Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-05-08
Madison Correspondence.
STATE UNIVERSITY CAPITOL EXTENSION

The following should have appeared as
a part of The correspondence last week but
failed to arrive in time:
The State University has occupied con-
siderable of the time Of the Legislature
since the recess. There were several
things which looked rather suspicious
First, The plan Of the central edifce, now
being erected, had never been approved by
the Legislature as the law provides; an
act had been passed at the last session,
which was SO worked, as against the
wishes and without the knowledge Of a
majority of the Legislature) to repeal
clause in an act of S54 providing that no
money should be drawn from the Treas
ury by the Regents of the University with
out direct appropriation. Under this
act but still, as is claimed, without sutfi-
cient authority, there had been drawn
from the Treasury, during the first quarter
of the year some $4,000, being fhree
fiftlls of the income Of the year. Further
SIS, 900 had been borrowed from the School
Fund, and the University grounds and
buildings mortgaged as security. Fur
ther, the Regents had failed to comply
with the law requiring them to make esti-
mates in detail in their annual report, of
the expenses of tie University for different
purposes for the succeeding year
A committee was appointed to visit the
University and inquire into its condition.
Through their chairman the committee
made report setting forth some of the a
bove facts, claiming that there had been
gross extravaganza and Encouragement IN
The affairs of The University, predicting
that as things were going the income Of
the year would not be sufficient to meet
the expenses and proposing bill restoring
the clause stru K out last winter making
an annual appropriation Of the ineme Of
the University necessary, leqdir ng the
Treasurer Of the Regents to pay back any
money in his hands and to make a report
of his disbursement. This aroused won
derful amount Of hostility on the part of
the Madison papers and people and those
who claimed to be friends of the university !;
called out a hot discussion in the Senate,
v hen the merits of the University and the
mode of its management were canvassed to
some extent, after which the Senate pass
ed the bill by large majority. NJ final
action has been had on the bill in the IS
sembly. The discussion growing out Of
this matter will result in a reorganization
Of the University and ial change Of
its course Of study, which will be likely to
make it both more popular and more use
ful. There is scarcely any hostility to the
University manifested this winter, but
there is determination to put it on bet
ter basis and make it more servicealle to
the people of the State. Of this more
perhaps hereafter.
The following was intended for insertion
after what was said of Bashford by our
correspondent, but was not received in time
to appear:
For SOL e time past committee have
been engaged in looking into the matter
Of the Capitol Extension. ! heir report
shows that this extension would have been
scarcely excelled by the famed Lunatic
Asylum. The chief difference seems to lie
that in the case of the Lunatic Asylum,
when the costly building proposed had
been erected, the State would have had a
splendid ediice every way adapted to the
purpose for which it was assigned, whereas
the proposed Capitol when completed
would afford accommodations by no means
worth their cost, and the building would
neither be what the State wants, nor so
constructed as to be durable.
The committee find that the cost of the
addition commenced will be about $lO6,-
900, that the whole building, ifconstructei
with no variation from the plan proposed,
will cost $4,000 but necessary altera-
tions and expenses will raise the cost prob
ably to $4,000. | will send you copy
!of the report when printed. 1t is not like
" the extension will be carried on under
the present plan.
But this letter is sufficiently prolonged
Yours, PAGE.