Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-15
SMITHS MESSAGE.
Financial Condition of Wisconsin -Edu-
cationaI, Charitable and Penal Institu-
tions-RecOmmendatio Etc.


cationa1, Charitable and Penal Institu
tions-Recommendati Etc.
MILWAUKEE, Jan. 1S.-The annual message
of Gov. Smith was read to the legislature to-
day at Madison. 1t gives lucid summary ol
reports from the several departments of the
State government, the condition of the public
fund and of the various educational, charitable
benevolent and penal institutions of the State,
with number of important suggestions and
recommendations. The receipts from direct
State tax during the last fiscal year amounted
to S45, 1851 The railroads paid in license
taxes almost an equal sum, $41 ,814 ,876, while
the license taxes from insurance companies
amounted to 81, 1855.
The expenditures of last year reached the
sum of S1,179,S15.52, being an increase of
1924 ,703.01 over those of the preceding year.
Most of this increase is due to the payment of
SIS, ,009 for the Milwaukee asylum for the in
sane, and an excess of $42, 1865 appropriated
to hospitals, educational and benevolent insti-
tutions.
The total trust fund of the State, which ins
cludes the school, university, agricultural col
lege and normal school funds, amounted to
$4,S12, ,309.37, of which $4,207, ,699.4 were at
interest at the close of the fiscal year, and
S1O4, 4,609.9S in the treasury.
The total public indebtedness of the people
of the State is somewhat less than 100000
The State debt proper is only 81, ,252 ,057, which
is invested in the trust funds.
The given value of the taxable property of
the State was fixed by the last State board of
assessment at $445, $50, ,720. The real value
the governor estimates is not less than
$1,000, 100000. The value ofprivate property,
exempt from taxation, is about $6,S53, 600.
Of this nearly S5,700,000 is church property,
the remainder belonging to scientific, literary,
benevolent and agricultural associations.
The State tax now collecting will be about
100000 in excess of that of last year.
Out of 463, 1913 children of school age, only
299, ,558 are reported as attending school the
past year. The expense of the normal schools
was $4O.S1 per pupil. The whole number of
pupils 1880. The expenses of the State uni
versity were $97, ,060, of which ,502 were
paid to instructors.
During the last year it cost the people of the
State over S250,000 for the arrest, detention,
conviction and punishment of criminals.
Attention is called to the propriety of urg-
ing further provision for completing the i'm
provements Of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers.
The business of the State land office has largely
increased during the past year, sales aggre-
eating over %, 900 acres.
Especial attention is called to the increased
production of tobacco and flax in this State
and the favorable conditions presented for the
manufacture of linens, as an important branch
of State industry.
Among other important recommendations
of the message is the purchase by the State of
a residence for the governor and an appropria-
tion to enable the State to take suitable part
in the approaching centennial celebration of
the victory of Yorktown