Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-01-21

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local Partially, | sincerely trust that
policy SO clearly dictated by the
two'told considerations of profit and
humanity will not be hastily rejected
THE STATE PRISON.
| The hrst animal report of the III.
rectors OF the state prison deserves
ana VIII undoubtedly command more
!han ordinary atEsatiaae internal af.
fairs Of the prison the past year have
been administered with inte igence
and fidelity, and that important im-
| provemenlS have been made for the
| purpose at ecanomlSing labor and de-
creasing expenditure. The recommen-
datiors of the directors with reference
to further reduction of he annual
cost OF the prison commend them
selves to your approval. l suggest
the propriety of further inquiry in
| conjunction with the board of dIrec-
tors and the warden, as to the posi-.
bility of more effectively utilizing the
iabor of the prison, by partial or to-
tai change in the character of the work
to which the prisoners are assigned.
Evidently the great amount of raw
material required in the class of work
now engaged in at the prison ma
terlally diminishes the revenue which
ought to be derived from the c0nvict
labor OF the state. Under the crcum.
stances, it seems to me apparent that
che most profitable product of prison
labor would be that the value OF which
mostly consists of the labor performed
IN its production, rather than in the
cost OF transportation and the MATER
ial used
RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES.
Complaints are made that a portion
Of the inmates of the Industrial School
at Waukesha are denied the reli-
gious freedom accorded in other insti-
tutions of this and other states. 1t
such be the fact, tho present statutes
should be promptly amended, in such
a manner as 10 enforce in all our pub
lie Institutions full aud undouhted
compliance with the letter and spirit
OF those wise provisions of our consti,
tuition which assert that the tight to
worship God according to the die
tates Of conscience shall never be in
fringed. This privilege is as dear to
the inmates of onr penal institutions
as to any other class of people, and is
entitled 10 special guardianship in the
case Of children Of tender age, depriv-
ed Of the wholesome Influences Of IN
telhgent home int r. ur>e md paren-
tai proteo ion.
TIE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
The state of Wisconsin has never
failed to rec gnise agriculture as the
foundation of all our industries, aud
pcrijy. Without reasonable doubt,
all the interests of labor have been
wisely promoted through the agency
OF the state and county agricultural
societies, partially organized and sus-
tanned fY means OF legislative aid.
Our mechanical and manufacturing
intrests largely participate in the
benefits 80 conferred, and whole
some spirit OF competition and enter
prise is promoteG al lrifllng cost ia
comparison with the advantages de-
rived from the expenditure. The an
nual report OF. the Secretary OF the
State Agricultural Society furnishes
abundant proof of the continued eff
ticiency and utility of this bencfcent
organization, aud | cordially recon-
mend the usual appropriation for tho
encouragement IT this and the county
associations the ensuing year.
The State Historical Society Is
steadily advancing in its work Of col
lecting the materials OF northwestern
history and forming great historical
and general library. It has publish
ed several volumes ofhistory and now
numbers over sixty thousand bound
and unbound volumes in its library;
being thus early the third in impor-
lance among the historical societies
OF the United States.
The Wisconsin Academy of Scen
ces, Arts and Letters, also provided
with rooms in the Capitol, has during
the year published a second volume Of
va liable scientific papers, and embrace
ing in its membership many of the
most learned men OF the state and
country, 1t has already gained an hon
orable rank among philosophical So
oieties and fairly entered upon a ca.
reer of great usefulness.
Both these institutions will deserve
a continuance of the fostering care Of
the state.
PRINTING AND PUBLISHING.
The total amount paid from The gen
eral fund for printing and publishing,
during the fiscal year ending Septem-
Der 80, 1873, was $95, SIG 6l The
tota amount paid for the same pur-
poses for the fiscal year ending Sep
TENDER 30, 1874, was $65,289 08. Of
this sum the amount Of $55,327 OF
was paid ior printing under acontract
which expired on the first Of January
instant, and $29,621 80 for legislative
and the advertisement of laws
in the newspapers OF the state. I'm
der the legislation Of last winter new
contract has been made for printing
done after the first instant, and ma
terial reduction is anticipated. 1t is
believed that In reduction for the
ensuing year, under the terms Of the
new contract for printing and paper,
will amount to Of least $35, 900,
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The faithful administration of the
department Of pubic instruction The
past year furnishes a sufficient assur-
ance Of due progress III our common
schools. Important facts and sugges
tons are embodied in the annual re
port OF the superintendent. An i'm
preston prevail Is that considerable
number OF our children of school age
are destitute of the benefits Of educa-
tinn Hannllv this assnmptiOn is not