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

science have devised for the amelioratior
of tlsssEr condition, and their ultimate recia-
nation. Therefore trust that the subject
will receive your early attention, and that
you will adopt measures for the speedy
erection ofan asylum Of sufficient dlmen-
sions to meet the wants Of the State. The
late commissioners Of the Lunatic Asylum
purchased one hundred and four acres OF
land on the North shore Of lake Mendoza
near the city Of Madison, for the site Of
the Asylum then contemplated. The
grounds thus selected are finely adapted
for the purpose, occupying a high and sa-
lub.ious situation, and commanding pros
pect of beautiful and diversified scenery
There are building materials, already up.
on the site, Of the value of ten thousand
dollars, furnished by Mr.. Proudfit, under
his contract, and which have subsequently
become the property of the State, in the
final settlement with that gentleman
The State, having acquired the property in
question, it can still be made available IN
the erection Of an asylum.
An appropriation should be made to
supply, in some measure, the deficiencies,
both in the law and miscellaneous depart
ments of the State Library. | would rec
ommend an appropriation for this purpose,
and also standing appropriation OF such
"A sum as you may deem sufficient, for the
80 ,,,oL ,,o,,, I,,x, op1 NIGGA lane
Gus works as should find place in a per
manent public library.
DELAY IN PRINTING THE SESSION LAWS.
Great complaint has been made in re-
gard to the publication of the Session
Laws. The Legislature have now conve-
ned prior to the publication and distribu-
ton of those of the last session. Some
provision should be made for the early pub
LEGATION and the most prompt distribution
of all general laws.
A CHANGE OF THE FISCAL YEAR PROPOSED.
The time for the several State officers to
make their Annual Reports is now fixed
by law on the first Monday in January
This is so near the period Of the annual as
sembling Of the Legislature, that it is I'M
possible to procure their publication, in a
printed form, by the opening of the session.
The Legislature are usually compelled, in
to wait several weeks before
they can be prepared to act understanding
ly upon the information and recommends
tons contained in these documents. 1t is
desirable that an earlier day
should be designated for making these re-
ports, changing the commencement Of the
fiscal year, or that the time fixed for the
meeting of the Legislature should be post
poned, so as to afford reasonable interim
for their publication. Such a change
would tend to facilitate legislative bust
ness.
UNEQUAL ASSESSMENTS.
There is universal complaint Of the pres
ent mode of assessing the taxable property
of the State, as defective, unequal and I'M
just. The statute requires the assessor OF
each t9wn or ward to assess the taxable
real or personal property in his respective
town or ward al its full cash value. Not
withstanding this requirement, large pro-
portion of the personal property of the
State remains unassessed, while real es-
tate, on the average, is assessed at not over
one-fourth of it's actual cash value.
| invite your attention to the subject,
trusting that you may be able to advise
some amendment to the existing statute,
which will insure hereafter Just and true
assessment of real and personal property
Under the present system Of unequal and
false assessments, a grossly erroneous and
inadequate idea is conveyed of the actual
wealth and resources of the State.
THE FIVE PER CENT. FUND.
The General Government has for sever.
al years past withheld the amount due on
five per centum of the nett proceeds ari-
sing from the sale of Government lands sit
uatec within this State, alleging that there
is an unsettled claim against the State,
growing out Of the disposition Of a previ-
Gus grant of lands. The amount thus
withheld is estimated, in round numbers,
at S25O,OOO. / would recommend that
the legislature memorable Congress on
the suffice; of passing an act to release the
State from the alleged claim against it, in
order that we may obtain the money to
which the school fund is justly entitled
During the past year, | made an earnest
effort to effect settlement of the matter,
but without avail, and am convinced that
some action, on the part of the
legislature, as here recommended, is the
only practical method of accomplishing the
object desired.
THE SWAMP AND OVERLOOKED LANDS.
During the past year, l have made re-
peated applications to the Commissioner Of
the General Land Office, to cause patents
to be issued to the State for the Swamp
and overfowed lands, in order to perfect
the title of the State to the same. The
result has been that patents have been re-
ceived at this department., chiefly during
the past three months, for 1,477,551 40.
100 acres of such lands. The amount Of
swamp and overfowed lands already Sc
lected is l,649,919 s1-1OO acres. The
whole amount to which the State will ul-
timatelv be entitled under this grant will