River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-01-20

AAOAA1 Al4CcC ctfNllSb1CS.
Amount Of fire risks written dur
ing the year exclusive Of
amounts placed in town com
p4IileS. .........-..... y % al U34 40
Amount paid for premiums
thereon ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l. 5SS, 472 90
Total losses paid ....,........ J. 037 1913 90
The commissioner renews his obiec-
ton TO the law Of this state, which de-
clares that the amount of insurance
written in any policy insuring real
property, shall be taken as the abso-
lutte measure of damages in case the
property Is destroyed, and urges very
cogent reasons for its modification. 1t
seems quite patent that in its present
form the law offers reward for rascal
lty, and, IN consequence, every honest
man who procures insurance must pay
an additional premium to cover the in
crease in the general hazard, In so far
as the law attixes quasi penalty upon
the companies for permitting over-in-
surance, its tendencies are altogether
IN the right direction; but, III providing
that the penalty shall be paid to the
equally negligent or culpable insured,
II encourages over-insurance and con-
sequent incendiarism. The amend
ment suggested by the commissioner,
or some provision looking to the ac-
complishment Of the same end should
be incorporated into the law.
RAILROADS.
The total number of completed miles
Of railway in the State December 81,
1880, was 8, 1873 71-100, inclusive Of 112
miles of narrow guage track, and exclu-
sive of $3.50 miles of sidings and spurs.
The construction last year included
pa 49-l00 miles Of standard guage
track, 8 miles Of narrow guage, and 10
miles changed from narrow to standard
guage. The number Of passengers car
ricd IN Wisconsin was 2 II 800, an in
crease of 2S4, 654 over the preceding
year. The number of tons of freight
carried in the State was 4,347 ,379, and
the increase IN this item was 170, 168
tons-the equivalent of17 900 carloads
The total earnings of all the roads in
Wisconsin were $l3, 655, 578.05, the in
crease being over $1,000 10000; and
the expenses were 81, 583, 493. At, the
increase In this item being about $3.50.
0000 0-making the net increase in
earnings 81 500, 493 so. The proportion
of the stock and funded and unfunded
Indebtedness for the roads in Wiscon-
sin is reported at $129, 654 ,4S1 Is; max
ing the average net earnings, over and
above licenses and taxes of every des-
criptlon, nearly five per cent There
is, perhaps, no better index of the pros
porous condition of the State, and the
increase of the products from its soil,
its mines and its forests, than may be
found in the statistics published by the
Railroad Commissioner. They are
growing more and more complete, ac-
curate and valuable every year The
efficiency of the management of Wis
cOnsin railroads, and the scrupulOus
fidelity and vigilance Of all their en-
ployees, are attested by the fact that of
the millions of passengers 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 i'm
provement of the Fox and Wisconsin
rivers has been much less than the i'm
portance Of the work reasonably de-
manded nevertheless, very substantial
progress has heen made, and the feast
bility Of making these rivers practically
nayigable 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 a channel not
exceeding 300 feet in width at low
water, there is no difficulty whatever
in maintaining ample depth of water
for all purposes of navigation. l there
| fore suggest the importance of your urg-
ing upon congress the expediency OF
making adequate provision for the early
completion of this work.
The Sturgeon Bay canal, although
not yet completed, has been opened to
commerce, and is amply justifying the
arguments and prophecies Of its early
promoters and steadfast friends. In the
year 1879, 100 vessels, with an aggre-
gate capacity of 1901 tons, passed
through the canal. In 1880 the num-
Der of vessels was 533, with capacity
of lis, $40 tons, and in either year
about one-third of the vessels were
loaded The largest vessel had a
capacity of $50 tons. The work by
the United States at the Lake Michi-
complete, and there has been at all
times during the season a greater depth
of water In the canal than between the
government piers. 1t is expected tie
work on the canal will be fully and
satisfactorily completed as early as
September of the present year.
The Mississippi river and It's naviga-
bic tributaries border upon and inter
sect twenty states and territories, and
their systematic improvement for
purposes of navigation is work of ma
tional importance for both interstate
and foreign commerce. A voluntary
commission composed of representa-
tiyes 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 congress,
and asks that Il states more immedi-
a.ely interested in this great work make
each an appropriation of 81, 200 to
be expended in defraying the uecessa-
~ expenses of the commission. Most
heartily approving the objects which
this commission is seeking tn accom-
plisb. | recommend that you make
the appropriation as requested.
NATIONAL GUARD.
there are at present 81 organized com
panies Of militia in the state, witt an
aggregate membership Of 2,085 officers,
non-commissioned officers and privates.
Twenty-nine of these companies have
been inspected during the year, and
all hut four Of them found to be in a
condition to justify payments to them
for rent of armOry and uniform fund,
as provided by law Under the provis-
ions of the law enacted last winter, one
battalion OF five companies has been
organized in Rock and Walworth
counties, and could be assembled for
duty, in case of necessity, with full
complement Of experienced officers,
with but little delay. Nine companies,
at their own request, were ordered in
to camp, for instruction, at Milwaukee,
last June, during the Soldiers reunion,
and rendered very efficient and much
needed service in guarding the camps
and protecting the large amount of pub
lie property loaned to the state for that
occasion Several other companies
were also in attendance and by their |
soldierly bearing and good conduct /
added most materially to the interest /
Of that memorable meeting