River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-01-18

United States property, 1851, 535
State property, 1879,
Comfy l1roperty Lisa, Goo
Town, city and village property, 880,970
Common school properly, l,883,0l7
Church property, 4,5l6,359
Railroad property, 1,4oI OFT
Cemetery property, 200, 469
College and academy property, 652, 500
All other property, Sl5, 23S
Total property, SIS, 524, 1876
On the first OF January, 1876, there was an
unexpended balance OF the contingent fund
from former appropriations OF S2l3.T7. The
last Legislature app opriated $4,000, making
total of 81, 2l3.77. OF this amount there has
been expended S203 10, leaving balance
81, 0l0 IS. II will not therefore be necessary
TO make any further appropriation for his
tund.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
Noreport has been received from the Regents
OF the State University or the Normal Schools,
and am accordingly unable TO communicate
to you any facts or suggestions concerning
the condition or management OF those lnstl-
tutIons. The common schools OF the state,
and all that concerns their efficiency, cannot
be too urgently commended TO your care.
They are The nurseries Of good citizens, the
safeguards of society, and in them rests the
hope OF the future of our Republic.
Irenew the suggestion of last year, and in
vite attention 'to the question whether it
would not be practicable and desirable TO es-
tablish a uniformity OF text books throughout
the State, and thus effect considerable re-
duction in the expense TO which parents are
subjected on this account"
PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
The whole number of inmates OF the Indus.
tril School for Boys during the Year was 4l5,
ard the number remaining on the 3Oth OF Sep
tsmber was 3lS. The Institution has been ably
and economically managed, and Is perform
ing a work of great usefulness. complaint IS
msde mat children are improperly committed
at the instance OF parents who desire TO be re-
lieved OF their care and education, and there
seems to be occasion for more stringent ligls'
latiOn on this subject.
The number of inmates OF the State Prison
on the 30th OF September, 1876, was zoo, ana
the average for the year 26l, being an increase
over any former year. Information recently
received is TO the effect that the number .
prisoners has now increased % 3OO when IN.
wolves the necessity OF providing additional
cells. To make the labor OF the conviets
more profitable, IL is desirable 70 secure
skilled foremen, and an increase OF the rate oil
compensation seems TO be necessary TO this
eud. =
II is submitted To your consideration wheth-
er section OF chapter 2S5 OF the laws OF 1870,
should not be repealed The section coniers
extraordinary powers upon the board OF direc-
tors, in that il authorizes them 10 di-ninisn
the period OF confinement as reward OF good
conduct. 1t is questionable whether this IS
not in conflict with the provision Of the con-
stitution which vests the pardoning power
exclusively in the Governor. Again, prison.
er released in accordance with this provision
is not thereby restored to citizenship 1t
would appear TO be a wiser course to provide
that when convict has earned a mitigation
OF his sentence by correct behavior, diligence
in labor, or otherwise, the Directors should
recommend his pardon TO the Governor