Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-01-20

of the soldier. | doube not the intention OF
the Legislature was to extend this benefit to
the families of all deceased soldiers residing
IN the State, but from the wording of the act
it could only be paid to the families of sol
diers who were in the service at the time OF
its passage and who died in the service after
that date. This law should be so amended as
to extend equal benefits to the families of all
deceased soldiers residing in the State.
While we should strive to do all in our
power to protect and care for those who are
entitled to our protection, we should also
properly guard the Treasury against those
who seek but are not entitled to aid from the
State Persons in affluent circumstances,
having sons in the army on whom they never
depended for support, have, III some IN
stances, sought, by false representations, to
obtain this bounty offered by the state For
the punishment of this class of persons, and
as a safeguard against fraudulent claims upon
the state treasury, stringent laws should be
enacted. | submit herewith, for your lnfor-
nation upon this subject, the very able and
full report of the Adiutant General, showing
the condition of our State militia, of our
troops in the field, and suggesting amend
ments to the militia laval of which ! com
mend to your careful consideration.
THE STATE CAPITOL.
The Legislature, at its last session, provid-
ed for building the north wing of the State
Capitol, and for laying the foundation of the
south wing and rotunda up to the water-table
This work is nearly completed, has been
well done, and at an expense to the State
much less than was estimated. sa
The exposed condition of the foundation
walls of the south wing and rotunda, would
seem to render it necessary that the work
upon them should be further continued soon,
in order to reap the benefits OF the work al
ready done. The amount necessary to com
plete the south wing will probably not ex-
ceed thirty thousand dollars l would there
fore, recommend an appropriation for this OBJ
ject, and would further suggest the propriety
of appointing a committee TO confer with the
architect, with view of asceT tanning what
further work may now be needed upon the
rotunda, in order to secure it from damage,
and that you adopt such measures the ma
ture of the case may require, to secure the
benefits of the work already completed.
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
Our agricultural interests have seldom been
more highly favored than during the past
year. Although but small proportion OF
| the arabic land of the State is under cutiva-
| ton, Wisconsin has raised for expectation
| during that period, about twenty million bush
| els of wheat, besides large quantities of oats,
| corn and other grain. The whole amount OF
! grain raised in the State during the past
| year is about sixty million bushels.
The noble calling of the agriculturalist lies
| at the foundation ct ire prosperity of our PEG
| Pile. 1t needs but to be stated, th.,t five
sixths of our population are engaged in agri
cultural pursuits, and that the greater part OF
| our revenues are derived from this source, &c
| establish Its Importance, and commend 1t &c
your careful attention.
| Efforts should be made for the advance
| ment of industrial education, both as mean,
Of developing our resources and rendering
agricultural pursuits more attractive to oul
youth.
Congress has very wisely provided Cor the
| establishment of an Agricultural College il
| our State, and has donated two hundred anC
| forty thousand acres of land for its endow
ment. This land has been selected during
| the past year, and it is said TO be of a gooC
| quality.
In view of the Importance of sucn am in
| stituton to the interests Of the State, and 0
the fact that unless 1t is established within
| five years from the passage OF the act making
the grant the land reverts to the Genera
| Government, | feel it my duty to urge upoI
| the Legislature the necessity of Immediately
| making provision for the location of this in
stitution, the sale of the lands granted b,
Congress, and the purchase of farm an,
erection of buildings thereon; in short, tn
necessity of complying with the conditions 0
the grant in order that we may reap it
benefits.
The events of the last two years having 81
! fully demonstrated the want of school with
in our State where military instruction ma
be obtained, | would also ,uggest the pro
priety of Incorporating into the organic ac
| establishing this college provision requiring
that prescribed amount of military instruc
ton shall be included in its course of study
sufficient at least TO ground its students in tn
rudiments of military science.
MINERAL RESOURCES.
| The lead copper, and iron mines of TIN
State are among the important sources of it
wealth, and such, may well claim your at
tention. Individual enterprise has done mucl
TO develOpe our mineral resources; yet, 70
want of capital, much remains to be done
Biologists have long claimed that large de
posts of lead ore lie below where the mine
has yet reached. individuals have not beer
found able and willing to expend the mean
necessary to examine these lower deposits
which, If the fact was once established by &C
tual experiment that they do exist, woul
be source of great wealth to the State
Whether the interests of the State do not re
quire further legislation to facilitate the es
adjustment of companies corporations 70
mining purposes, or for otherwise aiding i
the development of these important resom
ces, may very properly receive your consid
Grafton.
| MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
Perhaps no State presents greater advan
tages to manufacturers than does Wisconsin
and no State needs them more. With water
power in abundance, mechanical genius uIl
surpassed, iron, copper and lead ores, i
short, nearly all kinds of raw material i
unlimited quantities, needing but tn
work of the mechanic to supply our wants
we are annually paying out large sums @
money for the transportation to our State G
iron, lead, copper, glass crockery, agriculture
implements, leather, carriages, machinery
cloths, and other useful articles, and pawn
also for the transportation from the State 0
the raw material from which many of thes
articles are made.
Had we the needful manufactures With
our borders, would not only save thi
large outlay and loss in transportation of tn
raw material from, and manufactured article
10, State, but would also derive Iarg
profits from supplying with manufactured al
ticles those outside our limits who nave no
the natural advantages for manufacturing "
possess, as well as from the increased HON
market these manufactures would afford