Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-15

such purposes, and VIII n have been approved
by the experience of tt, most eminent persons
who have made tie proper treatment OF The IN
sane their special study.
a greater necessity exis ts now than did then
for the prosecution Of this important work. The
census returns of June, 1855, show that there
was at that time IN the Stte the number Of two
hundred and forty of that fortunate class which
the institution was desig led TO relieve. The
number of those thus ent tied to our sympathy
and assistance is constant ~ increasing and the
condition CT each afflicted daily becoming
more hopeless, and their claims upon tie Leg
isiature consequently more urgent. 1t must be
borne In mind also, that the number Of this
class has probably been underrated, as the means
necessary to obtain fpl1 statistics with regard to
this, and all other matters of interest were not
contained in the census bill passed ct the last
session. Ii was totally inadequate to accomplish
any of the ends proper to be attained through
the medium CT census, and we have therefore
good reason 10 believe that greater number
than that neEtiCned are at this time suffering
from the want OF proper treatment.
In my message upon the return Of the first
bill CT The last session, which provided for an
unconditional repeal Of tie law under which
the work commenced, | did, as Will be seen
by reference to the Assembly Journals, object
TO the hasty and unqualified action OF the Leg
isiaue.
Ny views as to the propriety Of making proyi-
sion for the erection OF an Asylum fer the insane,
have been too frequently expressed to require
from here any extended remarks Those
which have had occasion to put forth heretofore
are unchanged and reiterated. The State still
holds the lands purchased for the site, well
as a considerable amount Of materials necessary
! to be used IN tie erection of such building,
and IL Is 10 be hoped that at the present session
you Will provide, by law, for the Immediate
commencement Of the work, upon the grounds
and plans provided, and that no more partizan
/ feeling. such evidently controlled the MAORI
/ ty Of the last Legislature, viii be countenanced
by you Ill Your deliberations.
/ Means which NAV be made applicable fer this
purpose are at your command without resoiting
to direct taxat ion-rneans foo, which are iseing
daily lessened III consequence of there existing
no adequate provision of law fer their protec-
ton. l refer to the swamp and oyerfowed lands
provision for the disposal Of which was re-
together with the disposition Of the proceeds of
the sale thereof fer this purpose such part Of
the same as might be necessary 70 effect the OF
ject desired. l respectfully invite your atten-
/ ton 10 that portion Of the instrument referred
to- Is expressing the opinions l still entertain,
not only with regard to the necessity existing
for the erection of such an Institution, but also
/ as to the means which may properly be employed
/ for that purpose Notwithstanding the law of
/ the last session intended to protect these
! lands against tIesrass and waste there have been
extensive depreda. ions committed and great
value Of great portion Of the same, carried
away. | consider that / have reason for believ-
/ ing the people TO have expressed themselves, by
their vote at the recent election. as not unavor-
able to the Immediate construction OF the work,
and that they viii approve your action, should
/ you now proceed to authorize It's further pros
ecution, under such restrictions as you may deem
advisable.
/ In this conclusion I am reminded of a provis-
/ ion Incorporated into the act intended for the
! II 4 4
+ being that portion Of the law which authorizes
/ the presumption OF the same. recommend the
immediate repeal OF so much Of the law as cx-
/ tends the right Of presumption, and guarantees
/ to any party making certain aIacunt Of i'm
provement upon the land. the right to purchase
the same at 81 % per acre, whenever the land
shall be brought into market OF course such
a repeal cannot and ought not to effect anv
rights already acquired under the law. That
class Of lands valuable for the timber uuon
them, are being pre-empted and the timber ia
ken OF. while at the same time. the State holds
security that the lands VIII ever be paid for
as the pre-emptOrs are not bound 10 purchase
there being simply an obligation ON the rant of
the State 10 sell, without any corresponding
enc on the part OF the pTe-emptcr 10 receive the
same al any price. The State realizes nothing
under the law, as there is no existing provision
for their sale, and ii amounts IN effect simply
70 q license TO the pre-emTtoT 10 commit such
waste upon the land Is lie may sec fit.
The Institutions established for III, Blind and
Deaf and Dumb, in their usual Prosperous
condition and deserving the continuance Ct Leg
lslatIyc favor. For more definite information
concerning their condition and wants / invite
al examination Of the reports Of the respective
Boards Of Trustees and IN addition thereto
recommend that committees Of the Legislature
be created Tor the purpose OF visiting and re-
porting at the present session in reference mere
particularly, 10 the propriety and necessity Of
extending The buildings during the present year.
Large appropriations for this purpose are asked
by tie Trustees, and in order that vcU NAV act
undelsaudlngIy, 1t seems TO me highly proper
that al examination, by q committee Of your
own body, should be made. Tie census returns
show that there WIS within this Stale, On the
first day Of June last, Ct Deaf and Dumb Ier-
sons two hundred, and of Blind one hundred
and twenty-five, clearly demonstrating that the
number Of those who do ut present and viii
hereafter require the benefits Of each Of The Ir-
siitutions mentioned, Is sufficient to demand the
erection OF buildings far more extensive than
are III present provided.
The means tor this purpose can, in my Judge
ment, bc readily and properly derived from the
same source, which have the present and
former occasions recommended to lie appTcpri-
ated fcr the erection ef an Asylum fer the In
sane. That some general system for the build
ing of charitable institutions should be adotted
there can lie no doubt and seriously cofYmend
the subject 10 your attention.
The Fox and Wisconsin Improvement Com
pauy, although not required by any law 10 sub
nit an annualrcport, Lave seer Groper in view
Of their operations, to furnish inioruItaon " hicb
appears TO be OF sufficient importance to the
State to justify me IN laying it before YOU
Since the comp amy took possession OF this valu-
able improvement, it appears that they Lave ex-
pended nearly $500 600 III forwarding the work,
providing boats and fixtures, and paving the
debts resting against the same when they took
/ possession Of ii. They have been fortunate in
associatlng men OF capital and high standing
with them in this enterprise, 10y which means
the early completion Of hisimproyemcnt is rem
dered certain.
From Green Bay TO Lake Winncbago it may
indeed be said that the work is about completed
ms section was very properly regarded at the
commencement. Is the great burthen OF the
whole undertaking. Surveys Of the Upper Fox
! rIVer and OF the Wisconsin below tie Portaee
Canal, have been made and preparations perfec-
ted for opening the successful navigation of the
whole lmProH from Green Bay to the
+ Mississippi, during the present year, upon Il
/ plan lar more extensive than the original one
adorted by tie al,tEnrities Of tha. Stotc