Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-01-18


sums every year for plaster, hydraulic &C.
ment, mineral paint, and other similar ne
eessities, the raw material of which is
abundant Nor is there any apparent
reason, except that capitalists have not
undertaken the work, why all kinds Of ag-
ricultural imp dement's, tools, and machine
~, wooden, and willow ware, wagons and
carriages, leather, and the various articles
into which it is made up castings, engines,
in short. all that we use Of these necessary
articles, may not be supplied almost en-
tirelv BY the labor and skill of our own
people, and within the State,
1t Is e7ually our interest so far as it
is in our power to turn cur attention to
the manu- acturc Of wooden, c1tton and H.
en- fabrics, the purchase Of which makes
W 50 large portion Of cur expenditures.
Encouragement to wool-growing and the
cultivation of fax is and SD, Md be regar-
ded as encouragement to the looms we so
greatly need, -that these productions may
MT be shipped hundreds of miles and then
brought back in changed form but they
should be purchased ard worked up in Wis
cnnsin, and By Wisconsin, idustry and skill.
The manufacture Of cotton goods, it is be
lieved. might also be introduced into the
State with fair prospect of success. The
vast waterpowers existing in almost all
parts Of the state, convenient of access to
our great market places, chide US for lack
Of improvement. The great carrying
highway on our west invites the raw cot
ton hither Why may it not as well come
and answer to our necessities and conve-
nlences, wrought in our own cotton mills,
Rastead of travelling three or four thousand
miles to New England, and then brought
West in new shapes by western merchants
thus increasing the expense and cost Of
what We are compelled to purchase?
Surely the eight hundred thousand peo-
pie now in Wisconsin, and tie coming
eight hundred thousand, with all our man
"a facturng facilities, ought to afford SUI
:iciently wide field for manufacturing en-
tte-prise. As means of encouragement
no manufactures enumerated or unenume-
rated, | suggest to the Legislature the
spropriety of a law. under proper rcstric-
items, e1empting from taxation, for limi-
ted period of FIVE or ten years, all such
establishments as may be erected, which
will develope or work up the rawCr crude
materials SO plentiful in the state, and to
extend the same encouragement to exist
ing establishments, wherever proprietors
will enlarge their works, or continue to aid
and extend the development of its mate
rial resources Such law would not, in
my Judgment diminish the assessed val
uation of property to any considerable ex-
tent, nor increase the rate Of taxation up
on the people; exempting generally only
property that would rot otherwise be
brought and invested here, while it would
tead directly to greatly increase taxable
property. from the effects likely to follow
the permanent establishment OF new and
extensive II anufactures. 1t would induce
the Investment of foreign capital, that
FEoIld not otherwise find its way hither.
sand in a few short years return to the peo-
ple al ample reward for legislative indul-
gence.
INTEREST.
A difficulty, in the way of the outlay Of
capital IN manufactures, has existed in the
large rates of interest authorized by law
Awhile ten and twelve per cent. for the use
of money can be realized. money will be
more or less withdrawn from any branch
of business that produces wealth. Money
loaned produces no wealth, adds nothing
to the common stood It simply draws
60, h,,n l., of
The farmer who can realize two or three
per cent, after all his toll and labor, on
the valne of his farm, must be tempted to
sell his land and stop producing. when he
discovers that on the money for which he
sells, he can realize without labor, ten or
twelve per cent. Capitalists will not put
their money into manufactures, while they
can realize without risk ten or twelve per
cent for the use of their money. | have
twice before called the attention of the
Legislature to this subject, and beg leave
to refer again to the views expressed in
my two last messages upon it.
AMENDMENTS
The Constitution of the State ought to
Sc diicudeu 81 ao W IhCIcdse Tue nun UCT
of Judges of the Supreme Court to five.
The rapid increase of the business of that
Court, keeping pace with the growth of
population, and business development, of
the country, taxes the Jud ges with too
much and too severe labor. In justice to
the Judges themselves, and to the bust
sness constantly before the Court, this re-
Sief ought to be provided.
The Constitution ought also to be a.
monded, 50 that, after the close of my
present term, my successors may be paid
a higher salary than that now authorized
by the Constitution, or else so that no
man but a man of wealth can be eligible
The office, The present salary, requiring
the most rigid economy in the official en-
eumbent. to give him bare livelihood,
renders the position more humiiating
when occasions require She commonest
eourtses to lie extended TO distinguished
strangers froh abroad.
MILITARY ORGANIZATION.
| have befbre called the attention of the
Legislature to the necessity of some fur
aher legislation to aid in more efficient
organization Of the militia of the State
While there is mere skeleton of an or
eanization, no efficient use can be made of
1t to suppress Instruction or rebellion from
withm- or to prevent aggressions from