Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-01-18
$25,076 60


1t must be borne IN mind that should you appro-
pirate more than the amount of the above balance
for extraordinary purposes, the result will be def
cheney in the general fund at the close of the year.
1t is entirely safe to carry deficiency of about
S2 10000, which, with the above balance gives for
building purposes other e-tiaordinary ezpendi-
tUres should such be determined upon, the sum of
$50000.00 this year. Should yor, find it necessary
to appropriate more tlan the above sum for such
purposes, inc excess should be made payable during
the year 1872, that the financial officers may not
find themselves embarrassed with deficiency in
the general fund greater than be provided for.
1t is not necess .ry for o urge TIE proprety of
the greatest prudence in making appropriations for
the year. Economy has long oeen the general rule
in State affairs; vagance and waste the
exceptions. The State afford 70 do anything
which is right, and necessary to be done. provide
for doing that, and no more, and the people will not
complain.
There was expended from the Governors con-
tingent fund.- ST. 70761. Balance in the fund, $492.
60. A small appropriation should be made to the
fund.
TRUST FUNDS.
The last Legislature adopted the system of loan
ing the trust funds to school districts for the
ton of school buildings, enacting number of laws
each authorizing such loan to certain DISTRICT in
stead of one general law to govern all loans from
the funds. Such general law should be enacted,
giving the commissioners of school and university
lands discretion to loan to districts application is
made; the sum to be limited to small per cent. OF
the assessed valuation of the taxable property of the
district the terms and time of payment specified,
and power to collect principal and interest to be
vested IN the Secretary OF State, with authority to
levy and collect tax whenever such payments are
not promptly made. know of no better way to in
vest these funds. 1t is safe, because the loan is
made upon perfectly good security, the state re-
serves the power TO compel payment according to
CONTRACT and it enables the people to use their edu-
cational funds for educational purposes. 1t is a
great improvement on the original plan OF loanlng
to individuals for purposes OF private speculation
too often upon doubtful security. Total productive
educational funds $685. 642.24. The increase last
year amounted to S160,061.4
SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY LANDS.
The state has now for sale 385,504 acres
of school land; 10,440 acres university lane,
and 105,879 acres agricultural college land.
Heretofore these lands have been sold at too low a
price per The educational funds have suffered
this loss in order to hasten the g 1ement of the
localities in which the lands are situated This is
not right The state should he prudent in selling
these lands is individual proprietor who desires
to make the most of them.
They are held as trust by the state, to be dis
posed of honestly and judciously, for the benefit of
the educational funds. WhaGever excuse there may
have been in the past for selling hem at low price,
it longer exists They are being purchased mainly
by SPECTATORS and the actual Settlers when they buy
them will have to pay to the dealer large profit,
which the funds ought to realize. The fact that
spectators eager to buy plainly shows that the
lands selling for less than their value Every dol
lar that they are worth to TIE settler ought to
enure to the funds. therefore, recommend
that all these lands be Immediately with
appraised before any further sales are made.
They sold at the following prices per acre:
University land, average $500; school land, average
| 81. .13; agricultural college land $1.25.
The number of of land sold by the atate dur
ing the past fiscal year was 175,4l0.
WAR CLAIMS.
( The total amount of the claims against
/ the United States incidental to rails
/ ing, equipping, subsisting and trans
porting troops sent to the field 81 742, 202 SO
Of which the United States has paid as follows:
To holders of quartermas-
/ ter generals certified
accounts ...... ... S497, ,632 O8 ......... -.
| To State Treasurer by
Capt. Eddy, q. s. A.. i02,777 09
/ To State Treasurer at q.
s. Treasury. ........... 76z, ,A02 O9 ...........
81 1862, 81 26
Total amount originally disalowed and
suspended ...................... s379,391 u
OF this amount, there has since been
allowed upon explanations and addi-
tional evidence furnished, and cred
tied the State, against her quota of
the S20,000,000 direct tax. .......... ,742 06
From this apparent balance of $l59, ,649 &C
should be deducted items charged upon
copies of vouchers, which being reject
ed at the U. S. Treasury, the originals
were sent, and again charged by mis-
take. Observation-Disclosures. $17,406 SO ..........
Items, conceded to be prop
erly State expenses...... 5,S42 so .-..........
23249 0e