Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-01-21

Tor the present year $5,T3l.9D, and an appropria
ton of $5 90 is requested for next year.
THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH AND VITAL STATISTICS
have been active and untiring in the discharge of
the duties confded to them and entitled to the
gratitude of the peot lie for the good they &C
comprising. 1 especially commend to your at
tention that portion of their reort which treats OF
ilium mating oils. Numerous accidents have &C.
CURED in Wisconsin during the past year, in con.
sequence Of using 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 de-
termned by experts.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
BY the terms of the law, the 31st day of March
last was designated the date for the completion
of the geological survey of the state, but the func-
lions OF the chief geooeist continued for the
purpose of completing the publication of the re-
port, and the payment of q fair compensation
therefor authoriz d.
The report of this officer shows that Volume III
is IN the hands of the bookbinder and that about
half the material for Volume " is in steryotops
plates. Volume L, VIII CHI, by the terms of the law,
must embrace summary of the general geology
and the leading facts and princ les re atng to the
material interests of the STATE, and be arranged
as to constitute hey to the more perfect under
standing 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 of the survey from October L, 1878,
to March 81, 1879, the date of the cessation of all
fixed salaries were $500 Since that date there
has been paid the sum of 1888 IS.
RAILROADS.
From the report of the railroad commissioner it
appears that SO. 80 niles of new railroad have been
completed IN Wl>col SIN during the past year, max
ing the aggrt gate number of miles now in operation
1928 40, inclusive of 107.47 miles of narrow gauge
track. The total number of miles of road operated
by the companies reporting to the comm issioner is
4,7e5t3. The cost of these ro DIS and their equip
ments, represented Ly capital stock and out
standing bonds, is 500, 1s5, SOC 49, and the nee
earnings reported at $12 ,oO6 50, being an
average of 60 pei cent. on the assumed cost The
total number of passengers carried all
the lines was 5 336 6SS, and the freight
carried amounted to 1897 800 tons. The num-
Der of peronal casualties in Wisconsin
was 133, against 1876 the previous year. On the
entire lines Of these roads, in all the states, there
killed was two, neither of them r this state and
the number Injured was eight. 1t seems almost
incredible that of the whole number of passengers
carried only ten injure d. and this fact reflects
the highest credit not only upon the and vigil
lance of the managers and superin tendent, but
also upon the SKILL aud fidelity of the thousands of
mechanics and kmen in the shops and along
the line, and upon the conductors and engineers,
end their assistants. who run the trains.
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
During the past year t~ o important delegate con-
ventons have been held, one at Quincy and the
other at Louisville to consider the important sub
jects connected with the Improvement of the avi-
cation of the Mississippi river and its tributaries
1t is of vital to the north rest that these
natural highways should be p detected from unnec-
essary distinctions and their capacity increased TO
the utmost obtalnab limit. To accomplish this, it
is necessary that some comprehensive general sys-
tenn of Improvement should be devised and then
essed upon the attention Of congress, to the
cluslon of local clamor or prejudice. The conven-
lions referred to were attended by practical men,
interested the matters under consideration, and
their conclusions and recommendations should be
not without influence with cong ess and the people,
n arresting the pernlcious practices which have
herto bta d
1t has become quite the habit estly to refer to
he Improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers
n any but complimentary and assuring terms.
Nevertheless, the work progresses and Will be COM
leted. Despite all claims and assertions to the
ontrary, the experiments by government
ineers in charte have demonstrated that it is
racticable SO to guide and control the waters of
he Wisconsin that hey SHALL dredge navig bic
channel from Portage to the Mississippi. The
United States has undertaken this work; the chief
of engine RS has been ms ructed by congress to
prepare and submit final plans and estimates, and
under his direction board of engineers has made
a careful survey and fill their report, VIII will
be published. Cong ress should be urged by
this legislature and by tie people, to 60 on with
placing money enough at the disposal of the
gineer in charge to complete it without delay.
PUBLIC LANDS.
The report of commissioners of public lands for
the last year has been prepared with exceptional
care. All the books have been carefully reviewed
and tabuations made showing the exact condition
of the trust funds and The public lands.
The number of acres OF land held by the
ate September 80, 1878, was report
cd o5o ,oZoUI
Increase by forte iture during the year "a O51. sS
Increase By error in former reports... 81 $50. so
Increase from school land INDEMNIFY. 81 0S9. 09
1e27,516 "a
Decrease by sales during the year.. 81 S27.21
Held by the state September 80, 574 $50 SO
The total expense of securing the 81 OS9 OF acres
of indemnity school lands was S677 so of which
1892 90 paid fees the registers and recev-
e,s of U aited States land oficas.
Encouraged by the success Of the methods adopt
ed in tho prosecution of The claim for indemnity
r. IxG l1vl
the advice and and cooperation of he commission
ers of the public lands, to adopt similar metho DIS
in presenting the claim of til state for deficiencies
in swamp lands These methods were in brief, to
obtain accurate information in regard to the ex-
tent and merits Gf the claim, and then present it,
and the evidence TO sustain 1t, in SUCH plain and
concise manner that others may understand it.
he preliminary work, now about complete, has
required much extra labor from clerks in the land
department.. which it is due to them to say has
been most cheerfully rer dered.
MILITIA.
esteem it great misfortune that the legis, ature
of Wisconsin has not hitherto addressed itself to
the serious consideration of measures for the
proper organization and equipment If the state
militia We cannot hope always to escape dlsol ders
and tumuts similar to those which have arisen in
other states a. nations. II is therefore neither
prudent nor economical to postpone from year to
year such pre- paratons the experience of others
has shown to be indispensable for the discipline
and instruction of that branch of the upon
which we must rely to suppress such tumults, as
msy arise any day, too formidable to be controlled
Dy the CIVIL auInOrT1oS.
At the present time the organized militia of the
state, known the Wisconsin National Guard,
Numbers twenty-six companies, and has aggre-
gate of 1910 officers, non commiss stoned officers.
and privates The total expenditures during the
year account of the National Guard, were
$9,442.S6.
Renewing my former recommendations that
provision be made for regimen tai and battalion
Organizations and annual encampments, submit
the matter to your consideration and such action
as you may deem for the best interests and welfare
of the state.
INTEREST.
There is subject likely to come before you
for consideration during the present session upon
which a greater divergence Of opinion is enter
tained than upon the subject of the proper rate of
interest to be permitted by upon the loan or
TO bearance of money. It il urged that the present
law, under present circumstances is prejudicial
as we'll to those who would lend as to those who
must borrow money; that large amounts OF capital
are withheld from investment waiting for eher
rate of interest and that many enterprises are
thereby crippled. commend this subject 20 your
mature consideration trusting that yon will be able
to agree upon measure which, while just to all
concerned, shall also hberate capital, encourage
industry, and afford to all classes CT citizens the
protection they have the right to expect from the
law
AGRICULTURE.
l much regret that the statistics of agriculture