Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-22
Governors Message.
Esno.n Ctizens of the Senate and Assenablu


stitutional restrictions, transferred the
sovereign legislative power of the State,
is at all times an event of peculiar interest
and Importance, for its acts often have a
direct influence, either for good or evil,
upon the present and future welfare of the
neople. The condition of our national
affairs, with the past and passing events,
and their bearing upon the prosperity and
happiness of the people of this State, in
vest your meeting with still greater i'm
portance. Coming directly and fresh
from the people as their representatives,
to assist in carrying on the government of
the State by making all necessary and
needfuI laws, you will be more familiar
with the wishes and sentiments Of those
whom you represent, and many subjects
of grave importance will undoubtedly pre-
sent themselves for action requiring our
best efforts to do justice to the trust re-
posed in us by our common constituents.
GENERAL CONDITION, COMMERCE, AGRIcUL-
TURE, MANUFACTURES.
Our State has during tie past year,
with the single exception of serious
disturbance in one Of the counties, en-,
loved peace in its borders, and been free
from the horrors of war surrounding US
and interrupting the quiet of many of our
sister States.
Our commerce, which, in common with
that of all other States, has suffered much
for years from the effects of the financial
and commercial crisis of 1857, has during
the past year, even under the disadvan-
tages of the war, been prosperous, and is
now conducted on a safer basis than it
was before 1857, when the spirit of spec
ulation and an unsound and too extensive
system of credit led to the financial ruin
of many. The opening of the Mississippi,
in which, with other States, we have a
direct interest even beyond that which
the nation in general feels in the free pas
sage of that great national thoroughfare,
would give new and additional life to our
commerce. 1t is to be hoped that the
great efforts which are now made by our
western army will speedily accomplish tho
work that has so long been interrupted,
and will, by freeing the Mississippi from
the distractions of the enemy and bring
ing it under our control, deal a decisive
blow to the rebellion and procure direct
relief to the great loyal West.
Manufacturing is yet in it's infancy in
the State. Our natural resources give
ample opportunity for the advantageous
employment of capital IL that direction
1t should be the policy of the State to en-
courage by proper legislation the develop
ment of these resources, for only thus do
they become part of the wealth Of the
State.
Our State is mainly an agricultural
State; yet owing to modification by the
last Legislature of the law requiring the
Assessors to make annual returns of the
results of the industry of the state, I am
without sufficient data for any accurate
statement in regard to this most impor-
tant branch Of our industry. 1t is an oc-
casion for c0ngratulation that, notwith-
standing the withdrawal from peaceful
pursuits of so large number of our citi-
zens who have volunteered in the coun-
try's behalf, the area of our cultivated
crops has been increased rather than di-
minlshed during the past year. The last
season was not favorable to the produc-
tion of the great staples of agriculture in
some portions OF the state, so that the
aggregate yield was probably below the
average of the three preceding years.
The amount of sugar cane and of 8yrups
and sugar produced has been, as am in
formed, much greater than at any previous
period, and it is believed by many that as
a tate we may eventually make ourselves
quite Independent of all ign sources in
respect to these necessaries. Gratifying
progress has been made in the proportion
ate increase of stock as compared with
the grain growing interest, especially in
the important branch of sheep husbandry,
while the improvement in breed of all our
domestic animals is constantly receiving
more attention.
The agricultural societies In operation
have exerted great influence in advancing
the material interests Of the State. They
should, therefore, be encouraged by wise
and liberal legislation. The affairs of the
State Agricultural Society have been
much embarrassed by the circumstances
which have compelled two successive
omissions of its accustomed annual exhi-
bition, and by the withdrawal of all State
aid by an act Of the Legislature passed at
its last extra session. Although the nation
Is at war, our peaceful State should not
forget or neglect the arts CT peace; they
become now doubly important in many
respects. The usefulness of this Society,"
especially in the absence of a State agri-
cultural bureau, which exists in some 9TH
er States, should not be moderated or i'm
paired by unfriendly legislation at time
when its efforts are particularly i'm
portant. The transactions of the
Society, as published from time to
time, contain material of great value, and
their wide distribution at home and
abroad has done much towards securing
for Wisconsin the name of an enlightened
and enterprising commonwealth. The
small appropriation requisite to their regu-
lar publication and distribution could
hardly be more economically expended.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
BY an act of Congress approved July
End, 1862, the United States have granted
to the several States quantity of land
equal to thirty thousand acres for each
Senator and Representative in Congress
to which the states are respectively emit
tied by the superintendent under the GEN.
sus OF 1860, for the support and mantle
nance CT at least one college, where the
leading object shall be, without excluding
other scientific and classical studies, and
including military tactics, TO teach such
branche. of learning as are related to ag-
riculture and the mechanic arts, upon GER
tain conditions particularly set forth in the
Act..oue of which is that No State shall
be entitled to the benefits of the Act unless
it shall express its acceptance thereof
by its legislature within two years from
the date of its approval by the President"