Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-01-17


traton of marriages, births, and deaths; foreign
insurance agencies; the judiciary fund the fixing
| of penalty In the event of failure of town As
sesors 10 make return and the publication ofelec-
| ton laws, | most fully concur. Hisexhibit. how
| ever, of the expense heretofore incurred by the
| Legislature for newspapers and postage, Is wor
thy OF more than passing notice at this time
and can but impress you with the importance oil
| a reform in respect 10 these matters. II appears
that the expense for those two items alone has ol
several years. averaged nearly ten thousand dol
lars annually, very large proportion of which
have ever regarded unnecessary and unwar-
rantable in its character, and should be reduced
! and confined 10 snch sum as the legitimate OBJ
jects of legislation may properly demand
The report of the Board OF Commissioners Of
School and University Lands, has been elabor atey
prepared and comprises much OF interest, connect
ed with the responsible trust committed 70 their
charge
II appears that the aggregate principal of the
School Fund amounted on the first day OF January
to the sum OF sl670258 II; being an increase
during the past year, of S52S,I5I 80; derived
chiefly from the sale of lands. The gross amour,
of interest, received since the last apportonment
made to common schools, including the sum pay
able prior TO the 10th day Of March next Chat
be;ag the time fixed by law for the annual dis'Ti
buiion,) is SI42 434 30 which, according 10 the
estimate oil the State Superintendent of Schools, is
equal 10 % cents for each scholar; an increase OF
81 cents over the previous year.
The claim of the State 10 the quantity unselec-
ted of the 100000 acre grant, amounting 10 about
$4,000 acres belonging 10 The Schoo! fund and
here olore denied by the General Government
upon the ground ;ha, there arrearage due
the Government from the State, arising from the
connection OF the Territory with the Rock River
Canal has during the past year, been amicably
adjusted, upon terms entirely favorable to the
| STAG: and the lands thereby accrung have been
chiefly selected. Ii seems highly probable that a
| like favorable adjustment will be had of our claim
TO the five per centum OF the nett proceeds arising
/ from TIE sales of Government lands. TO which the
State is entitled amounting az this time, ii is sup
| posed, 10 about $4,000. and withheld by the
| Government for the same cause will more
/ fully appear from statement of the facts of the
case and the argument OF the matter which will
be laid before YOU Considerable additions have
been made 10 this fund during the past wear arts
/ ing from fines collected by agents appointed for
! that purpose under act authorizing the same
a large proportion of which it is believed, never
| would have reached the treasury except throu Gu
the operation OF some similar enactment. A
defect in the law how ever, IL is said has in sNme
instances been made an excuse for not paying: 10
the correction OF which your attention is invite 4.
/ The rapil increase of this fund, exceeding s.,
greatly the early anticipations formed IN regard
TO It, rds cheering idence of lis ultimate suii
cheney for the purposes intended To know that
| the means OF obtaining a common school educa,
ton are within the reach OF all is source of Just
| pride and congratulaiion, and should prompt US
TO project them by the erection OF such safeguards
as the interests and well being OF posterity de
mand Under act of the Legislature of S54,
| requiring the Commissioners and Governor to re-
wise the mode of keeping the School and Univer-
/ sty accounts and records, important improve
ments have been made and the work contempla-
ted by said act is rapidly progressing. In order,
however. O ensure the continuance of this n more
permanent provision for the expenses, than at
i present exists, should be made therefor, at the
present session; and J can conceive of no Just
/ cause why such expenses should not be paid from
! the fund for which they are Incurred
| As the law now Is. in cases where the interest
! due upon such School and University lands purs
chased has not been promptly paid the day it
became due, there have been number of instan-
ces where the lands thus forfeited have been enter
ed by others; and upon their making the pay
rnents required the original purchasers have been
deprived OF all their rights in the property. This
/ in many instances. is calculated to work extreme
hardship to those who, through ignorance ac-
| cident fail 10 pay the interest due upon the day
| fixed and some provision should be made, either
| for extending the time after advertisement. or
| giving the parties concerned such reasonable
| equity Of redemption as will enable them TO retain
! their lands If they wish SO 10 do. In this con-
nection, aud with view of subscribing the best
interests Of tie State, without prejudice TO the
fund ! submit TO you he propriety OF providing
| a reasonable limit to the quantity Of School and
/. University land which any individual may
hereafter purchase; and far practicable
I insure lie occupation of the same TO actual
settlers This | deem to be the best policy 10 be
pursued the part of the State, and by the en-
/ couragement thus rendered 10 a class of citizens
whose principal resources consist in their energy
and industry, the fund may be advantaged to as
create degree as under the present system; and
the State at large will be benefited 10 an
extent, which the practice of monopolIZng large
tracts bv a few individuals has a tendency to
prevent. The ouly class whose interests such ac-
| lion will have detrimental effect upon, is one
composed of spectators merely, and who are not
the tillers of the soil. An instance OF such at
tempted monopoly occurred durin. the year $3.50
when few parties combined, and bought in con-
nection upwardsof 10000 acres; and also du-
ring the last year single individual purchaser
fappears upon the books of the department. as the
proprietor of nearly G0.OO0 acres: and in sundrv
other instances similar operations, on smaller
scale, have occurred. ii, without detractirg the
proper fund and the income arising Iherefrom.
this growing evil can be prevented, deem. il to
be your duty to provide the same by such enact-
ments as are best calculated to secure the desired
result
recommend TO your especial notice the very
full and clear report of the State Superintendent.
as exhibiting ample evidence that our common
oughly organized having 10y its practical oper-
atoms demonstrated that the hopes early formed
IN regard 10 IT were not extravagant. The cause
OF education in this State has manifested degree
of prosperity that furnishes with good reason
for rejoicing; and the degree of interest not only
exhibited but felt. by all in lis advancement and
permanent establishments. affords strong testimony
Of lis continuance and value The various insti-
lutions OF learning established in different parts
OF the State. and assisted from any fund over
which il has the charge, all as hourishing and
prosperous could, at this early day have
any reason TO hope they might lie. We have cause
to be proud of the fact that many OF them. con
Quoted as they are by aole and learned men. have
ready been reared in cities and villages and
are spreading widely their beneficial influence -
The second dormitory building OF the State Uni
versity Is now nearly completed and Will be ready
for the reception OF students by the first day OF
June. |; affords me pleasure 10 state that this
valuable institution continues to increase its IN
fuence and usefulness, and is steadily progressing
) in all of lis departments. The report of the
Board of Reseuts, which has not vet been recejv