The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-01-20
tice OF borrowing from the trust funds of the

state.
STATE UNIVERSITY.
You are referred to the report of the Board oil
Regents for statement of the condition and
wants of the State University. I cannot
doubt that that institution is performing &C
ceptably it's important part in the educational
system OF the state. The completion of Sci
ence Hall will greatly enlarge the facilities
for instruction In department possessing
great interest and value to students The
death of the lamented DR.. Lapham has caused
his large and valuable collection Of specimens
to be offered for sale, and it is submitted &c
your consideration whether it ought not to he
secured by the state, and added to the cabine,
Of the University.
COMMON SCHOOLS
1t would be waste Of your time and a re-
Fiction upon your intelligence il were to
urge any considerations upon Won in support
OF the proposition that our common school
system should be sacredly preserved and
steadily developed, to the end that it may
more fully secure the vital purposes for
which 1t was established. Your deliberations
can be dedicated to no higher purpose than
the devising OF means that viii visit the advan-
tages OF our public schools upon a greater
humper or the youth OF the state
Compulsion, except TO prevent and punish
crime, is not IN accordance with the spirit OF
our institutions and is obnoxious to the Amer
lean people. But rejecting how essential 1t is
TO our political and social welfare that our inhab
itants should be educated man and women, it
Ii submitted to your candid consideration
whether some penalty should not be imposed
upon parents who deny their children that
without which they inevitably become danger
and disgrace to society. There is one object
which we may certainly promote that will at
once guard our educational system and extend
its benefits. Excessive cost is, perhaps, the
only thing that could impair it's foundation in
the hearts OF the people, and that part of the
which m rpT1ta in
the form OF text books g undoubtedly au OBJ
stacle that prevents many people from gaining
the rudiments OF an education Hence there
ID great reason that economy should be prac-
tsed in the erection Of school buildings, and
that the need OF the many rather than the ad
vantage OF the few should be considered in
the selection Of branches to be taught
Your attention is also invited to the question
whether it would not be practicable and desir-
able TO establish a uniformity Of text books
throughout the state and thus effect con-
siderable reduction i'll the expense to which
parents are subjected on this account.
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
There have been added to the library of the
state Historical Society, during the past year,
books, pamphlets and documents te the num-
Der OF 1916, making the present strength OF
the collection "a, 70f. It liz everywhere re-
cognized as the most valuable and useful
library in the Northwest, and ranks among
sIo bSct Al tuS IulOu III Tie department. O1
history, statistics, science. genealogy and
American and English literature. The Perkins
Collection OF Wisconsin antiquities, Of the
et0ne-cOpS 7r age has been received, and il Is
hoped that the society may be able to retain it.
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
There has been expended during the past
fiscsl year, for geological survey, Sl3, 500, and
am advised that the work has been prose
Gated with due expedition. The expenditures
that have been made on this account cannot
afford any return to the people of the state
until the survey Is completed and the results
published. | therefore recommend that ali
adequate appropriation for that purpose be
made during the present session.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The improvements that have been under
taken by the federal government, on our har-
bors and within the territory Of the state, are
WORKS OF great Importance, and you may wise
~ urge upon congress that liberal appropria-
lions be made for their completion The
considerations that have been repeatedly pre-
sented IN support of the Improvement that
will connect the Mississippi river with the
chain OF lakes, and thereby greatly increase
the facilities for and reduce the cost Of trans
porting the products Of our soil to the sea-
board, are constantly increasing in force, and
1t ls greatly to be hoped that the national gov
ernmon twill not pause in the prosecution of
the w5ck in which the interests OF the north
weat are so vitality involved.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
Inc reports OF the trustees of the several
charitable institutions OF the state will place
you III possession of such information as YOU
may desire concerning their condition and
needs. The two Hospitals for the Insane
were accommodating at the close of the fiscal
year an aggregate Of 651 patients. 1t is repre-
sented that there is need of more capacious
accommodations, and l invite your attention
10 the recommendations Of the board Of trus-
tees OF the State Hospital for the Insane at
Madison, that two wings be added to the
building, IN accordance with the original plan.
There were In attendance at the Institution
for the Education Of the Deaf and Dumb. on
the 30th OF September, 1875, 147 pupils. An
appropriation OF Sc. 500 is asked for the cree
ton of kitchen and laundry outside of the
present building.
The number OF pupils in attendance at the
institution for the education Of the blind at
the close of the year was sixty-six The trus-
tees ask for an appropriation sufficient for the
erection of the main building to replace the
one destroyed by IRE, as the west wing already
constructed is entirely inadequate to accom-
pllsh the purposes of the institute
l recommend that you appropriate to the
state charitable institutions such sums as may
be necessary for the maintenance and for the
care and education of the afflicted wards OF the
state that are intrusted to their keeping.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
The number of the inmates of the Industrial
School for boys on the 3Uth of September
was SEQ, and the expenses Of the institution
Tor the year ending on that day were $45. 1856
40 l recommend that an appropriation Of
$4,000 be made in accordance with the request
OF the Board Of Managers, to make up the
deficiency III the building fund, and to COM
plete the building. / cannot unite i'll the
recommendation of the Board that law tie
passed providing that boys may be received on
application OF parents and guardians, for incor-
nglole or vicious conduct or vagrancy. Such
course would, 1t seems TO me, be serious
departure from the purposes Of that institu-
uon, and one that would require large
addition to the accommodations. and cor
responding increase Of the expenses
STATE PRISON,
The report OF the warden of the State Pris
on shows that $50 convicts were confined in
that institutions on the 1st of October 1874:
and that 1T were received and 100 discharged
during the fiscal year. On the 30th Of Sep
TENDER, 1875, 24S convicts we're confined in
the prison, of whom $50 we're males, and II
were females From the report Of the direct
ors OF the prison. Ii appears that it's liabilities
and assets are as follows
LIABILITIES
Total value of property, machinery
ana materials, Oct. l, 1874 .$ sc, 1855 "a
appropriations received from the
state during the wear AZ al "A