The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-01-22

and the consequent necessity for careful super
vision, may be gathered from these statistics:
Amount of fire risks written during
the year. exclusive of amounts
placed in town companies. $3.50, T31, 034 90
Amount paid for premiums thereon. 1,589,472 90
Total losses paid. ................ 1,O37, 1873 90
The commissioner renews his objection to the
law of tins state which declares that the amount
of insurance written in any policy insuring real
property, shall be taken as the absolute measure
of damages in case the property is destroyed,
and urges very cogent reasons for its modifca
ton. 1t seems quite patent that in its present
form the law offers reward for rascalitv, and
in consequence, every honest man who procures
insurance must pay an additional premium to
cover the increase In the general hazard. In so
far as the law affxes quasi pen ilty upon the
companies for permitting over insurance, its
tendencies are altogether in the right direction;
but. IN providing that the penalty shall be paid
to the equally negligent or culpable insured it
encourages over insurance and consequent in
cendlarlsm. The amendment suggested by the
commissioner, or some provision looking to the
accomplishment of the same end, should be in
corporated into the law.
FISH CULTURE.
The operations of the commissioners of fish
cries during the past year have been verv sue
cessful, and the reports from localities where
fish have been distributed are very encouraging
The record of Wisconsin III this branch of in
dustry, in the progress made and the success
attained, Is the counterpart of its record in all
other departments. The expenditures for the
past year were Sc, 297, so. The amount on hand
is 81, 440.4O, and it is estimated that an appro-
p'latlon of $4,000 can be profitable expended
during the current year.
RAILROADS.
The total number of completed miles of rail-
way in the state December 81, 1880. was
3,133 71-100, inclusive of 112 miles of narrow
gauge track, and exclusive of 325$i miles of
sldlngs and spurs. The construction last wear
included 224 49-100 miles of standard gauge
track, miles Of marrow gauge, aud Is miles
changed from narrow 10 standard gauge. The
number OF passengers carried i'll Wisconsin was
2, 500, an increase of 284, 654 over the pre-
cedlng year. The number of tons of freight
carried i'll the state was 4347 379 and the IN
crease IN this item 10, 168 tons the equiva-
lent of H. 600 car loads. Tie total earnings of
all the roads in Wisconsin were S13, 655, .05,
the increase being over g, 000, 000 and the ex-
penses were 81, $50, 493.47, the increase in this
item being about 1850, 0n0-making the net in
crease in earnings $1,000, 1880. The proper
ton Of the stock and funded and un-
funded Indebtedness for the roads in
Wisconsin Is reported at 5129,654, 481. %
making the average net earnings
over and above licenses and taxes of every
description, nearly five per cent. There is,
perhaps, no better index of the prosperous
products from its soil, its mines and its forests
than may be found IN the statistics published
by the railroad commissioner. They are grow
ing more and more complete, accurate and valu-
able every year. The efficiency of the manage
ment of Wisconsin railroads. and the scrupulOus
fidelity and vigilance of all their employees, are
attested by the fact that of the millions of pas
sengers transported, not one was killed, and
only two were injured and in these cases the
injuries were occasioned by their own want Of
care.
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
The amount expended by the United States
during the past year for the Improvement of
the Fox and Wisconsin rivers has been much
less than the Importance of the work reasonably
demanded: nevertheless very substantial pro-
gresS has been made, and the feasibility of
making these rivers practically navigabe from
Lake Michigan to the Mississippi river has been
confirmed. In particular, the experiments
made and continued along the Wisconsin prove
that when the waters of that river are confined
within channel not exceeding 800 feet in width
at low water, there is no difficulty whatever IL
ample depth of water for all pur-
poses of navigation. l therefore suggest the
Importance OF your urging upon congress the
expediency OF making adequate provision for
the early completion of this work
The Sturgeon Bay Canal, though not yet
completed. has been opened to commerce. and
Is amply iustifyilg the arguments and prophe-
cles OF Its early promoters and steadfast friends.
In the year 1879, l60 vessels. with an aggregate
OF 32,O11 tons, passed through the
canal In 1880 the number of vessels was 533,
with capacity Of 1852 tons, and in either
year about OGe-third of the vessels were loaded.
The largest vessel had a capacity of $50 tons
The work by the United States Of the Lake
Michigan terminus of the canal is not vet COM
plete, and there has been at all times during
the season greater depth Of water in the canal
than between the government piers. 1t Is eX-
pected the work on the canal will be fully and
completed AZ early as September of
the present year.
The Mississippi river and its navigable tribu-
tarles border upon and intersect twenty states
and territories, and their systematic improve
ment for purposes of navigation IS n work of
national Importance for both interstate and
foreign commerce. 4 voluntary commission,
composed of representatives appointed by the
governors of these states and territories, has
undertaken to collate the facts. statistics and
arguments relating to this subject and urge
them upon the attention of congress, and asks
that the states more Immediately interested in
this great work make each an appropriation of
a thousand dollars to be expended in defraying
the necessary eXpanse5 of the commission.
Most heartily approving the objects which this
commission is seeking to accomplish, / recon-
mend that you make the appropriation as re-
quested.
NATIONAL GUARD.
There are at present 80 organized companies
OF militia III the state, with an aggregate mem
berghip of 2,085 officers, nOn-cOmmissiCned Of
hCers and privates. Twenty-nme OF these com
panies have been inspected during the year,
and all but four of them found to be in q condi-
ton to Justify payments to them for rent of
armoIy and uniform fund.- as provided by law.
Under the provisions of the law enacted last
winter, one battalion of five companies has
been organized IN Rock and WalwOrth counties,
no .r,,l.1 l. 4 1T
necessity, with full complement of experienced
officers, with but little delay. Nine companies.
at Their own request, were ordered into camp,
for instruction, at Milwaukee last June during
the soldiers reunion, and rendered very efficient
ana lllucH needed service III guarding the camps
and protecting the large amount of public
property loaned TO the state for that occasion.
Several other companies were asoin attendance
and by their soldierly bearing and good conduct
added most materially 10 the interest of that
memorable meeting.
There has been, for some wears. a military
department connected with the state university
and there is at the present time so-cal!ed hat
talon organization, among the students of two
companies, aggreBatng 135 members. under the
command and instruction of Captain Charles
King, L. s. 4. The members of this battalion.
Its officers and instructor, the president of the
university. and the chairman of the exc ,utive
committee of the board of regents. unite in n
request that provision may be made for the in
corporation of this organization and its success
5orS into the Wisconsin national guard, in or
der that they may have a proper military stand
ing, be subjected to proper military discipIine
and receive sslch allowance for care of arms and
armory, and for uniforms, as il may be deemed
expedient by the Legislature to provide for /
most cordially approve this request, and COM
mend it to your favorable consideration.
GOVERNORS RESIDENCE.
II has been my opinion for some tine that the
stase should provide an official residence forts
governor, and require him to occupy it daring
MS term Of Office. Rf6 there Il