The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-02-04

| --------- $l,U4l, 40 O4
| Balance ......... 49, ......... S25O76 60
! 1t must be borne IN mind hat should YOU appro-
pirate more than the amount of the above balance
for extraordinary purposes the result will be def
cheney Ia the general fund close of the year.
! 1t is entirely safe to carry I deficiency of about
S25,O0O0O which, with the above balance gives for
building purposes or other extraordinary ezpendi-
lures, should such be determined upon, the OF
s5o,OOOOO this year. Should you find it necessary
| to appropriate more than the above for such
purposes inc excess should be made payable during
| the year 1872 so that the financial officers may not
ind themselves embarrassed with deficiency in
the general fund greater than can be provided for
1t Is not necessary for to urge the propriety Of
the greatest prudence in making appropriations for
the year, Economy has long been the general rule
III our State affairs extravaganza and waste the
exceptions. The State can afford to 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, s1,7O7.6I. Balance in the fund, s492
! 3d. 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
eacn 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
made; the sum to be limited to a 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
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
great Improvement on the original plan of 1oanirg
to individuals for purposes of private speculation
too often upon doubtful security Total productive
educational funds, So, 1926, 64224 The increase last
year amounted to S160O6l. Al.
SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY LANDS.
The state has for sale 1856 5O4 acres
OF school land; 10,440 acres university land,
and 105,S79 acres agricultural college land
Heretofore these lands have been sold at too low
price per The educational funds have suffered
TINS loss IN order to hasten the Element of the
localities IN which the lands situated. This is
not right The state should be prudent in selling
these lands as is the individual proprietor who desires
70 make the most of them.
They are held as a trust by the state, to be dis
posed OF honestly and judiciously, for the benefit of
the educational funds. Whatever excuse there may
have been in the past for selling them at low price
1t no longer exists. They being purchased mainly
by Spectators and the actual settlers when they buy
them, VIII 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 are selling for less than their value Every dol
lar that they are worth to the settler ought to
enure to the funds. 1 therefore, recommend
that all these lands be Immediately with
drawn from market, and that they he carefully
University land average s. 90; school land average
slI3; agricultural college land, s1.25.
The number of of land sold by the atate dur
ing The past fiscal GEAR was 175,41G.
The total amount of the claims against
the United States incidental to rails
ing, equipping, subssting and trans
porting troops sent to the field was 81 742 200 %
OF which the United States has paid as follows:
To holders Of quartermas-
ter generals certified
accounts. $500. S497,632 0S -
To State Treasurer by
Capt Eddy, U. S. A. 102,777 09
To State Treasurer at U.
S. Treasury. 1852, 4O2 09 .........
-- s1,362,s1 %
Total amount originally dsaowed and
suspended. ............... s379, 1871 70
OF this amount, there has since been
allowed upon exl lanations and addi-
tional evidence furnished, and cred
tied the State, against her quota of
the SO, 10000 direct tax..... 219,742 O6
From this apparent balance of. ..... sI59,649 Sc
should be deducted items charged upon
copies of vouchers, which being reject
ed at the Q. S. Treasury, the originals
were sent, and again charged by mis-
take $1I,406 SO
Items, conceded to be prop
eriy State expenses. 5,S42 so ............
2a,24a os
Leaving unsettled balance of f.. $780, 400 So
y Another special settlement is to be made upon
calculations recently sent to the Third Auditors
Office, which it is confidently expected will result in
further allowance of at least $50 600. though prob
ably $4,000.
l am confident that the State authorities will be |
able to convince the auditing officers that nearly the
whele of these claims should be paid. Every effort
viii be made to do The explanations and further
proofs have been furnished by Gen. W. W. Tredway,
who appointed State Agent for that purpose. He
has discharged the arduous duties devolyed upon |
him with great efficiency, and to the entire satsfac-
eion of the State authorities.
ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY FOR TAXATION.
Your attention is called TO the remarks of the
secretary of State, in his report, regarding the
equal assessment of property in different portions