Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-01-20

| Cash deposited with Corn Exchange
Due from United States for keeping y
United States prisoners. ............. 81 9S
Goods delivered to State institutions. 4,072 IS
| Value of property machinery and mate
rails, Sept. 80. 1875. 900. 75,ca3 So
Accounts Of 1874 paid by Warden in
1878 ........................ 1883 96
Cash on hand Sept 30, 1878. ........... 413 50
Cost of Prison Administration for fiscal
year........... .................... 1883 81
Total. ............. $3.50 156 81
The Warden asks for and the Directors recon-
mend, an appropriation of $4,000 to pay the debts
and the current expenses of the prison up to April
l, 1877, and also further sum of $3.50 to reim-
purse 0he prison Tor goods furnished and to be
furnished to the several State institutions In this
connection your attention is directed to that part
OF the Directors report referring to the money de-
posted by the Warden with the Corn Exchange
Bank OF Waupun. [ cannot agree with the D-
rectors that the salaries of all officers and employees
OF the prison be left TO the determination of their
board.
The manufacturing business of the prison. dur
Ing the past fiscal year has not resulted in fnan-
clal success, and am OF the opinion that its con-
tlnuance is UNI uSt to our mechanics and opposed
to the best interests of the State. Prison goods
have been sold during the year at q small percent
age above the cost OF material and the convict
work thus improperly brought in competition
with the honest labor OF the State. At the last
session of the Legislature a resolution was intro
duced, the object of which was to secure the ap-
polntment OF commissioners to investigate and re-
port whether more advantageous place for the
location of the State Prison could be selected. |
would recommend the passage OF a resolution
thorlzlng the appointment of commissioners to
Investigate the advantages of changing the loca-
ton OF the prison and the employment of the con-
yicts.
THE APPoRTIoNMENr
II Will be your duty to divide the State into
Senate and Assembly districts, according to the
census taken during the past year. In doing this
your aim should be to secure equality in p0pula-
uon, con9gulty OF territory and identity of inter
should permitted
CENSUS AND IMMIGRATION.
The census provided for by act of the Legislature
has been completed, and is published ap-
pendlx to the report of the Secretary Of State
From this II appears that the population of the
State Is 236 129 increase of 1S2059 since the
Last previous enumeration in 1870. The natural at
fractions which Wisconsin possesses in so high
degree are doubtless the main influence that has
operated to promote the growth Of the State, but
other lands to find homes within our limits. The
! question is commended to your solution whether
any further legislation is desirable to realize this
policy and to attract to our State the frugal and
! industrious men and women, many thousands OF
| whom are yearly landed upon the shores OF the
new world.
The Secretary of State, State Treasurer and At
torney General are made, by law, State Board of
Canvassers, to receive, open and count the certl-
fed statements of the votes given in the different
| counties. When these officers themselves
| didates this provision devolves upon them very
| delicate duty from which they would undoubtedly
| be glad to be relieved. | therefore recommend
| the passage Of act providing that when any
member Of the State Board Of Canvassers is a can
didate. he shall advise the Chief-JustiCe of the
| Supreme Court, and the ChiefJustice shall there
upon designate Judge of the Circuit Court to act
| in his stead.
| INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
| The improvements that have been undertaken
| by the Federal Government harbors and
within the territory Of the State works OF great
| Importance, and you may wisely urge upon Con-
gress that liberal appropriations be made for their
| completion. The considerations that have been
repeatedly presented in support of the improve
ment that will connect the Mississippi River with
| the chain OF lakes, and thereby greatly increase
the facilities for and reduce the cost of transporting
the products of soil to the seaboard, are con-
stanty increasing in force, and it is greatly to be
hoped that the National Government will not
| pause in the prosecution of the work in which
| the interests OF the Northwest are so vitality in
| volved.
| RAILROADS.
The present condition of the railway interests in
the State, and the existing laws affecting that sys
/ tem are earnestly recommended to the cOnsdera-
ton of the Legislature. With the exception of the
| line from Portage to Stevens Point "a portion of
! the line to aid which the State received land
| grant, which is now in process of construction,
railways being built within the limits of the
| State While the central and eastern portions of
the State are well supplied with these facilities,
the southwestern and northern portions arU almost
| wholly without them. None of the companies
owning or operating lines within the State have
paid dividends to their stockholders for the past
| two years. be line from Milwaukee to Manito-
woo, and thence to Appleton. has recently been
sold under judicial proceedings growing out OF
| failure to pay interest on their frst-mortgage
| bonds, those citizens and municipal corporations
of the State who had contributed largely to its
| struCton losing their investment.
| With the exception OF the Chicago Milwaukee
| & st. Paul, the Chicago s. Northwestern the
| Mineral Point and the Western Union Railroads,
| none OF the companies have paid interest
their bonds during the past year, and during that
year the existing laws restricting the companies in
the amounts they shall charge and receive in COM
| pensation for services rendered have been en-
| forced. The power to make and enforce these re-
! strictOns has been distinctly affirmed by the Su-
| preme Court. Their decision is now under re-
vision by the Supreme Court of the United States.
and it is believed that the decision Of Su-
preme Court will be affirmed. 1t will be admitted
by ell that this power is Of vital importance,
requiring for its exercise great care and Judgment
It cannot be denied that the existing laws