Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-01-27
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


State affairs that contains much valuable
Information.
After a preface Of commendable brew.
ity, he gives us the financial situation of
the State. Ws find that the total se
ceiPts during the last fiscal year were
1914. 995.7O: total disbursements SOLE.
1928, of which last amount the ordina
~ current expenses were S3l4, 405. SO.
Balance of general fund at the begin
ing of the last fiscal year s44,946 SO !;
balance at close OF fiscal year s569.75.
The State debt is 2,252,057, about two
dollars per capita for each individual in
tie Stale.
The estimated expenditures for 1870
are ss20,sI9.74. in addition to which
the Reform School. Insane Hospital
aud Institute for the Blind ask for 500,
s07.60.
He suggests that the surplus trust
funds of tue State Instead of being in
vested in bonds be loane1 to towns and
cities TO all them in erecting school bull
diags DC.
The assessed valuation of all property
for 1859 is 1927, 627, 1856.
The State Library now numbers I2,-
'0S6 volumes. 1t is rapidly increasing.
The library of the State Historical So
ciety, contains $4,000 volumes, an in.
crease of 1000 during the past year.
The dome of the new Capitol is now
completed. The cost Of the Capitol
building 10 the present time is s54I,477.
93.
The militia in the State comprises
1870 men, Thirteen companies of infan-
try, enc q cavalry, aud five batteries.
Attention is called to the insurance
laws and such revision made rs will serve
TO protect the people against fraud.
An amendment 10 the constitution is
recommended, to prevent tho needles
and pernicious amount of local legisla.
ton with which our State has always
been cursed. The veto power will con-
tinue TO be exercised upon Objectionable
Legislation Of that character. Neither
will bills be considered or signed after
Legislature adjourns.
He strongly recommends the amend
meUt of tie Constitution by submitting
to the people the adjustment of the
Grand Jury system.
The State Board of Immigration have
induced more than half the immigrants
s=ho have arrived on the west shore Of
Lake Michigan to settle in Wisconsin. -
Expenses Of the Board last year So, $780,
65.
Of the 39S.Sl7 children, between the
ages of four years and twenty, in this
s:,te only 264,o33 are reported at
school.
The Governor is decidedly in favor of
compulsory education as well as the per
peiuity of our common school system.
lie closes his remarks upon these sub
jects with the following fearful paragraph:
"YOu cannot but be aware Of the fact
that there is an element i'm this country
which is seeking to overthrow our common
school system. Each year it is becoming
no der and its hostility more pronounced.
I hose v ho are engaged i'm this deviIish as
81 ID, upon the bulwarks of the republic are
not true friends of.Our free institutions. and
should be promptly rebuked by all good
citizens"
The State University and Normal
Schools are reported in successful opera
ton, but demand further literal appro-
Priations for engagements 10 sccommo-
date greater numbers.
The contract price of the Normal
School building now being erected in
Oshkosh is s43, $50 Of which sum the
city of Oshkosh contributed $4,000
and gave the site. The building will be
flushed and school opened next fall.-
The fourth school building will be com.
menced as sccH rs the condition of the
normal school frad will warrant.
The State Prison will require an ap-
preparation but but bids fair to be self
sustaining. Convicts on hand Oct.
1869, ls0; and number decreasing.
The Reform School appeals for fur
Their help; aud some plan should be de-
vised to separate the /" vicious" inmates
from those who are merely homeless and
friendIess. The institution is one of the
most humane and truly beneficial in the
State.
The Insape Asylum is in excellent con-
ditiou. and is enc of the best in the
United States. The present number of
inmates is 364; 81 were discharged re-
covered, and IA improved. Expenses
Of the current year 81, 800. Os. The
Institution is crowded, to its utmost cS
pacity; aud yet there are 500 other in
zane persons in Wisconsin jails and else
,yheze. Another hospital should be