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

ing reports, 10 WHICH you are referred. The
| institution Tor the education OF the blind was
maintained during the year at a cost OF SOP
| no, exclusive OF s47. 6lO expended onthe new
| building. The whole number of persons re-
ceiving instruction was Sc. The amount dis
bursed by the Institute Tor the Deaf and Dumb
was S42, 629. IA, and the whole number of pu-
pills received during the year was 1911. The
Wisconsin Hospital for the Insane, near Madi-
son, has afforded 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 ,270.27, including payments for repairs 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 on
the 30th of September, 1876, was SOB; and the
sum expended Tor the support OF the institu-
ton was S97, 1926.
TIE STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND REFORM.
As to matters connected with the charita-
bic and penal institutions OF the State, the
recommendations embodied in the report OF
the State Board of charities and Reform are
worthy OF your careful attention. This is
especially true as means of assisting you in
performing the duty oil fixing the apnropria-
tions for the several institutions, since it is
made the duty of the Board to revise the es-
Inmates submitted by the trustees and officers.
TIE STATE PRISON AND THE INcURABLE INSANE.
1876, established Commission to consider
the feasibility and expedience OF removing
the State Prison, and to recommend a site TOR
hospital for the incurable insane. The Com
missioners proceeded with the discharge of
this duty, and their conclusions are embodied
in report which will be submitted to you.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The work on the geological survey has teen
prosecuted during the year in six different
fields, viz: The iron bearing series in Oconto
county, the IRON bearing series in Ashland
county, the copper-be bearing series in Polk,
Burnett, Douglas and Bayfield, counties, the
paleozoic region OF the upper Mississippi riv-
er, and the archean district ON the head wa
tiers of the Wisconsin river. Some important
areas are not yet examined, and more COM
plete investigations are desirable upon the
several metal bearing series. The act pro-
viding for the survey made an appropriation
of 81 600 per year for five years, which term
will expire in June next. recommend that
an addition I appropriation be made of such
sum as MAJ be necessary to complete the
work and make the results available to the
people.
FISH PROPAGATION.
The Legislature of 1876 partly recognized
the Board OF Fish Commissioners, and appro-
priated $4,000 to them to be expended for
designated purposes. In accordance with the
act the commissi ners purchased very suit
able site for q Matching house, near Madison,
and provided the necessary buildings and ap-
planes. There, and at Milwaukee, large
numbers of fish, OF different varieties have
been Matched, to be introduced into Lake
Michigan and the interior waters ofthe State.
| am satisfied that the prOpa CATION OF fish is
a proper object of aid from the State, and
recommend that sufficient sum be appro-
priated to continue the work OF the Commits
slonerS.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The law passed by the Legislature of 1876,
for the creation of State Board of Health has
been carried into effect by the appointment OF
six members OF the medical profession and
one layman. The board has entered upon
the exercise OF the police powers that are lib
orally conferred upon it by the act, but has
undertaken a work of great Importance in the
collection OF statistics and the diffusion of in
telligence among the people with respect to
practical sanitary principles and precautions
against epidemic and other diseases.
SWAMP LANDS.
have devoted some efforts during the past
year to an investigation OF the rights OF the
State under the act OF Congress, approved
September %, 1850, by which the general
government donated to the State all the
swamp and overlooked lands within its bonn
daries Owing to a misunderstanding OF the
instructions of the General Land Office, the
which the State was entitled under this grant,
aud the omission, covering over a million
acres, has never been corrected. On the 18th
OF May last, filed in the Department of the
Interior, claim Tor 80, 600 acres. OF the lands
covered by this application, patents have
since been issued to the State for l3, 456 acres;
| the selection OF 1927 acres has been ap-
proved, and q speedy adjustment OF the bal
ance OF the claim is promised.
In the pursuit of this investigation, it has
IL Alx-AN q H.
| just claim upon the general government fOI
| indemnity for certain swamp and overlooked
| lands clearly included in the grant referred
| to, but which have been wrongiully conveyed
| by the United States to other parties. BY the
| terms of the act OF September %. 1850, all the
| swamp and overlooked lands in Wisconsin re-
naming unsold at the time OF the passage o.!
| the act, we're Internationally granted to the
| State, the title wanting nothing but def
milton of the boundaries to make it perfect.
| Nevertheless, the United States has since per-
mitted entries and selections to be made OF
| large tracts OF these lands, and it is now held
| by the General Land Office that there is no
authority in law TO pay over to this State the
| purchase money received therefor, or TO per-
| init the location OF an equal number OF acres
from The land belonging to the general gov
| eminent. This decision is i'll obvious contra
vention of the intent of the original grant, and
| the State is indiSputably entitled TO all these
| lands or their equivalent. 1 recommend that
| YOU adopt memorial to Congress on this SUBJ
| iect as il is not possible that the manltestly
Just claim OF the State to indemnity can be
refused upon proper PR sentation Of the
facts.
CITY CHARTERS.
An abuse Of serious proportions has grown
up in the matter OF passing special laws to in
corporate cities. During the past five years
the Legislature has passed twenty city char
a. tn 10 State AFlv flfHl
In one case city was incorporated in 1875,
the act occupying ifty-six pages OF the laws
In 1876, for the purpose OF making few
amendments, the charter was re-enacted and
republished at length, occupying sixty pages,
involving an expense of 81 500 for the two
years In another case a charter was passed
in 1875, submitted to vote OF the people and
rejected. A second charter was passed in
1876, and this again was submitted TO
a vote of the people and was re-
iected Perhaps the most fragrant instance
is that OF city that was originally incOrpor-
ated in 1869, and has since had its charter re-
enacted with few amendments no less than
five times at a cost to the State OF 5000. A
partial remedy would be afforded by law
requiring that charters shall be submitted to
a vote OF the people before they are presented
to the Legislature. But the only adequate
measure OF reform will be a general law for
the incorporation OF cities. Until some rro-
visions OF this character shall have been made,
in cases where charters are re-enaeted at
length when il it is only desired to amend
one or more sections, will exercise my pre-
rogative to protect the people against the i'm
position.
VILLAGE CHARTERS.
After the adoption of the amendment to the
constitution III 1871, section 81, article 4, it
seems 20 have teen understood by the Legis-
lature that the ninth clause prohibited the
enactment OF any special or private laws
amending existing town and village charters.
Since the decision OF the Supreme Court in
what are snown as the Railway Injunction
Suits, 50 Wisconsin, 425, contrary belief has
prevailed, and been acted upon, based ON the
general expression employed in that decision,
that s'the amendment is prospective only,
not retrospective" From the fact that only
the seventh clause OF this amendment was be-
fore the court, and the ninth clause contains