Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-01-17
TERMS. s2.oo PER YEAR
WHOLE NO. 1914.

State Board of Health have been active during
the past year in the discharge of their appro-
pirate duties, thereby proving themselves
public benefactors. am advised that the
report of the board. among other things, will
recommend legislation looking to more COM
plete returns of vital statistics and to the pub
LEGATION of a larger edition OF its annual reports
Concurring in these recommendations, / solicit
for them your favorable consideration.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The geological survey of the state has been
prosecuted with very satisfactory results DUR
ing the year. The second volume of the final
reports has been published, and rehects great
credit upon all engaged in its productions, from
the explorer in the field to the engravers and
printers, from whose hands the book and ac
complaining atlas of maps have been received.
In August last Prof Moses Strong, assistant
geologist, was accidentally drowned in the
Wisconsin river, while in the prosecution of
his official duties. His death was not alone
sad affliction to his family and immediate
friends. but great loss to the state 1t would
be in accordance with the precedence in SINH
lar cases, and proper public recognition of
his services, for the legislature to provide for
the payment of his salary TO his family, ftom
the time of his death to the end Of the year
for which he had been appointed.
FISH Culture
The fourth annual report of the commissions
ers of fisheries abounds in interesting informa-
ton relative to this branch of useful industry.
With very moderate expenditures, the CONS
mission is stocking our lakes and rivers with
different kinds of fish, and we may reasona-
bly, anticipate ample returns in due time. The
commissioners ask for an appropriation of
$S,0o8 to enable them to carry on their work
to September 80, 1879.
JUDICIAL CIRCUITS.
The report of the commissioner appointed
to investigate as to the relative amount of la
Dor required of the several circuit judges, and
to ascertain what charges, if any, are desirable
in the formation of the several judicial cir
cults, viii be made directly to the legislature.
Ii cannot be expected, therefore, that should
review or criticise the work of this commits
sion. / assume that its members have per-
formed their laber with conscientious thor
oughness / esteem the reports of all similar
commissions as great aids to judicial legisla
ton, and do not doubt that this report will re-
ceiye proper consideration.
REVISION OF STATUTES.
The completed labois of the learned gentle~
men appointed to revise our statutes will be
presented to you at an early day. The emil
nent ability of these gentlemen, and the zeal
and thoroughness with which they have de,
voted themselves to the work, render it quite
certain that the revision, as il comes from
their hands, will be as nearly perfect as tits
possible for such work to be. therefore trust
that all propositions to modify and change it
will be carefully scrutinized and adopted only
after the most mature consideration.
STATE Hi HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1t is with great pleasure that reply with a
request Of the State Historical Society, and
lay before you summary of its operations for
the past year. The additions to its library
number 1878 volumes, and 5000 pamphlets
and documents, making the fetal present num-
Der of volumes S6,957; of pamphlets and doc
uments 40,107. Of this number 1904 are
bound newspaper files The receipts into the
general fund were S6,044.25, and the expen-
ditures S4,997S1. The additions to the bind
ing fund were s795l0, making the total of the
fund $5.5954l, besides $40 acres of land in
Texas, the gift of the late Hon. John Catlin.
INSURANCE SUPERVISION.
The secretary Of the 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 he shall be in some manner relieved.
Various methods have been suggested for eff
u
tional amendment creating the Office Of audit
or Of public accounts. am constrained to
doubt the expediency of thus changing the
constitution In my judgment, changes in our
fundamental law should be made only in cases
of extreme necessity, and multiplication Of
officers should be studiousy avoided as long
as possible. /, therefore, recommend that the
duties of commissioner of insurance be trans
ferred from the secretary of state to the rail-
road commissioner. see no re ison why the
last named officer may not have ample time to
attend to them without in the least neglectng
the duties now deyolving upon him. and that,
too, without any considerable extra expense
for clerk hire or Office outfit.
RAILROADS
The report of the railroad commissioner is
not yet published and am, therefore, with>
out information as to the details of the work
OF the officer for the past year. 1t has not
come to my knowledge that any serious com.
plants have been made against any of the
railroad companies doing business in this state
1t is now conclusively settled that the state
has the right to regulate railroads, and the
managers of these great arteries of trade and
commerce seem to be using their best endeav.
ors to gre the least possible occasion for the
state to exercise this right.
MILITIA.
There has been expended during the past
year for military purposes, the sum Of So, POT.
and of this amount S., 10000 was paid to the
state militia tor rent of armories, being at the
rate of $500 to each company. | consider a
well regulated and properly disciplined mill
tia as very essential for the protection Of life
and property i therefore believe that the
formation of military companies, and their
organization into regiments and brigades
should be sedulously encouraged that when
thus organized they should be furnished with
the best of modern arms, and required to
meet for drill and inspection.
l sincerely hope that TIE day NAV never
come when the civil authorities in Wisconsin
will be obliged 10 call for military assistance,
but should that day arrive most deplor able
consequences might result, il there were not
a well disciplined and properly armed militia
to respond to such call. therefore bespeak
your earnest cooperation in this matter.
SUPREME COURT. G
The adoption Of the constitutional amend
ment increasing the number of associate jus
tees of the Supreme Court, will impose upon
you the duty of providing for their election
and classification. It has been suggested to
| me, also, tina. with this increase in the num-
| Der of justices, the present accommodations of
this court will be quite too limited. If upon
proper inquiry you find such to be the case,
trust you viii not neglect to provide the nec-
essary additional room.
STURGEON BAY AND LAKE MICHIGAN CANAL.
The work of connecting the waters of Green
Bay and Lake Michigan by the ship canal, and
thereby very materially decreasing the dis
lance between the principal ports of Green
Bay and the ports of Lake Michigan, as well as
creating much needed and most available
harbor Of refuge, has been carried forward
with energy during the past year. Already
more than one-half OF the entire work is COM
pleted, and the engineer in charge assures me
that the remaining portion win be finished
within two years.
FEEBLE MINDED AND INBEcILE.
The last legislature directed the State Board
of Charities and Reform to make certain inS
vestigations in regard to the necessity and
practicabilty of providing for the education
of the feeble minded. The result Of their
labors will be laid before you. The state has
undertaken to provide for the blind, the deaf,
al tha