St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-10-15
sf(istrllanu.
James G.. Percival.

scholar, who died last year while hold
ing the Office of State Geologist of
Wisconsin, had national reputation
\ great many persons who took an
interest in his career and heard that
he had died in poverty, have wonder.
cd at the fact and obtained an unfavol.
able idea Of the conduct of Wisconsin
towards its officers. The State Legis-
lature were induced to appoint com
mittee who have recently investiga-
ted DR.. PercivaPs accounts, and their
report deserves a wide circulation. 1t
appears that the State Government
of Wisconsin, especially during the
Barstow administration, was most vii
lainously corrupt and there are in
telligent, worthy citizens of that
State who believe that the present
Bashford reign is but little better. Be-
low is the report of the investigating
committee
"Thc testimony of DR.. jerks, ad-
ministrator of DR.. PercivaPs estate, }
discloses certain facts in relation to
the pecuniary affairs of DR.. Percival,
by which his last hours were cmbit-
tered, and unjust reflections cast upon
the integrityof the people Of Wiscon-
sin, and for this reason the committee
have deemed it a duty to place the
whole facts on record as due to public
honor, and as a complete vindication
Of the integrity of the people and
State.
The law under which DR.. Percival
was appointed State Gcologist, limits
the term of survey to four years, and
appropriates S2 800 per annum to pay
expenses. He received the appoint
ment and entered upon its duties Aug.
18th, 1854, and continued when he di-
ed--a period of nearly two years
From receipts on file in the office OF
the State Treasurer, signed by Dr. p
the committee find that he received
the following, sums in payment fol
services to the dates mentioned, to
Jan 3, 1855, Part of salary. ...-SlOO
80 On salary ........... go
Dec. 3 :. Part of salary w 100
Making a total of........ Of $3.50
These arc all the sums for which
the committee have seen vouchers of
payments to DR. Pcrcival, or that are
l L., hn So
rer.
1t seems from the sworn statement
Of DR.. Jcncks, in whose family Prof.
Percival made his home during his
residence i'll Wisconsin, that he was
often very greatly Strengthened for
money to pay even his most simple
aud necessary personal expenses, dur
ing nearly the entire period of his
public services, or to go on in the sur
vey with the efficiency he desired. Old
in years, i'll in health, ana feeble in
body, suffering from poverty and what
he supposed a pure neglect, he was at
times greatly distressed in mind, and
so unbearablc had the grievance be-
come, from the want of his salary,
/ that he had even concluded to resign
the station-complaining, mistakenly,
as the committee will show,-that the
people of Wisconsin were doing him
wrong and injustice, and he even had
fears that he would be entirely defraud-
ed of the dues he had earned by SO
many sacrifices and hardships So
| e. \
suffering from this causc--arising to
some extent from delicacy and mod
esty which shrank from receiving prof
fered aid from private sources-as to
have become a subject Of neighbor-
hood talk, and private remonstrancc
in the place where he resided And
he died, it seems, in the belief that the
State had wronged him, and that he
was the victim of ingratitudc, neglect
and practical Reputation.
These conclusions of Prof. Percival,
if in any way true, would be re-
proach to the State forever. 1t seems
evide ut to the committee that he eth
er was not acquainted with his rights
under the law Of his appointment or
that the moneys drawn from the Trea-
sury on account of the survey, during
his term, were withheld for the purpose
for which they Were appropriated,
while he was left to suffer in poverty,
neglect and want. The law in terms
makes the appropriation to the Gov
ernor, who appoints the Geologist, and
is supposed to be responsible for the
faithful prosecution Of the work The
money was payable quarterly from the
Treasury on the order of the Executive
and it is a matter of surprise how Prof.
Percival, knowing his rights, could
have suffered from lack of money.
On a careful examination the com
mittee find no papers of record in the
Executive Office throwing light upon
this subject. But from what can be
learned from outside rumors, it would
seem that Rev. a. c. Barry was for q
short time employed as an assistant
alta cost Of about 5000 pea year, How
long he served is matter of as mucl
doubt, as the rate Of compensation, o.
the date when his labor closed. As
suming that rate of compensation, an,
that he served for whole year, an,
Mr.. Percival was entitled to hav,
drawn S475 per quarter during tina
period. And when the assistants SCI
4 vices ceased, TO have received $62
per quarter. And as it has been tn
custom to retain money IN the Tres
sury to pay all salaries promptly, IL
}, reason existed why that money shoul
). not have been paid at any time o