The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-01-24

also upon the skin and fidelity of the thausand. Of
m eSanles and workmen n the ships AMI along
the line, and uDon the conductors and ienginesrs
ana tEeir assistants, who run the trains.
RIVER IMPROVEMENT
During the past year, two important delsgste
conventions have been held one at Quincy ana the
other at Louisville, to consider the important sub
15cts connected with the Improvement of the nsyf
gatioa of the Mississippi rivers ana its TRIBUTARIES
i II IS of vital importance to the northwest that
these natural highways should be protected from,
unnecessary distractions, and their capacity in
creased to The utmost aEtsiuable limit. TO accom-
plsG this it Is necessary that some comprehensive
/ general system OF improvement should be devised
/ and then pressed u, the attention OF congress
/ TO the exclusion of local clamcr prejudice rbe
conventions referred to were attended by practical
men, interested in the matters under considera-
ton, and their conclusions and recon nendstions
should be not without influence with congress and
/ the people, in Srresting the perncious practices
/ which have hitherto obtained.
III has become quite the habit recently to refer To
/ tho Improvement OF the Fox and Wisconsin rtyars
/ IN any but complimentary and assuring terms
Nevertheless the work progresses and will be com
pleted. Despite all claims and assertions to the
contrary, the experiments by government engineers
in. charge have demonstrated that il Is practicable
40 10 guida and control the a,aIe-s -
the Wisconsin that they shall dredse
navigsble channel from Portage to the Mssis-
sIppi. The United States has undertaken
ms work they chief of engineers has been in
strccted by congress 10 prepare and submit Anal
plans and estimates and under his direction a
board OF engineers has made careful survey and
filed their report, which will soon be published
Congress should be urged by this legislature and
the people 10 go on with the work more vigorously
than ever before by placing money enough at the
disposal of the engineer in charge to complete it
without delay.
PUBLIC LANDS.
The report of the conmiSsi oners % public lands
for the last year has been prepared with excep-
tIonal care all the books have been carefully re-
viewed, and tabulations made, showing the exact
condition of the trust FUNDS sud the pubic lands.
The number OF acres of land held by
the state September so, 1878, was
ported al ............. ...-..--.....l 53S S25 OF
increase by forfeiture during the year, 24GsI Ss
Increase by error in former reports. 2T55O so
Increase from school land indemnity. 81, 0sg %
l,6275I6.54
Decrease BY sales during the vear..-... So s27.2l
Held by the state September 80, 1879 !, 674ssg.33
The total expense of securing the 81 C89 G9 sores
OF indemnity lands was S677 81 Of which SiS2 90
was paid as lees 10 the registers and receivers Of
United States land Offices.
Encouraged by the success of the methods adopt
ed IL the prosecution OF the claim for indemnity Tor
deficiencies in school lands, determined, with the
advice and co-Operaionof the commissioners of the
pubic lands, 10 adoft similar methods in present
ing the claim Of the state for deficiencies in swamp
lands. These methods were, in brief TO obtain ac-
curate Information in regard TO the extent and
merits OF the claim, and then present il, and the
evidence to sustain i, in such plain and concise
manner that others may understand II. The pre-
huinary work, now about complete. has required
much extra labor from tire clerks IN the land de-
{
most cheerfully rendered.
MILITIA.
esteem it a great misfortune that the legislature
OF WISCONSIN has not hitherto addressed Itself to
the serious consideration of measures for the prop
er organization and equipment Of the state militia
We cannot hope always 10 escape disorders and
tumults similar those which have arisen in other
states aud nations. 1t IL therefore neither prudent
nor economical to postpone from year TO year such
preparations as the experience of others has shosu
to be Indispensable for the discipline and il struc-
D -.
must rely to suppress such tumulls as may arise
any day, too formidable 70 be controlled by The ci
/ vii authorities.
AT the present time the organized militia of the
state. known the Wisconsin National Guard,
numbers twenty-s SIX companies, and has aggre-
| gate OF SO officers, non-commissioned officers
] and priTates. The total expend lures during The
i45.f6. -
/ Renewing my former recommendations that pro-
vision be ne de for r6Ementdl and battalion gan
ia ions ard annual encaupments, I submit the
matter 10 your consideration, aud such ton az
you may deem for the best interests and welfare OF
/ the state.
INTEREST.
There is no subject likely to come before you for
consideration during the present session upon
which gre ter divergence Of opinion is tertain
ed than upon the subject of the proper rate of in
teresr to be permitted by av upon the loan for
bsarance of money. II is urged that the present
Law, under present circumstances, is pref udlced
well to those who would lend as 20 those no must
/ borrow money; hat large amounts of csp,tal are
Withheld from investment waiting for higher rates
Of interest, and that many enterprises thereby
crippled. I CONNIE nd this subject to your mature
consideration, trusting that you will be able 10
agsee upon MEASURE Whi b. while just to all con-
rued, shall also ilerate capital encourage indus
try. and afford to sl classes OF citizens the pro.
lection they have the right to expect from the law
AGRICULTURE.
much regret that the statistics of agriculture
turned to the secretary Of state are 90 incomplete
AID eIia5e to be practically worthless. 1t IS
well perhaps, TO continue the lag aud try 70 edu-
/ cate assessors comprehend and comply with its
terms but until greater accuracy IS secured. Il Is
attempt q institute smIarlsCns; II cal De sals
in general terms, that the agricultural interests Of
Wisconsin re never more prosp srODs, nor agrIcuI
tGrists, As class N re heartily IN accord with the
progressive tendencies Of the age Indeed. all in
dustres seem to thrive in n IsCyn- in, and should
Zee i've encouragement, but az rICutuTe 50 largely
therefore appropriations TO the State and Northern
| Agricultural societies might lie supplemented by
| men ass citation. All these societies have been
most serviceAble agents in leading Wisconsin to Its
present enviaae position In the various department
Of agriculture and Is certain that the aid hereto
fore extended to them has been returned many hun
dred fold.
I Every year brings u. new proofs Of the yizor and
elasticity Of our republican form Of sLyernmenr
and Of the wisdom and tEs courage Of republic II
are learning that mprymIses with error are fatal
ana that Only the right IL expedent There Is 81
TO encourage Us. thefet- re- Ia the belief, not only
that the people Of Maine will speedily cause right
and justice to prevail there, but also that in the
broader domain Of the nation. the time is not fai
distant when right and justice will everywhere snG
IN all things prevail and national supremacy insuE
domestic tranquility, promote the General welfare
and secure the blessings II liberty to ourselves anC
our p0sterity. WILLIAM 3. SMITH.
MAUI8os, January Is. 1880.
a War Against Rats.