The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1860-01-19

the several States two modesone, by taking tbe
field notes and surveys of the Goyernmant s.
veyors, and adopting their returns of swarm
and overlooked lands the other by the annoint,
ment OF agents who should make examination Of
the lands, and make proof of their character tn
the salts faction of the land department Gov
ernor Dewey chose to take the lands 90 tbou
were designated in the returns of the Govern.
ment Surveyors. By this mode the State ac
CURED about 100000 acres In most of the
states these swamp lands were selected by accents
appointed for that purpose. As early as 1859 or
looo' IL was aseertained that by the mode of Sc
ecuon adopted by Governor Dewey. the State
would lose from one to two millions IF H.,
Naiuaole swamp and overlooked lands and on
o' /" aS passeo authorizing an examination and
survey OF those lands Nothing, however. was
uolle 9liaer that act. In lS57 another act was
pa o. ~! tne same purpose, under which some
examinations and surveys were made but the act
provided no adequate means of paving the OK.
PenSe' In my message co the Legislature at its
last session, urged an amendment to the law
authonzmg the expense Of those SURVEYS to be
palo out Of the general fund, to be reimbursed
IRON the swamp land fund when sales of swami
iands were made. The amendment passed. In
pursuance OF the law, | caused those surveys 20
De vigorously prosecuted. The report of the sinner
lntendent of those surveys, which win he laid be-
lore you, shows 1862 178 100 acres of land
| surveyed, IN portion of the State only, and
| SAoO oN6E SIX nuDQreQ Thousand of
| JANUS TO which the State is entitled in the few
chuntles surveyed, over and above the amount
| teGeiVeu by the State under the process adop-
seo by GOV Dewey. From the surveys alrea-
dy made, 1t is safe to calclate that the State ia
IhI'ieo 10 at least million and half acres of
lahu more than has been received The nrice
agreed 20 be paid to the principal sunerintard.
ing surveyors, after consultation with the Sec.
rotary OF State, was five dollars ner dav ond
necessary actual expenses. For the care, labor.
ana responsibility required, the price was low.
No man, whose services are not worth that
amount, in such an employment. ought to he
engaged in it. The whole expense Of the sur
vey of these lands, including the survey of Is.
lanes in the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers,
is $3o73,7l, or less thau two and one half cents
per acre. The lands at the lowest estimate, are
worth over million of dollars The only mode
by which they can ever obtained is by these sur
Veys, pointing out the errors committed, upon
which to base our claim upon the Land DEPART
ment. --.,.. =. re-.
/ The Commissioner of the Land Office is dis.
posed to withhold these lands from the State
until an act of Congress can give us the reliefon
the ground that Gov. Dewey chose to determine
the, amount belonging to the State III an unfortu-
nate way. The evidences of these surveys are
in the hands of our Senators at Washington. and
the delegation from this State, there will press
the claims or the State, both upon the Land De-
partment, and upon Congress, The School
Fund needs the avais of portion OF these lands
That Fund will not increase as rapidly as hereto
fore. while the number of school children more
rapidly increasing i'll the state, and The amount
per scholar will every year decrease while the
aggregate amount of the fund may remain the
same Of the accounts audited for expenses by
the Secretary of the State, l have no knowledge
except that from the aggregate expense, it ap-
pears that these surveys have cost less than aIy
othersgovernment survey ever made in the State
A rigid investigation into these audited accounts
aS tn tbn tTon Dfi &c Al,
ments is recommended.
RAILROADS:
Since the last session of the Legislature moth
ing has been done by the Lacrosse and Milwau
i kee railroad company, or by any other company
representing it, toward compliance with the
act confer ring the land grant upon that compa-
ny. By the terms of the law turning over the
grant to that company, the Legislature i s author
lied to declare the grant forfeited, so far as
rights have not become vested The final die
position of The vexed questions connected with
this grant, is serious subject for your consid
Grafton, shall continue the same course that
have heretofore pursued, in regard to it, unless
some steps are taken by the Legislature to
change the character of my duties
nave no recommendations to make in the
premises except to suggest, that in case the
grant, or any portion oft, is put into the hands
OF new company, it should be done upon such
| terms and conditions, if practicable as will best
aid and relieve the farmers and innocent stock
| holders OF the La Crosse and Milwaukee rail-
road company, whose interests have become SO
much involved in the msfortunes of that compa-
| ny.
There ought to be further protection to inno-
cent stockholders who pay their money into rail-
| road companies and other Incorporated comma
MES a law should be passed authorizing the
innocent and honest stockholders, to follow their
| money into the road or other business of the COR
Poraton, and, in case it has not been honestly
tn h.nI- Al
stakeholder for himself, of any responsible di
rector, or other officer of the,company. 1t is on
~ by some such proc as this that good faith
IN tarnsacting the business of incorporated COM
Panles, can be secured The first stockholders
who pay theirImoney in good faith for these pub
lie improvements, ought 10 be secured by first
lien on the property and franchises of the COM
pany.
CAPITAL ENL ARGEMENT
The safety of our public records banking So.
curltes and school fund securities requires adj
ditlonal improvements about the capitol Be-
sides the large amount of money occasionally in
the office of the State Treasurer there are seven
or eight million of dollars of banking and other
securities in the State Office
The safety of these ought not to be ieopardized.
The erection of the west wing of tbs capitol will
furnish the relief refer to and also provide new
more healthy and more suithble rooms for the
Senate, Bank Comptroller and Treasurer The
q
months before the walls are erected upon it.
recommend that an act be passed to authorize
the building of the foundation for the west wing
during the coming season. An appropriation Of
few thousand dollars only will be equired for
the purpose.
RATES OF INTEREST
/ must again call attention to the law in regard
to rates of interest. In my last Annual Message
treated upon the subject somewhat at length,
and endeavared to show the pernicious effect of
the high rates of interest allowed by law upon
the whole business of the country. / beg leave
to refer you again to that Message; and to urge
your examination of the subject with care. The
agreement to pay unusual sums per cent. for the
use of money loaned has ruined multitudes of
the people of this State. The newspapers are
loaded down with advertisement IS of sheriff sales
OF property, sacrificed to pay interest. There is
no branch OF business that will warrant anv man
in paying twelve per cent on long time for the
use of money. The farmer cannot make ~ ner
cent. over and above his necessary expenses in
carrying on his farm, from the products of his Ia
Dor, upon his capital invested So with the
mechanic The merchant cannot hire money Mt
twelve percent with which to carry on on mer-
camille pursuits. There is no branch of manu-
features wherein twelve per cent. can be re-
allied over and above the legitimate expenses
involved in the business. A large rate of inter-
est is voracious. 1t eats up the capitsl of the
man who agrees to pay it. Men in debt cannot
borrow themselvs out by undertaking to pay be-
yond what they. can realize Increasing indebt
edness by the accumulation of exorbitant sums
paid or agreed TO be paid for the use of money.
neither lightens obligations increases ability.
The use of money is not worth more than can
be realized ont of If in some honest coll;u,, 81