Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-01-24
From an examination of its contents am
enabled to present the following facts:

! The number of banks organized, and DOING
| business on the first Monday OF January,
| 1857, was FIFTY.
-n ar, Of" If go ''''''i 50, 900 OF
fnerers of "a in wear 1885, $50 8O0 OF
nS,al o =. the YEAR $50 81. 1861 0:
ia anaeI venue to the state Of 1880 oe
Inc n, Sa N the ear a. 10000 od
/ Whole amount Of countersigned notes is
fas1 an anu i ass - - soss2s Oh
| Whole amount Of eo,intersigned rotesre-
a aa,,s the n year is5e, slo9s7o 90
! Whole amount Of countersigned notes iasu-
| Monday Of January, 1857, 1,g5oa67 90
Whole amount of securities on deposit, on
| the first Monday OF January, 1857, TO Sc
the redemption Of outstanding notes, 22o4Io W
1t would appear, from the present con-
dition of the Banks of the State, that oir
Banking system has fully realized the ex-
pectations of its friends, and deserves the
confidence of the public, both at home and
abroad. The fact that several of our banks
have been closed up without any loss the
bil-holder, all the circulating notes have
been promptly redeemed, is in itself the
highest evidence OF its security.
The oIAtE DNIfEholif.
Your attention is solicited to the accom-
panying reports of the Regents of the State
University. It appears that the whole
number of students in attendance, during
the past year was one hundred and sixty
nine; that several new departments have
been established during the past, and 9TH
crs are to be created during the present
year; aid the cost of tuition and board OF
students have been reduced SO as to bring
the benefits of the Institution within the
reach of all; while the proposed organiza
ton of the Law School, and the depart
ment of the Civil Engineering, promises to
add largely to its facilities for practical in
struction.
Tue DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.
The annual report of the Trustees of the
Wisconsin Institute for the education of the
Deaf and Dumb is herewith transmitted.
The Institute gives evidence Of an able and
economical administration Of its affairs, and
is in flourishing condition. he rapid
accessions to the n:mber of its pupils, render
necessary the early erection of the main
building, and the propriety Of an appro-
priation of such sum from the public treas
ury as shall be deemed sufficient for that
purpose, is a matter urged upon your con-
sideration.
THE BLIND INSTITUTE.
four attention is called to the able re-
port of the Trustees of the Wisconsin In
stitutc for the blind. The previous appro
priatio Is to this Instit ltion have been suf-
fcient nearly to complete a spacious and
beautiful edifce, and the Trustees now ask
an additional approximation to furnish and
finish it in a proper manner, and to I'M
prove the grounds. A liberal policy should
be observed towards Institutions Of this
character.
THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The report of the State Historical So
ciety exhibits a very favorable opinion of
its affairs. The number of volumes in the
Library has increased from fifty, in 1884, to
2,1l5, in 1855, and to 1920 on the first
day of January, 1857, and besides large
number of maps and engravings, and a fine
collection of oil paintings, chiefly portraits
of early Pioneers, ana prominent men, to-
gether with mary valuable memorials Of
onr early history. The society is already
in the extent aud value of its acquisitions
superior to any west of the Alleghanies; it
is worthy object of State pride; and the
suggestion of the report in relation to some
provision for the publication of its transac-
tions, in a more creditable and permanent
form, merits your consideration.
REvIsERs OF THE STATUTES.
In pursuance of the provisions of an act
to revise the General Statutes Of the State,
passed at the late session of the Legisla-
ture, ! have appointed John f. Potter,
Samuel J. Todd and Billie Williams Com
missioners for that purpose.
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
Among the subjects which desire to
lay before you, for your consideration, none
seems more important than the adoption of
sue measures as will tend to diminish the
excessive amount of special legislation
which is demanded of each successive SEES
sion Of the legislature. A young and grow
ing COMMUNICABLE, iihC our Owl. utlGOuut-
edly demands more legislation of this char
acter than the older States ;but the objects
sought to be accomplished thereby, are, in
a large majority of instances, equally at
tainable under general laws, and the course
of past legislatures, in acceding to almost
every application for special legislation, is
in plain contravention of the clause of the
Constitution which provides that corpora
tions without banking powers may be form
Ell under general laws,5m shall not be crea-
ted By special act except for municipal pur
poses, and IN eases sChere, an the judgement
Of Tie legislature, Tie objects cftae corpor-
alton cannot be attained ,mder general
lo,es" A compliance with this provision
Of the constitution would greatly shorten
the sessions of the legislature, and diminish
the expenses of the State. Nearly two
thirds of all the legislation ofpast sessions
might have been attained through genera
laws, and yet in no instance has the legisla
tnre refused to entertain business of pri
vate and local nature, though clearly in vi
olation of the spirit and letter Of this clause