Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-01-20


the conservative methods followed and
the wise discretion used by the State
Supervisor in putting this law into
practical operation. A change, amount
ing almost to a rev olution, in the use
Of one of the most important articles
Of commerce has been wrought SO I'M
ostent8tiously IS to occasion compare
lively no annoyance either to dealers
or consumers
FISH CULTURE.
The operations Of the Commission
ers of Fisheries during the past year
have been very successful, and the re-
ports from localities where fish have
been distributed are very encouraging.
The record of Wisconsin in this branch
of industry, in the progress made and
the success attained, is the counterpart
o its record in all other departments.
The expenditures for the past year were
Sc, 287. so. The amount on hand was ST.
44O. 40, and it is estimated that an APP
preparation of $4,000 can be profita-
bly, expended during the current year.
THE STATE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION,
Of which the Governor and Secretary
Of State are &c oficiis members, have
endeavOred to expend the limited
amount of money appropriated to
carry out the purposes for which the
board was created to the best possible
advantage. For some years no efforts
had been made to secure the location
Of immigrants IN Wisconsin, and the
consequence was that they heard Of
other states and territories and the ad-
yantages they offered, and gave no
thoughttO Wisconsin. 1t has not been
an easy matter to turn any consider
able portion of the tide in this direc-
ton, but the laDOrs Of the board have
not been altogether unsuccessful. It's
records shOw.that about q 900 foreign
immigrants settled in Wisconsin during
the last calendar year. This is no in
considerable addition to our pOpula-
ton, and their strong arms and willing
hands will assist very materially in de-
yelOping our dormant resources. 1t is
probable, also, that these immigrants
brought with them and added to the
cash capital Of the state not less than a
million and q half Of dollars in ready
money. The present indications are
that the aCcessiOns to our population
during the current year, from foreign
immigration, will greatly exceed those
Of the past year, and, by reason of the
information brought to light and dis
seminated by this board, many people
in our own state and from other states
will conclude to settle in central and
northern Wisconsin rather than at
70 ,oI~ hC1 l.
and far off western and southwestern
plains.
INSURANCE.
The text of the report of the COM
missioner Of insurance is commend
ably brief That which is necessary to
be said is stated, and all else is omitted.
The magnitude of this interest in Wis
consin, both to the insured and insur-
ers, and the consequent necessity for
careful supervision, may be gathered
from these statistics:
Amount Of fire risks written dur
ing the year, exclusive of
amounts placed in town COM
panies .............. -. $50 73l, 034 90
Amount paid for premiums
thereon Observation-Disclosures. /, JSS, Az %
Total losses paid. ............ ], OBJ, 1913 90
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 a reward for rascal
ity, 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 affiXes a quasi penalty upon
the companies for permitting over-in-
surance, 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 con-
sequent incendiarism. The amend
ment suggested by the commissioner,
or some provisions looking to the ac-
comphshment of the same end, should
be incorporated into the law
RAILROADS.
The total number of completed miles
of railway in the State December 81 ,
10SU, WIS O,1OO I1-1OU, Inclusive OF LIZ
miles of narrow guage track, ard exclu-
sive of $3.50 miles of sidings and spurs
The construction last year included
224 49-100 miles of standard guage
track, 8 miles of narrow guage, and 16
miles changed from narrow to standard
guage. The number of passengers car
ried III Wisconsin was 2,717 800, 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 III this item was 170,16S
tons-the equivalent of17 900 carloads
The total earnings of all the roads in
Wisconsin were S13, 655, 57S05, the in
crease being over $4,000, 100000: and
the expenses were s., 5S3, 493 Al, the
increase in this item being about $780,.
0.00-making the net increase in
earnings 81, 500, 493. So The proportion
of the stock and funded and rnfunded
Indebtedness for the roads in Wiscon-
sin Is reported at 1904, 4S1 Is; max
ing the average net earnings, over and
above licenses and taxes of every des-
cription, nearly five per cent. There
is, perhaps, no better index of the pros
Opro1S condition of tho State and tha