Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-01-18
NUMBER 50.


newed, it is probable that rates will always
rule higher in winter than the summer
months. This seems necessity Cf our
geographical position. At the same time
precautions should, Il possble-(by keep
ing our circulation up 10 specie value. aud
by preventing combinations among bank
ers and brokers' be taken against Excessive
rates which are not only an excessive tax
levied upon the producing classes, but may
amount to prohibition upon common bus
| mess transactions among citizeLs. So lar
as these evils can be remedied by legisla-
ton, they require, as they doubtless will
receive, your careful attention..
SPECIAL PREMIUMS.
In view of the probable difficulties which
may embroil the States of the Union, but
more especially with purpose of develop
Ing new agricultural products. and render
ing our citizens more nearly independent by
reason of their home productions | have
deemed it proper to call the especial at
tention of the Legislature to the propriety
of special premiums on one or two products.
from whose diffusion important and valua-
bic results may be anticipated s
The annual expenditure Of the people of
the State, for supplies of sugars and syr-
ups, reaches beyond a million of dollars -
| Experience has already demonstrated that
the recently-acquired Imphie, Sorghum, or
Chinese Sugar Cane plants. may become
accllmated, and open wide field for the
enterprise of agriculturists Thus far, the
cultivation has only been experimental,
and of too limited a scale to be regarded
as a fair test But these experiments,
made generally in connection with other
| pressing labors distracting the attention,
with limited means and inadequate appara-
! tus, have offered very satisfactory results.
They seem to render it certain, that every
acre of good cane will produce from one
hundred and fifty to three hundred gallons
OF syrup, equal in quality TO any imported.
and that the manufacture of sugar is also
an attainable end, at but moderate cost
1t is difficult to induce agricultm lists, en-
gagged In the common farm pursuits, to de-
vote their attention to a new crop on q suf-
ficiently large scale, and incur the necessary
outlay of capital required, without some
special inducement. | suggest, therefore.
| whether it is not a matter uf sufficient i'm
portance to the State to offer for ore or
| two years, under suital lie restrictions, lib
eral premiums or rewards to the producer
of tlss greatest amount of cane, and the
| largest yield of sugar and syrup of approy-
ell quality. Ten premiums could be so
graduated as to call for sum not exceed
ing So, 500 in tie aggregate, making the
highest one thousand and the lowest one
hundred, and would, in my opinion, invite
a lively competition, from which the State,
in time, would reap very essential benefits.
The cultivation Of fax, also, is branch
of agriculture entitled to special encourage
nent. Recent scientific discoveries have
rendered it probable that material can
be fabricated from this plant under GER
tain chemical processes, similar but much
superior to cotton, and at a cost, not much
| il any greater. Il these results should be
realized. the cultivation of the crop III in
creased quantities will prove highly impor-
tant in an economic point of view, and
would add one step more towards free
ing us from dependence on foreign States
for articles of indispensable necessity.
There may be-, and quite likely are, 9TH
er branches of agriculture, large develop
ment of which is imp ,rtant, and which
| should receive State encoura cement should
these recommendations be adopted. am
aware that the policy Of such premiums
has not hitherto been urged in Wisconsin,
although common enough in many of the
Stetes of the Union. Still, as the cost III
volved is but trife-not necessarily cx-
ceeding $4,000 in the whole, the results
must be meagre indeed, not to confer an
immeasurably greater benefit upon the peo-
! pie. For want of some such encourage
ment, many products of importance lam
guish for years before attracting the atteT-
tion they deserve: and then, not onfre-
quently owe their prominence to accident.
TIE adoption Of system that may lead to
new discoveries, and enlarge and increase
our agricultural pursuits, altogether too
confined and exclusive at present, cannot
be regarded as unimportant, and is enti-
| tied to your consideration and favor.
DOMESTIC MANUFAcrUREs.
A great necessity, in my judgment, to
the welfare of our people, present and pro-
! spectiyc, is an increased development of
manufacturing interests in Wisconsin,
Although much las been done for so new
a State, yet the fact is apparent that our
people follow too exclusively a single pur-
suit A sound policy requires that many
articles which we now purchase from
abroad, should be manufactured for use
and for export The money that we now
cxpend creates continued drain upon our
financial resources. while it might by =
proper policy be kept at home; and when
so directed, thriving manufacturing villa
ges would spring up all over the State, CIV
ing an increased home market to agricul-
turists, steady and profitable employment
to mechanical genius and ingenuity, and
adding immensely to the deyelopement of
our internal resources.
As people, we buy too much, and what
is more to our disadvantage and diseredit,
we purchase at largely enhanced price,
the products Of our soil. after they have
made lengthy voyage to and from the
Eastern States.
With the richest lead mines in the L
Mon, if not in the world, We buy this met
al in its various forms from manufacture
ing establishments far distant from our
borders