Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-01-24

gent penal laws for that purpose. All per-
SONS detected in devising, manufacturing OF
uttering forged or fraudulent election re-
turns or in any other manner endeavorlng
knowingly, 10 defer |. the will Of the major
ity of the electors constitutionally express
ed through the ballot-box, should be Sc
rerely punished. The security of the right
of suffrage, to rich and poor, to the weak
and the powerful alike, and the malute-
nance Of the ballot-box, as a genuine index
of the sentiments Of the majority, are mat
tiers Of vital moment in government like
ours, based upon the popular will, and
whose frmest support is in the affections OF
the people. Let their confidence In the
ballot box, as an exponent of the real will
Of the majority, be destroyed, and the
most disastrous consequences would lnevl-
tally follow.
FOX AND WISCONSIN, RIVERS IMPROVE
MENTs.
At the last session of the legislature an
Act was passed, entitled, "An Act to Sc
cure the enlargement and immediate com
pletion of the navigation of the Fox and
Wisconsin Rivers, and the payment of the
scrip and other evidences of Indebtedness
issued by the State on account OF the same,
and for the protection of the settlers on
the even sections, &c." approved, October
Sd, 1856.
The Fox and Wisconsin River Improve
ment Company, having accepted the Act
in due form, and within the specified time,
in pursuance Of its provisions, have deposl-
ted with Alexander Michel, Of the city of
Milwaukee, by my direction, and subject
to the order of the Governor of the State,
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars of
their first bonds, issued in conformity to
sections three and fifteen of the above
mentioned act, as security to the settlers
upon the even or reserved sections OF the
Fox river grant, who have purchased of
the company and paid their money for por-
tions of these lands.
am happy to state that the company
have entered in earnest upon the work or
completing the improvement. The con-
tracts Cor the entire work between Portage
City and Green Bay have already been let
to responsible parties, and are to be COM
pleted at an early day, in the manner pro-
vided by the act Of 1856. The character
of the men now having charge of this I'm
provement is such as to give assurance of
its speedy and faithful completion; and,
when completed, it will open one of the
most busy thoroughfares of inland COM
mcrce in the northwest, becoming source
of profit to those who have invested their
capital in the enterprise, and an important
agency in contributing to the wealth and
greatness of the State.
RAILROADS.
Our various railroad interests will claim
a portion of your attention. Lines Of road
have been projected to nearly every por-
ton of the State, and those contemplated
or in process of construction, exhibit a
healthy and prosperous condition. No
State in the Union has offered greater in
ducenents for the investment of capital in
these enterprises than our own, and the
happy consequences are evinced in their
rapid advancement during the past year.
Two roads traversing Yearly the entire
State, from north to south, and penetrating
the rich mineral regions upon Lake Supe-
rior, and the extensive pineries Of North
ern Wisconsin, have already been COM
menced, and their completion at an early
day is insured by the recent liberal dona-
ton of valuable lands to aid in their con-
struction. The work upon several roads
crossing the State from east to west, and
connecting Lake Michigan with the Mis-
sissippi, is being pushed forward with Wig
or. One Of these will be completed in a
a few months at the farthcst, and their
influence has already impaired a
a fresh impulse to every depart
ment Of trade aud industry. Our soil is
rich, productive and easily cultivated; our
climate as salubrious and healthful as any
upon the continent; and with our rapidly
increasing facilities of accommodation at
home, and our direct railroad and water
communication, both with the Atlantic
States and those bordering on the Gulf of
Mexico, the cause of our swift advance
ment and present prosperity, as we'll as the
earnest OF their continuance, are alike ap-
parent. In view of those facts, liberal
policy should be pursued towards our rail
road enterprises, and every encouragement
given them, consistent with prudence and
the public interests.
THE MINES.
The reports from the mineral districts of
the State during the past year, have been
extremely favorable. The yield of lead
at many Of the diggings has been largely
augmented, the result of the application
of more scientific and thorough modes in
working the mines. The mineral treas
ures that unlerlie our soil are nevertheless;
as yet but in the infancy of their develop
mcnt With the capital and energy now
enlisted in this branch of productive indus
try, seconded by your fostering care, Wis
consin must soon rank among the first of
mining States of the Union. The propri-
ETY. Of continuing and completing the Ge-
illogical survey will be among the subjects
that will come before you, for your consiG-