Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-17
GRAND RAPIDS WIS. THURSDAY. JANUARY II, 1878


number 904 are bound newspaper files. The
receipts into the general fund were S5O44 25. an(
the.expenditures a e91 81. The additions TO the
binding fund were S795 10, making the total o
that fund S2.595 81, besides $40 acres OF land il
Texas, the'gift of the late Hon John Catlin.
INSURANCE SUPERVISION
The Secretary OF State calls attention to the
extent and variety of the duties required of that
officer, and it is quite manifest that the time has
arrived when the public good requires that ht
Stal be In some manner relieved. Various meth
DDS have been suggested for effect ng this result
among them constitutional amendment creating
the office OF auditor of Public Accounts. / am
constrained to doubt the expediency of thus
changing the constitution. In nv Judgment
changes in our fundamental law should be made
only in cases of extreme necessity. and n multi.
plication of offices shonld be studiousy avoided
as long as possible l, therefore, Recommendations
the duties of comm ssinner of Insurance be trans.
ferred from the Secretary OF State TO the Raj road
Commissioner. see reason why the last
named officer may not have ample time to attend
to them without in the least negiectng the duties
now deyoyng upon him, and that, too. without
any considerable extra expense for clerk hire er
office outfit.
RAILROADS,
The report of the railroad commissioner is not
yet published, and | am, therefore, without in
formation to the details of the work of that of
ticer for the past year 1t has not come to my
knowledge that any serious complaints hav been
made against any of the railway companies doing
business IN this state. 1t is now conclusiyely
settled that the state has the right to regulate
of trade and commerce seem to be using their
best endeavors 10 give the least possible occasion
for the state to exercise this right.
MILITIA.
There has been expended during the past fiscal
year for military purposes the sum of S. 26T co,
and of this amount <5.40000 was paid to the state
militia for rent of armores, being az the rate of
300 to each company. | consider well regu-
lated and properly disciplined militia as very eS-
sential for the protection of life and property.
therefore believe that the formation of military
and inr %p arriY
and brlgades should be sedulouSly encouraged {:
that when thus organized they should be fur-
nished with the best OF modern arms, and re-
quired to meet for drill and inspection.
sincerely hope the day may never come when
the civil authorities in Wisconsin will be obliged
10 call for military assistance but should that day
arrive most depl0rabc consequences might re-
suit II there were not well dIscip!ei and prop
erly armed mi itia 10 respond to such a cali |
therefore bespeak your earnest cooperation in
this matter.
SUPREME COURT.
The adoption OF the constitutional amendment
increasing the number of associate Justices of the
supreme court. will impose upon Won the duty of
providing for their election and classification. 1t
has been suggested TO me, also, that with this in
crease in the number of justices the present ac-
commodations for this court will be qui too linn
tied. If upon proper inquiry You find such TO be
the case trust yOn will not neglect to provide the
necessary additional room.
STURGEON BAY AND LAKE MICHIGAN CANAL
The work of connecting the waters OF Green
Bay and Lake chigan by a ship canal and
there by very materially decreasing the distance
between the principal ports on Green Bay andt e
ports on Lake Michigan, as well creating a
much needed and most available harbor OF refuge
has been carried 'rward with energy during he
past year Already more than one-half uf the en-
tire "ork IS completed, and the engineer IN charge
assures me that the remaining portion will be fin
ished within twOyears.
FEEBLE MINDED AND IMBECILE.
The last legislature directed the stste Board OF
Charities and Reform to make certain investiga-
tions in regard to the necessity and practicablty
of providing for the education of the feeble
minded. The result of their lahors will be laid
before you. The state has undertaken to provide
for the blind. the deaf, the incofrigible and the
insane and no good reason appears IOr neglecting
the feeble minded and the imbecile Other states
are meeting with very gratifying success in their
to educate this class of unfortunateS
and their experience should encourage us to tase
up this work as soon as possible. The necessity
for immediate action in this direction is not so
urgent in my judgment as in The case of the
chronic insane, but at no distant day suitable
provision should be made in their behalf.
PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRIES
The facts and figures" herewith submitted
may we'll impress upon our minds enlarged con-
ceptons Of the grave responsibilities to which we
nave been called by the suf1rages of our fellow
citizens. We have been accustomed to regard
Wisconsin as only growing state, 1t is more
than that-it is a great state. Its financial edu-
cationa! penal and charitable affairs involve the
annual collection and disbursement of millions of
dollars OF money; the support and care of thou
sands Of schools; the detec ion and punishment
Of long list of criminals; and the furnishing of
food, shelter, clothing instruction and medical
attendance Tor the destitute, the unfortunate and
the afflicted
These are Indeed noble themes upon which to
dwell, calculated to arouse and maintain 4 well
founded state pride, and indicative of a healthy
vigorous and self-perpetuating civilization. Con
them, we should not forget, however.
that it is TO the productive industries to the
agriculturist, the manufacturer and the miner,
their allies and assistants, that we are most
largely indebted for whet we are and that our
principal reliance under God is upon them for
continued prosperity and development as a state
te dS, therefore, o the enlargement of
these industries and to the protection of the per
sons engaged in them should receive your en-
and support.
AS contributing to the promotion of these ends
recommend that suitable provision be made for
he collection and publication of full and accurate
'Eatlcs in relation to all the great interests of the
state, especially those conneuted with agriculture
which Is, and for many years must continue to
De, the most important industry of the state not
)nly as furnishing employment to the greatest
gregate the largest amount of capital, but upon
IS success depends very largely the success of all
other industries whatever, therefore, the state
'an do IN disseminating Information in regard to
he results OF improved processes in agriculture,
,nd to the relative profits derived from the diff
erent branches of this industry, il is not only
proper but important that it should do The
state agricultural society organized to assist
n the accomplishment of these purposes and
las T6nucr6u most efQclent service this dITec-
loI 10 enable 1t to continue It's work in the
uture, L recommend that the usual appropriation
De continued and made permanent.
THE CURRENCY.
Intimately connected with state no less than
With natl onal prosperity is the matter of a sound
md stable currency. II is the language of one of
,ur most gifted and profound statesmen that a
iIsorGered currency is one OF the greatest polit-
cal evils. II undermines the virtues necessary
or the support OF the social system and encour-
ages propensltl destructive to its happiness.
t wars against industry, frugality and economy,
md 1t fosters the evil spirits of extravaganza and
speculation. Of all the cOntriYanceS for cheating
he laboring classes of mankind none has been
more effectual than that which deludeS them with
PAPER money. IhlS Il the most effectual of lnVen-
ions to fertiiiZe the rich mans fed by the sweat
If the poor mans brow. Ordinary tyranny op-
PRESTON. excessive taxation-theSe bear lightly
IN the happiness OF the mass OF the community
compared Wi'h fraudulent currencies and the rob
1erIes committed by deprecIa;ed paper. Uurewn
history ha- recorded for our instruction enough
md more than enough of the demolazing ten
iency, the injustice and the intolerabe oppres-
lion on the Virtuous and well disposed, OF de-
graded paper currency. authorized by law or any
way countenanced by government
The road TO q resumption of specie payments may
le rough, but there are no sloughs therein and
hat we have 50 nearly reached the desired goal, |
very backward step must te regarded a public |
alami y. do NOT, however. share in the op MON /
which seems TO obtain with some that the remoneti-
atIon "f silver will be backward step. Silver may
cry properly ai'd very honestly be used for coinage
nd if the present ratio with gold is sufficient to
insure the harmonious circulation OF both metals let
he ratio be increased
The wise st; tesman seeks to find new markets and /
ddi'iona for all the productions of his country
ecause thereby profit to the citizen ar the
ountry is benefited The United States the great
nation of the world. Every legiti-
nate use to VIII ch silver be applied enhances its
alue, and to that adds to the wealth Of the
alton. Its use money is both legitimate and \
the only conditions being that the rea-
i've values of silver and gold be duly preserved in the
oinage, and that the profits of coinage if any be /
eserved to the government.
SAVINGS BANEs
Economy and Industry reciprocal virtues so
hat one cannot thrive unless accompanied by the
ther Savings banks, conveniently located and
onestly and efficiently managed, have hitherto been
lost powerful agents 10 engender habits OF thrift
oTding they 10, reasonable assurances of safety
lr deposits. and moderate income tlerefrnrn Snch /