water, she Of
fers superior inducements TO the agricul-
turist, aud is destined ere long, to become
one of the richest States IN the Union. IN
the productions Of the soil
Tue western portion of our State. while
the soil IS Of the best quality for a9rical-
ture, also contains exhaustless beds Of
mineral which are only awaiting the APP
plication Of capitIl aad labor, I, enrich
those whose attention and enterprise taev
may enlist And it IS somewhat remar-
kable, that while it Is known that 50 mach
wealth lies hidden oaly few feet below
the surface, in this mineral region, As Is
sufficiently attested by successful expert
port oS the Hon David d. owen, Uni
ted States Geologist, that comparatively
so little has yet been done TO measure its
resources. aud make them available to the
urgent demands Of trade and commerce
1t is reported however. that during the
past season. this important interest has
been receiving more attention and IS at
tracing to this portion Of the State, a
more Iast share ct emigration aud capt.
tai
Our lumber interest is By no means IN
important From tie best means we have
to ascertain its extent. the amount of iaus-
be manufactured In the State annually. can
not be less than one hundred and fifty
million feet. And when railroad facilities
Of carriage are brought TO tie vicinity Of
this immense lumber region, we may rea-
sonably expect vast Increase in the pro
duet
Ii Is estimated that there Is within this
Stateoyer twenty million acres Of Con
gross lands embracing about two thirds
Of the entire State, great portion Of
which is now surveyed aud in market
This immense tract Of country is cencr-
ats Of excellent soil and many portions
Of it, richly charged with silver, copper
lead iron. and other valuable minerals
Ii is certainly a question Of momeutous
Importance TO Us. what disposition ought
to be made. by the Congress Of the Uni
ted States, Of this two-thirds portion OK
our State.
Various propositions arc now pending
before Congress, respecting the Uuso!d
government lands In the different States
And whatever may finally be the prevail
lug measure of the General Government
on this subject, il mast necessarily great
II affect Us, favorably or otherwise, how
ever iusensibly il may be felt elsewhere
Lit must be conceded, that our State. az
least is deeply interested IN having these
lands brought into actual occupancy aud
cultivation, Is speedily a possible If
therefore their donation to actual settlers
and in limited quantities, viii. by the en-
enlargement of emigration, be most like
" to produce this result; then II follows.
that the proposition embracing this prin-
ciple. is the one to receive our colHtcn-
auce and support
But If this principle cannot be adopted,
then. better for u. by far, viii 1t be. II
these lands are kept.eousts2tly IN market
at the present Congress price, than that
any measure SizoStU OBTAIN tiiil VIII nave
the effect TO keep tI.em ont Of market. Or
TO iacrease their cost sc the settler, which
would be detrimental. IN the highest degree
to the State and her future advancement
in wealth and population
To tue fact that Congress lands Of ex-
ccllent quality aud favorable location, can
be obtained IN this State, at the present
price, We are, aud have been, very much
indebted for tie emigration we have al
ready received, and are sill reaeiyjag
aaa fhese lands il continued IN market
even At the present price. being The near
est aud most c0nv+Hient - the Easter
sea board Of any ether il the Western
States, viii remain goat ln3Icsm1nt
fer its continuance