Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-01-18
Total property


The Governor states the amount of the ba ancc
of the Contingent Fund to be $ ,005S and says
no appropriations for that fund will be nec ed dur
ing TINS year. He commends to the fraternal care
OF the Legislature the common school system Of
the State, and renews his recommended, n of the
preceding year that text book throughout the State
be made uni orm. He also recommends that the
fiscal year of the State be made identical with the
calendar year
The whole number of inmates of the Industrial
School for Boys during the year was 4t3, and the
number remaining on the 3 TIL OF September was
BIS: The institution has been ably and economi-
caliy managed, and is performing work of great
usefulness. Complaint is made that children are
improperly committed at the instance of parents
who desire TO be relieved of their and educa-
ton, and there seems to be occasion for more
stringent legislation on this subject.
i he number of inmates of the State Prison on
the Both of September, 1876, 266, and the aver
age for the year 261, being an increase over any
former year. Information recently received is to
the effect that the number of prisoners has now
increased to 800. which involves the necessity of
providing additional cells To make the labor of
the conlicts more profitable, it is desirable to Sc
cure skilled foremen, and an increase in the rate
of compensation seems to be necessary to this
end.
His Excellency suggests the propriety of repeal
ing sec. of Chap. 2oS of the Laws of 1876. This
confers extraordinary and III his opinion uncon-
stitutiona powers upon the Directors of the State
Prison.
The Institution for the Education of the Blind
was maintas ned during the year at a cost of S22
40, exclusive of $3.50 expended on the new
bullulnS. Inc WlOle number of persons reCelY-
ing instruction was eighty-six. The amount dis
bursed by the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb
was S42 629.1i. and the whole number of pupils re-
Gelved during the year was 191. The Wisconsin
hospital for the Insane, near Madison. has af
forded treatment during the year for 557 persons
The number of patients on the 30th of September
1876 was 355. The cost of their maintenance for
the year was S97 270 81 including payments for re-
pairs and minor improvements TO the hospital
The whole number of patients under treatment
during the year at the Northern Hospital for the
insane was 604; the number remaining en- the Seth
of September 1876, was 503; and the sum expended
for the support of the institution was S97 S57 g.
The work on the geological survey has been
prosecuted during the year in six different fields
the iron bearing series in Ashland County the
copper bearing series in Polk, Burnett Douglas
and Bayfield, Counties the paleozoic region of the
upper mississippi River, and the archean district
on the headwaters of the Wisconsin River Some
important areas are not yet examined and more
complete investigations are desirable upon the
several notwithstanding series. The act providing
or the survey made an appropriation of S13, 600 per
year for five years which Term will expire in June
neXt. The Governor recommends that an addi-
uonal appropriation be made of such sum as may
ne necessary TO complete the work and make the
results available to the people
The Governor, referring to his investigation in
aspect u swamp lands, says it has come to his
Snowledge that the State has a just claim upon
the General Government for indemnity for certain
swamp and overlooked lands clearly included in
he grant referred to, but which have been wrong
ully conveyed by the United states to other par
Ies BY the terms of the act of Sept. IS 1880. all
he swamp and overfowed lands in Wisconsin re-
Hainlng unsold at the time of the passage of the
lct were Internationally granted to the State the
boundaries TO make 1t perfect. Nevertheless.
the United States has since permitted
entries and selections TO be made of large ira Is i
these lands and it is now held by the Gen raj
and Office that there is DO authority III law 10 pay
over 10 this State the purchase money received
saeseieEi Of to permit the location OF an equal