Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-01-22

the law authorizir +he confinement of
prisoners in that institution for offenses
which IN other counties would be pun
lshed by confinement in the state
prison. should be repealed.
You will find the general report Of
the board an interesting and cogpre-
hensive document, well worthy your
most studious perusal.
THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH AND VITAL
STATISTICS
have been active and untiring in the
discharge of the duties confided to them,
and are entitled to the gratitude of the
people for the good they ale accom-
plishing. | especially commend to
your attention that portion of their re-
port which treats of illuminating oils.
Numerous accidents have occurred in
Wisconsin during the past year, in con-
sequence ofusing inferior oil. The law
should be amended so as to prohibit
the sale of any oil of fire test below the
point of practical safety as determined
by experts.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
By the terms of the law, the 31st day
of March last was designated as the date
for the completion of the geological
survey of the state, but the functions
of the chief geologist were continued
for the purpose of completing the pub
lication ofthe report, and the payment
of a fair compensation therefor
authorized.
The report of this officer shows that
Volume III is in the hands of the book
binder, and that about half of the ma
terial for Volume ~ is in stereotype
plates. Volume 7, which, by the terms
of the law, must embrace a summary
of the general geology and the leading
facts and principles relating to the ma
terial interests of the state, and be so
arranged as to constitute key to the
more perfect understanding of the
whole report, must necessarily await
the completion OF the other volumes.
The manuscript for this volume is,
however, In part prepared, and the
present year may witness the final
summing up OF this work.
The expenses for the survey fcom
October 1, 1878, to March 81, 1879, the
0ale of the cessation of all fixed salar-
les, were $1,000. Since that date there
has been paid the sum $95S.05.
FISH CULTURE.
The report Of the Commissioners of
Fisheries is made direct to the Legisla-
ture. The report OF the past year, pre-
pared by the secretary, will he found
unusually full and interesting, and,
trust, satisfactory. Our efforts IN re-
stocking lakes and rivecs with the kinds
of FISH best adapted to them, have been
eminently successful, and the expert
mental stage of the enterprise has been
safely passed. 1t only remains for the
Legislature to determine from year to
year how much shall be done, and the
results can be predicted with as much
cesaainty as in any other branch of III
Glstry. The expenditures for the last
alendar year were $5.305.95, the
amount on hand for the present year
is s5 1880, and an appropriation of s., ;
600 Is requested for next year.
RAILROADS.
From the report of the Railroad Com
missioner, it appears that $500 miles
of new road have been completed in
Wisconsin during the present year.
making the aggregate of miles now in
operation 2,923.4O, inclusive Of 107.47
miles of narrow gauge track. The utal
number of miles of road operated by
the companies reporting to the COM
missioner is 4, ,765.03. The cost of these
roads and their equipments, as repre-
sented by capital stock and outstanding
bonds, is $205, 1876 ,606.08, and the lei
earnings are reported at $12. .691 .006.8e
being an average of CO pc,
cent. on the assumed cost. The
total number of passengers carried on
all the lines was 5,336,68S and the
freight carried amounted to 1897 ,30G
tons. The number of personal casual.
ties in Wisconsin was 133, as against
96 the previous year. On the eutire
ines of these roads, in all the states,
here were 204 casualties. The mum.
Der of passengers killed were two
neither of them in this state, and the
umber injured was eight. 1t seems
lmost incredible that of the whole
number of passengers carried only ten
were injured; and this fact reflects the
highest credit not only upon the care
and vigilance of the managers and su-
rintendents, but also upon the skill
and fidelity of the thousands of Ms
chanics and workmen in the shops and
along the line, and upon the conductors
and engineers, and their assistants
who run the trains.
RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
During the past year, two important
delegate conventions have been held,
one at Quincy and the other at Louis
vile, to consider the important subjects
connected with the improvement of the
navigation of the Mississippi river and
lis tributaries. 1t is of vital Importance
to the northwest that these natural
highways should be protected from un-
necessary distractions, and their capac-
ity increased to the utmost attainable
limit. To accomplish this, it is neces-
sary that some comprehensive general
system of improvement should be de-
vised and then pressed upon the atten-
ton of congress, to the exclusion OF
local clamor or prejudice. The con-
yentions referred to were attended by
practical men, interested in the matter
under consiG Grafton, and their conclu-
sions and recomm endations should be
not without influence with congress and
the people, in arresting the pernicious
practices which have hitherto obtained
1t has become quite the habit recent
ly to refer to the improvement of the
Fox and Wisconsin rivers in any but
complimentary and assuring terms.
Nevertheless, the work progresses and
well be completed. Despite all claims
and assertions to the contrary, the ex-