The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-01-14

different parts of the state as the interests OF edu-
cation may require" And our constitution further
more provides that the proceeds of eli lands that
have been or may hereafter be granted by the
United States TO this state for the support of uni
verify, shah be, and remain perpetual fund = .
the interest Of which shall be appropriated to the
support Of the state university"
1t is just source of regret that the trust thus
imposed upon the state by Congress and the franz
| ers of our state government has not been more
generously and faithfully executed. The original
| endowment was n1unifcent, and sufficient for the
noble objects sought to be accomplished. While
| the state has been growing great In po-
pulation and material wealth, the right
ful property of the university has been
layishly and imprudently disposed Of it's APP
propriate revenues depleted, and our children
| measurably denied their inherited right to the
blessings of free education in the highest depart
meats Of knowledge. #+,
Fortunately for the best interests of our people
moral obligation of the state is impaired BY any
inprudence in the execution Of the original trust
The duty imposed upon us is clearly independent
of fOrtuit0us circumstances and the obligation of
the compact wisely permanent. XII.
Notwithstanding the adverse circumstances TO
which have referred, the university Ia rapidly be-
coming benedoent power and the center of en-
tightening influences. Its organization is coInpar-
avely perfect in plan the administration OF its af-
fairs efficient and economical, ana its growth In
popular favor steadily increasing. An additional
building for the accommodation of pupils is now
required, the plans of which will be submitted to
you by the faculty and committee of the board OF
regents - cnafSes III Is OGleVed that the compile
ten the present year of the additional structure
proposed IS vital necessity, ana would SO posi-.
lively enlarge the usefulness of the university to
able 1t hereafter 80 command III still higher de-
gree the confidence and patronage of the friends Of
liberal education, thus charging that patronage
and propoItionatey diminishing the partial depen-
dence Of the institution upon legislative beneVo-
lence. --=...ft.
In connection with this subject again bespeak
your earnest consideration Of the problem whether
our existing system of public instruction cannot
be SO harmonized and s1mplided as to render pub
lie labor and expenditure in this department of
progress more economical and efficient We have
at present schools of every grade common to the
eral states But they are neither so supplied and
distributed as to mott the wants of all sections of
the state, nor do they possess that completeness of
organization, mutual dependence OF relationship,
and unity of purpose so essential to the efficiency
of state system of education. Manitestly, our
schools should be organized into system Of sue
cessive grades, wherein certidc. te Of completion
Of the course in the school of one grade should be
passport Of admission to the next higher, aud In
all schools supported by the public money OF Wis.,
cousin, courses of instruction should have refer
ence, in whole or In pat, to oonrses Of iRstrue
tion in public schools Of succeeding grade Within
our state.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS. s
Apparently the greatest need CT our state at this
time III the higher departm ent OF education is .
better supply Of schools Of intermediate grade be-
tween the lowest and the highest, similar to the
plan Of some of the caster states; so that not
only in the larger cities but also in every county
not in every town, there shall be series Of free
schools leading our youth through successive graz
dations from the primary school up to the univer-
eity. For q fuller discussion of this important
subject also of the need Of leg islative asures
looking to greater uniformity of xt-beoks, l
refer you to the able report Of the state supertn
tendent. +t T.
1t has been suggested by prominent friends Of
education that the erection 0, central normal
echoo! in connection with the university would
ztrnYoUIIy tend N hormoDfzp OIL ipto and
give @ measurable unity and efficiency to our edu
cationsl plan. The reasonab1eness Of this sugges-
ton is obvious. As its name implies, the unver-
sity is intended to supplement ali classes OF in
struction taught in the state by public authority,
and the adoption Of this sug gestion while II would
not necessarily impose any additional burden upon
the people, would at least insure additional eff
cheney and unity to this special department Of in
etTuCtion.
IMPROVEMENT CT NATIONAL WATER COURSES.
regret my inability to congratulate you upon q
more liberal Improvement of our national water
courses during the past season. While have no
official knowledge OF precise results, 1t is matter
of notOriety that the appropriations made by Con-
gress for this purpose the past year, were Insight
ticant in proportion to the magnitude OF the inter-
ests committed to its charge and dependent upon
its bounty. The improvement Of our lake ports
has been continued to moderate extent, but not
OH q scale commensurate with the Importance Of
Our commerce, or the revenue derived from cur
people by the federal government. Work on the
FOX Wisconsin rivers was not dct1YGlY resumed
until July, and the better portion of the soaso II
was needessly lest to the prosecution of that en-
| terpFise l am uEoffciaily informed that detached
sections OF the Wisconsin river, for considerable
portion of the distance from Portage City 10
Prairie du Cbicn, are deemed complete for nayiga
| bic purposes; that dredging out the connecting
canal between the Fox and Wisconsin rivers is be-
ing prosecuted under contract, and that the eff.
cient continuance of the work the ensuing season
| requires further and more liberal action by the
! present Congress.
| Probably quar- er Of million Of our people re-
side on the immediate shores of deep waters, nayi-
| highways which nature has kindly ana ebundantly
| bestowed upon our people. They were destined
! By the Creator to bear upon their hos0ms prect-
| Gus burdens from farms ami workshops, IN
| exchange for rich products OF foreign industry
and skill. over all this broad expanee of naviga-
bic waters the federal government holds complete
| and indisputable sway. Ia the solution OF the
grand problem Of cheap exchanges of products,
we ask of that government to return TO us but
fraction of that which we pay for its support, By
enlarging the natural channels Of trade, by pro-
vlding sufficient shelter for our shipping, and by
protecting the lives of gallant and hardy sail
ors from the rage of November storms. We ask
this not merely the ground of justice, and
much less on the ground Of unrequited bounty.
The wiscst statesmen of our time ara confirmed
by every intelligent engineer OF the federal SER
vice, in estimating an ultimate profit to the
| treasury upon every dollar JudiciOusly dabursed
| in this branch of the public service. In truth,
| preston CT the past or the future advantages,
either to the government or to the people, OF the
easy and safe navigation of our lakes and rivers.
The conceded obligations of the government in
! this department have been the foundation of our
growth and the life of our industry. But while it
is for tunate for cur own people that the duty of
! the government is neither doubtful nor obscure,
1t is unfortunate that the extent of that duty is not
better defined, and that its faithful discharge can
not be more promptly enforced.
| AS to the special claims of the Fox and Wiscon-
sin River Improvement, need not indulge in a
repetition Of the facts have already stated, in my
| first annual message and on other occasions. I
now call your attention simply to the conceded
truth that no less than onethird of the states
more or less directly interested in this improve
ment; and to the testimony of Senator Window
| and other high authority, that its completion
would connect the commerce of nearly two thou
sand vessels on the lakes with that Of quite two
thousand boats on the Mississippi river and its
tributaries; would save ten cents per bushel on
the cost OF wheat Shipments which would naturally
| be contributed from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ne
braska, Iowa and Missouri, amounting to yearly
aggregate to those states of not less than ten mil
lions of dollars; would save other millions upon
the cost OF transporting iron, copper salt and lur
barF Wisconsin and II, md