Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-01-19

invite particular attention to the items of
fax and tobacco. These crops have now been
cultivated for sufficient number of years to
satisfy even the most skeptical that the soil of
Wisconsin is peculiarly adapted to their success
full growth. The yield of fax is sufficient, it
would seem, to justify the erection of mills for
its manufacture, particularly rs it is quite obvi-
GUS that an assured market for the straw would
materially increase the acreage devoted to that
crop. Those who have Investigated the subject
assure me that all the conditions necessary to
the successful manufacture of linen of all de-
scriptions are found in Wisconsin, and I am
persuaded that flax culture and manufacturing
offer very promising fields for the investment of
capital. Tobacco culture has hitherto been
confined to a small portion of the state. but it
has already assumed large proportions as a
commercial factor. The value of the crop har-
vested in 1880 will reach nearly or quite a mil
lion and half or dollars, and the time is not
far distant when it will be expedient to provide
proper legal forms for assuring the markets of
the world of the grade and quality of Wiscon-
| sin grown tobacco. .-Eai se
also invite your attention to the fact, not ap-
pearing in these statistics, that considerable
quantities of the improved varieties of sugar
cane are being raised in Wisconsin, and that the
results of recent experiments tend to show that
excellent syrup and sugar can be obtained
therefrom. Efficient and practicable methods
for manufacturing the syrup and crystalizing
the sugar, 80 that the product may have a
uniform commercial standing and value, remain
to be discovered, and if you can aid in accom-
plshing this, the resulting benefits will be of
great public utility.
I commend to your most careful considera-
ton the paragraph in the report of the secre-
tary of state concerning statistics. Much has
been done under the present law to evolve Or
der and approximate certainty out Of chaos
and utter unreliability, but the neglect of a
few officers makes the returns more or less in
rVr%0 41,o,
modify the law by providing that no officer,
whose duty it is to collect and make returns of
statistics, shall receive pay for any services
til he shall produce and file proper written evil
dence that he has complied with all the pro-
visions of law. l approve, also, the recon-
scope of the law should be enlarged so as to
embrace the statistics of mining, numbering
and manufacturing, and suggest in addition,
that lumber inspectors should be required to
forward their reports to the secretary of state
to be tabulated, consolidated and published, in
connection with other statistics.
And withal the state should not be content
simply to gather and publish statistics. 1t
should aid in every practicable way in develop
ing and utilizing the great resources which we
possess. 1t can do this, in part, most economi-
cally and efficiently by continuing reasonable
appropriations to the State and Northern Agri-
cultural Societies, the Horticultural Society and
the Dairymen's Associa ton; and there may
properly be added to the list, such other socie-
ties as shall devote themselves to developing
and perfecting new forms of industry.
GOVERNORS RESIDENCE.
1t has been my opinion for some time that the
state should provide an official residence for its
governor, and require him to occupy it during
bis term of office; and as there is now an OPP
portunity to purchase. upon very reasonable
terms, furnished house and grounds, in every
way suited for the purpose, recommend an
early consideration of the subject by the legis-
lature.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
Amendments to Section /, of Article III,
and Sections 4, 5, II and Il, of Article ", of
the constitution, were proposed in the last
legislature, and agreed to by majority of the
members elected to each of the two houses,
The constitutional requirements necessary to
enable this Legislature to consider these amend
ments have been complied with, and, if they
shall be agreed to by you it will be your duty to
provide for their submission to the people in
such manner and at such time as you may pre-
scribe.
iFEDKRAL CENSUS AND APPoRTIoNMENT.
Inasmuch as the constitution requires that
the Legislature SHALL at their first session, after