Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-09-09
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, I
MADISON, Sept Sd, 1856. |

MADISON, Sept Sd, 1890
To tie Senate and 4pomtly:-
This being an adjourned Session Of the Legis-
lature for the purpose of closing up the business
already pending, and partly considered, and to
hear and act upon the reports OF Committees that
have been sitting by your appointment during
your vacation, do not therefore feel 1t to be my
duty to call your attention to any new business,
| excepting some matters of Importance that have
| arisen since your adjournment, and which de-
mand immediate attention.
During the month of May last, DIR. JAMES
GATES PERCIvAL State Geologist, died, creating
a vacancy in that office. BY his death the State
has lost the services of faithful public officer
Science Jealous and accomplished laborer; and
American Literature a profound scholar and glft-
ed writer. His report of the Survey OF 1899 W as
nearly completed at the time of his decease, and
was forwarded to me shortly afterwards, by Dr.
Jenckes of Halle Green. 1 placed the manu-
script in the hands of /. A. LaphaIn, Esq, OF
| Milwaukee, to prepare it for publication, and
herewith transmit 1t to you
1 The act creating that office made an annual
| appropriation for the "State Geological Survey,
for the term of four years, which term expires
| ia the month of March next. j did not deem it
for the interest of the State to fill the vacancy
THIS created, until it ascertained that 1t was
the intention and policy of the State To continue
that survey. | have therefore felt it to be my
duty at this time to call your attention to the
subject, connected as it Is with of the most
important interests of the Slate.
In pursuance of an Act approved the 3Ist
day of March last, entitled AN Act for the Re-
vision of the General laws of the State of Wis
consin," appointed Tim o. Howe, james H.
Doolittle and Samuel j. Todd, Esqrs, Commits
sioners. A short time after their appointment,
l received their designations, together with the
reasons therefor, a copy Of which il herewith
transmitted. / felt it due to the distinguished
ability of those Commissioners, that their rea-
sons should be submitted to your consideration,
before filling the places thus made vacant.
Since your adjourn ment the Congress of the
J United States has donated to this State certain
lands for the purpose of aiding in the consruc-
ton of a railroad from Madison or Columbus, BY
way of portage city TO the St. Croix river lake
between townships 25 and 81 and from thence
to the West end of Lake Superior and to Bay
!, field and also from Fond du Lac, on Lake VIM
!, nebago, northerly to the State line.
The land thus donated will exceed two mil
lion of acres, which at dollars and fifty cents
per acre, being the price fixed for government
lands of the same kind, Will amount to about
five million of dollars. The grant therefore is i
magnificent one, and if properly used, will tend
great to develope the resources of the State
and bring the agricultural, manufacturing and
mining districts in close proximity to each 9TH
er, and mutually benefit each. n nevertheless,
We shall have cause to regret even this donation
munihcent as 1t Is, unless In granting the ayails
thereon to railroads, we are cautious and consld-
! crate.
The act evidently contemplates the building
of two separate and independent roads, the one
from Madison Columbus to Lake Superior
and the other from Fond du Lac northerly to
, the State line and that intention of the ACT
should be faithfully adhered to. There can be
evil results from having these roads seperate
e and independent, and much evil may be avoid
t ed thereby; since two roads, running through
nearly the entire State, owned and controlled
by one corporation, would in time be dangerous
TO the Legislation of the State, particularly that
pertaining to its railroad interests and if ii
should fall into the hands of political cliques
and mere spectators, might be injurious to the
. rights OF the people and the prosperity of the
State.
power are only to be tolerated by the necessities
and wants of the State aud should be shorn Of
4 their power IN every practicable way.
5 would therefore recommend that the two
roads referred TO IN said act, be kept separate
and independent of each other, so that instead
OF having then power and influence CONSOLIDATE
ed into one, they may act checks upon each
othe- and that they may, to certain extent
be two roads competing for the same business
III 1t should seem probsbl that any inciden
tai Dement'S, growing out of said grant, are likely
: to accrue TO those owning or taking stock in
said corporations, then L would urge upon you
the propriety and necessity of SO framing the
law, making over the avails of said grant to
railroad corporations, that all the citizens of the
State may have Il fair and equal opportunity OF
taking stock therein, in limited quantities. which
= VIII tend to avoid many of the objections to
railroad grants. by placing the same in the hand.
OF different interests, and among class OF cit
}, liens, who Will be interested in the prosparity
Of the whole State.
The lands donated by said grant should he
brought into market, speedily as said act vii
permit, and sold in limited quantities, at fan
prices, to actual settlers. They should not be
permitted to fall into the hands of spectators
to be kept out of market, and the lands them
selves LEFT uniinproved, and the growth of the
country thereby retarded, | regard this last re
coninehualion as OF great importance; and one
u which II faithfully adhered to- Will remove some
serious objections to such grants
II 1t VIII be useless to saw that the character ri
the men who are to have control of said roads
should de such as to guarantee their construc-
ton at the earliest practicable day and that the
> influence OF said corporations should be exerted
II Tor beneficial and legitimate purposes, and the
t avalls of said grant inviolably appropriate ed
y thereto
The State has some rights and interest in said
: grant, not only IN having The grant so approx
II rated Us to develop its resources but to pay
Y the expense and trouble it may have in taking
charge and dlsposing of the same. and some pro.
vision should be made for the benefit of the
e State, whereby certain per centage upon the
gross earnings of said road, or upon the capital
- stock thereof, shall annually go into the State
Il Treasury '~
No grant for railroad purposes has hitherto
been gwen to the State, and 1t is not likely an
e other grant of its value will hereafter he ,ire
: to 1t by the General Government | cannot urr,
: upon You, therefore, too strongly the necessit
# OF carefully considering the suggestions herein
contained, and of disposing of said grant in such
ii manner as shall tend most rapidly and surely
TO develop the various resources and foster the
# diversified interests fthe whole commonw ealth
: Far better would it be for the State to reject
TINS grant at once, than by any unwise diSpo-
sltlon OF 1t, to keep the lands out of market for
e years While the roads would remain unbuilt
! anu the Legislature of the state be subjected to
E annual annoyance and embarrassment tbrougb
repeated Investigations and continual leoisia-
> ton on the subject by which, In the end. the
grant e, itself would be wholly fritterod away
), and all ITS legitimate purposes defeated.
= Since Your adjournment, it has come to nv
hho"ieo;se' from reliable sources, that many OF
l the citizens of this state who have not exnstr;
ated themselves, and who consequently still re-
I man citizens of this state, while pnins To Kan