St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-12-18


would be most conducive to the interests of
the State and to the reformation of convicts.
Before any permanent system of prison disci-
plinc shall be established, it is to be hoped that
the subject will receive a most thorough exa-
mination.
The following statement will exhibit the re-
ceipts and expenditures of the Prison from the
oath of March, 1855, when the present officers
took possession of the institution, to the 3Oth
Of September, 1856. r..
Stock on hand March oath, 1856, 500, 989 46
Receipts to Sept 3Oth, 1856, ...... 16, $500
Due from convict labor. 656 AZ
4 SIS, 1877 95
~ $3.50" '"' EXPENDITURE. ''&
Expenditures & liabilities ..T -,.sfsfE.
from oath March, '55, to
3Oth Sept, 80 ST., $50 AZ 3{sf $50
Stock on hand Sep. 30, Sc l,l0377 .i.l.
Excess of expenditure and 49,
liabilities during this time ....... 80. . 1896 "a
SWAMP AND OVERLOOKED LANDS.
In obedience to the act of the last General
Assembly, approved January 25th, 1866, au-
thorizing the Governor to provide for the cleo
ton Of the swamp and overlooked lands grant
ed to the State, by the act of Congress 28th
of September, 1S5O-immediately after the
adjournment I addressed letters to the Judges
of the Counties in which these lands had not
been selected, urging them to cause it to be
done at the earliest practicable moment, and
that their lists should he returned to me forth
with.
As the State had granted the lands to the
Counties in which they lie respectively,
thought that the Counties should incur the
expense of making the selections and returns.
Some of the Judges replied that there were
no swamp or overaowed lands in their Coun-
tics; some that there were no competent sur
veyors within their jurisdiction whom, they
could employ to do the work; some, that they
were not familiar with the duty or the forms
to be observed, and that they must receive
specific instructions; whilst others utterly re-
fused to take any action in the premises. SRI /
Under these circumstances employed COM
petcnt persons to proceed to these counties,
with view to stimulate the Judges to enter
upon their work, and to give to each copy OF
all the necessary forms and instructions. BY
these means the swamp and OverfiOwed lands
have been selected in all of the organized
counties of the State, with the exception, per-
haps, of Grundy, which has been organized
within the past few weeks. The swamp lands
within the unorganized counties can be easily
selected from the plats in the office Of the Sur
veyor General.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. ~
In pursuance of the Act of the last General
Assembly, authorizing geological survey of
the State, appointed Prof. James Hall, of Al
bany, New York, State Geoligist, and in con-
junction with Mr.. Hall, appointed Prof. J. D.
Whitney, of Massachusetts,, State Chemist
These gentlemen prosecuted their survey dur
ing portion of the years 1866 and 1856, and
oir oh %rovo
ted to you, refer you for an account of their
explorations and the results.
The high rank among scientific men enjoyed
by each of these gentlemen gives ample assur-
ance that the survey will be thorough practi-
cal and crcditable to the State. - 1@}
The appropriations for the past two years was
wholly Inadequate, and at least double the
amount will be required for the two succeeding
years. a A. ASS, lf,sE4Ts
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Complete sets of standard weights and mea-
sures have been received from the Federal Gov
eminent, and at the suggestion of Professor
Bache, superintendent of weights rnd meas
ures, have caused to be erected small build
ing in the State House yard for their safe keep
ing. e.a@ '@
The building was erected upon plan fur
nished by Mr.. Bache, is nearly fire proof, and
cost about 81, 10000. 4 81
The standards are quite expensive, of very
difficult adjustment, and are peculiarly liable
to injury. thought it unwise to receive and
store them in warehouse where they would
be liable to destruction by fire or dampness,
when the Government was ready to furnish a
person to ADJUST them for use with
out expense to the State 1t will be well to
place these standards in the custody of some
officer of the State. .r "A z
STATE UNIVERSITY
It would seem that with population in
the state of half million of souls, and uni
versity fund of nearly two hundred thousand
and efficient organization of this institution
Such an organization, however, cannot be
perfected and maintained without the proper
for officers and students. If
It is the design of the General Assembly to
surrender the capitol buildings at Iowa City,
for university purposes provisions should be
made to that effect at an early day. If such
is not the intention, then l submit that it
would be desirable to speedily furnish the nee
essary accommodations elsewhere or in some
other manner. ~
STATE CAPITOL.
In compliance with the Act of 25th of Janu-
airy, 1885, entitled IAN act to relocate the seat
of government" I appointed commissioners
their duty. The site selected for the future
capitol is on gentle swell of land about three
quarters of a mile east of Fort Des Moines, on
the east side of the river. It commands a
good prospect and seems to be we'll adapted to
the purpose for which it has been selected.
REVISION or SCHOOL LAWS.
In compliance with the provisions of the act
of July 18th, 1855, Hon. Horace Mann of Ohio
Hon. Amos Dean President of the State Uni
versity, and F. E. Bissell, Esq. of Dubuque,
were appointed commissioners to revise the
School Laws of the state. The commissioners
are engaged in the discharge of their duties,
and will be able to lay their report before you
in very few days. isli9e ftt lt1a8
REGISTRY LAW. 4
Almost every person residing In any Of the
large towns in the state, acknowledges the inn
perative necessity for some law to protect the
purity of the ballot box. That gross frauds are
at every exciting election, by the
voting of unqualified persons, is not to be de-
MED. To remedy this great and constantly
increasing evil, the passage of a registry law is
recommended. Such laws have
been in operation in several states from peri
Cd long anterior to the adoption of the FEEDER !
a Constitution, and have fully answered their
design. -
COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS faj"
The Costitution wisely provides that the |
state shall not in any manner create q debt ex- |
ceeding one hundred thousand dollars. The |
trainers of that instrument did not imagine |
That there was as great a necessity to prohibit
the counties from creating large public debts, |
Tor reason that the history of the country did |
not then present the case of county becom-
ing large stock holder in private cOrpOratiOnS |