Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-01-21


lars per month for six months after the death
Of the soldier. / doubt 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 vice 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 arc not entitled to aid from the
State. Persons IN atfiuent circumstances,
having SOILS IL the army on whom they never
depended for support, have, in 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 safeguard against fra udulent claims upon
the state treasury, stringent laws should be
enacted. l submit herewith, for your infor-
! nation upon this subject the very able and
full report of the Adjutant 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 now nearly completed, has been
well done, and at an expense to the State
much less than was estimated.
| 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 ascertaining what
further work may now be needed upon the
| rotunda, in order to secure it from damage
and that you adopt such measures as 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 a small proportion of
the arabic land of the State is under cultiva-
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 OF the prosperity of our peo-
pie. 1t needs but to be stated, tn 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, to
establish its Importance, and commend it to
your careful attention.
Efforts should be made for the advance
ment of industrial education, both as means
Of developing our resources and rendering
agricultural pursuits more attractive to our
youth.
Congress has very wisely provided for the
establishment OF an Agricultural College in
our State, and has donated two hundred and
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 good
quality.
In view of the Importance of sucn an in
| stitution to the interests of the State, and of
| the fact that unless it is established within
| five years from the passage of the act making
| the grant the land reverts to the General
Government, [ feel it my duty to urge upon
the Legislature the necessity of Immediately
| making provision for the location of this in.
stitution, the sale of the lands granted by
Congress- and the purchase of farm and
erection of buildings thereon; in short, the
necessity of complying with the conditions of
the grant IN order that we may reap its
benefits
The events of the last two years having 80
f,,ll, +ol IL, u
in our State where military instruction NAV
be obtained, l would also suggest the pro-
priety of Incorporating into the organic act
establishing this college provision requiring
that prescribed amount of military instruc-
ton shall be included in it's course of study
sufficient at least to ground its studen IS in the
rudiments of military science.
MINERAL RESOURCES.
The lead, copper, and iron mines of the
State are among the important sources of its
| wealth, and as such, may well claim your at
tention. Individual enterprise has done much
to develope our mineral resources yet, for
want of capital much remains to be done.
biologists have long claimed that large de-
posits of lead ore lie below where the miner
has yet reached, individuals have not been
found able and willing to expend the means
necessary to examine these lower deposits,
which, if the fact was once established by ac-
tual experiment that they do exist, would
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 or corporations for
mining purposes, or for otherwise aiding in
the development of these important resour-
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, in
short, nearly all kinds of raw material in
unlimited quantities, needing but the
work of the mechanic to supply our wants,
we are annually paying out large sums of
money for the transportation to our State of
iron, lead, copper, glass, crockery, agricultural
implements, leather, carriages, machinery.
cloths, and other useful articles, and paving
also for the transportation from the State of
the raw material from which many of these
articles are made.
Had we the needful manufactures within
our borders, we would not only save this
large outlay and loss in transportation of the
raw material from, and manufactured articles
to, our State, but would also derive large
profits from supplying with manufactured ar
tlcles those outside our limits who have not
the natural advantages for manufacturing we
possess, as well as from the increased home
market these manufactures would afford.
Sound policy would seem to dictate that
we shouId use all proper means to foster this
oranch OF our industry. The prominent rea-