Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-03-30


and in fact have entire supervision over
the several state institutions. The board
will doubtless be made up of practical
business men, and hereafter these insti-
buttons will be managed in business
like manner, which has not been the case
in years past with all of them.
A bill has passed both houses placing
the Railroad and Insurance Commission
ers in the list of elective officers. There
will be eight officers to be voted for next
fall, aud each congressional district will
probably have representatives on the
tickets. So far as the republican con-
vention is concerned there will be no
lack of material to select from, as each
district already has from three to ten as
pirantsa for places. There will be
music in the next republican state con-
vention from the entire band.
The several interest bills were indefi-
nitely postponed by the Senate one even
ing this week. There was a feeble at
tempt to save them from destruction, but
it was of no avail.
Old Abe, the war eagle of the Sth reg
iment breathed his last this afternoon.
He had been sick for several days, and
his death was not unlocked for. Old
Abe was about 20 years old, and his
travels and experiences are varied and
interesting. When the different COM
panies composing the 9Th regiment came
here to camp in 1861, company from
Chippewa county brought with it an
eaglet. The boys became much attached
to the bird, and when the regiment was
ordered south he was taken with them.
A man was selected whose only duty was
to take care of the bird, and carry him
when the regiment was on the march.
Old Abe was with the soldier boys for
over four years, and shared in their
marches and battles. He was the espe-
cial target for rebel bullets and was once
Or twice wounded by them. Strange
stories are told of the actions of the
grand old bird during the heat of an en-
gagement. The Sth was known through.
out the south by both armies as the eagle
regiment. Old Abe was the idol of SOL
diers during and since the war, and his
death will cause a sense of sadness to
penetrate the heart of every soldier who
knows the history of the war eagle of
Wisconsin. After the Sth was mustered
out Old Abe was delivered over to the
state, with the battle flags of the regi-
ment for safe keeping. He had quarters
fitted up for him in the basement of the
capitol, and his daily bill of fare has
been the choicest game and chickens,
the market afforded. The old
bird has not been idle since the war. He
has been exhibited for charitable pur-
poses in many cities of the union, and
thousands of dollars have been realized
from sales of his photographs alone. 1t
has been the practice of governors, how
ever, to not allow him to leave his quar-
tiers except to be present at some doings
in which soldiers were interested. His
last public appearance was at the reun-
ion in Milwaukee last June, and many a
soldier looked upon him then for the last
time. There is some talk of giving him
a christian burial, and of erecting mon
ument over the grave, purchased from
the contributions of soldiers.
Several years ago, it will be remem-
bered, the citizens of WATERFOWL used to
hear great deal about the bonded debt
of Iowa county, in this state. As Iowa
county was similarly situated to Water
town SO far as her debt was concerned,
every move made by this county relating
in any way to the debt, was watched
with interest by our citizens. Iowa
county has settled with her creditors and
thinking that short account of how she
did it, might be useful as we'll as inter-
esting to the citizens of Watertown, the
writer hereof sought an interview with
Attorney General Wilson, who lives at
Mineral Point, and took down such
points as relate to the history of Iowa
county bonds. Iowa county issued in
aid of railroads in 1859, 100000 in
bonds. Little or no interest was paid on
these bonds until 1873, when interest
and principal amounted to over half
million dollars. After fighting the bond
holders in the courts for several years
with scarcely decision in their favor,
the people came to the conclusion that
the only way to get rid of the bonds was
to compromise them on the best terms
they could get. With this end in view,
an