Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-22

well as those of all other public officers.
! expanding money, OF ana tor the State,
might properly pass through his hands.
| While |, with my present views on the
subject, am not Inclined to favor any plan
which, for the purpose of saving few
thousand dollars To the State, would take
the management of the prison substantial
ly out of its control and submit it to pri
vate persons for gain, without sufficient
guarantees that the treatment of the con-
victs would be according to the principles
OF humane policy, looking towards re.
| FORM OF the criminal as we'll as his pun
lshment, | trust that your wisdom will
discover some mode of so amending tie
present laws on this subject as TO reduce
the expenses OF the prison to less bur-
densome limit, and prevent the regularly
returning annual indebtedness of the insti-
tuition. You will tiBd that the Commits
sIoner estimates the current expenses of
( the present year at 10000.
During the past year female prison.
being a substantial building of cut stone
and containing Is cells has been built !;
also durable wall around the female pris-
on grounds, Sc rods long, has been erect.
ed, and 3U2 feet of the front wall left un-
finished last ear have been completed. All
this work has been done by convicts and
should be taken into account in estimating
and judging Of the expenses of the man :
ageinent OF the prison.
The total number of convicts confined
during the year from January 9th to Oct.
tober 1st is l73, of which there had been
discharged 81, leaving 116 in the prison
m no laS or Il Iatn 81 \ -
males and females.
The reports of the several State Depart
ments and State Institutions are printed
and will be laid before you for examina-
ton.
FOX AND WISCONSIN, RIVER IMPROVEMENT
COMPANY.
Ny attention has been Of late repeatedly
and from different sources called to the
fact thaC the Fox and Wisconsin River I'm
provement Company have failed to pay the
evidences OF Indebtedness issued on the
part OF the State, on account of the i'm
prOvelnent of the Fox and Wisconsin Riv
ers. which by chapter 1l2 of the laws of
1886 they were required to discharge so
far as then due within six months, and the
balance as promptly as it should fall due,
and the payment of which by the Company
and the completion of the work, were the
main reasons that induced the State to
turn over to that Company the large and
magnificent grant of land made by Don
gress for this public work. Although from
a perusal of the history of this Improve
nleat and the several acts of the Legisla-
ture, and the action of the State on the
subject, | doubt that the State could be
nlr,
/ debts, yet 1t has always and very properly
deemed it it's duty to see that these debts
Were paid out of the grant which now
stands pledged for its payment. The per
sons holding these evidences of indebted
ness very justly complain of the dereliction
| OF duty on the part of the Company, and
threaten to hold the State responsible for
their claims. Some insist that the Com
pany has forfeited their charter, and that
it should be taken from them.
Other creditors of the company, who
can make no claim upon the State for pay.
ment of their demands, also ask some &C,
ton on the part of the State to compel
the company to pay them, or to have the
property pledged for their claims sold.
Some measures Certainly should be
promptly taken by you to procure Justice
to be done to these respective creditors
and claimants. There being many intr-
cate, legal questions, as well as questions
OF policy connected with the proper action
on your part in regard to these matters,
and my time having Leen constantly
wholly occupied by other pressing duties,
L am not prepared to make any definite
recommendation to you as to steps best to
be taken, and would suggest that the ap
propriate committees, upon consultation
with the Attorney General as to legal
points that may arise, fully investigate the
matter, and that such action be had as
will protect the State and the creditors OF
the company and other claimants The
| communications | have received on this
subject will lay before any committee
you may be pleased to appoint.
MILWAUKEE AND ROCK RIVER CANAL COM
PANY.
Action has been had by the Commits
sioners appointed under the Act of the
Legislature of the Extra Session to settle
the liabilities, if any, of the State to the
Milwaukee & Rock River Canal Company,
and at an eerly day their views on the
claims of the Company, and the results of
their Investigations and negotiations will
be laid before you
NUMBER OF TROOPS RAISED FOR THE WAR, so.
Aside from the first regiment for three
months, Wisconsin had on tie first of
January, 1862. organized, equipped and
sent to the field in response to calls made
from the General Government, ten regi-
ments OF Infantry, one company of cav
airy aud one company Of sharp shooters,
and there were then remaining in the
state organized or in process of organizl-
ton and nearly completed nine regiments
Of Infantry, three regiments of cavalry
and ten batteries of artillery, which were
all completed and with two additional
batteries sent to the field during last win.
ter and spring. Under orders from the
War Department all recruiting for new as
well as old regiments had ceased during
last spring, when it became apparent that
the gigantic efforts of the enemy, and
losses and dimnution of our own forces
made an increase of the national army
necessary. On the I'd day of May, 1862,
call was made for Z, 900 men, for which
one regiment was required from our state.
the organization Of which was immedi-
ately commenced. Owing however to
the previously mistaken policy of stopping
all recruiting, which had the effect OF turn
ing the attention of those who shortly be.
fore were willing and anxious to volun
unteer in their country's defence to other
pursuits, and OF engeudering the belief
that the necessities of the government
would not require an increase Of the army
TO overthrow the rebellion, the organiza. !
ton of this regiment proceeded very slow
( I T