Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-01-18

called school fund" and section us of the
| revised statutes prescrbes the manner of car
rying this constitutional provision into effect.
The county treasUrers of many OF the larger
and more populous counties, for period OF
nearly twenty years. had neglected to obey said
provision of the constitution and the laws en-
acted to carry it out. The attorney general
during the past year brought suit IN the su-
preme court against one of these delinquent
/ county treasurers to recover the fines collected
during the year 1880. That court on the 4th of
June last filed its unanimous opinion sustaining
the law above cited and required such treas
urer to pay. Since that decision, most of the
counties have paid to the state treasurer the
fines collected during the year 1880. The
amount so paid to January l, 1882, is $11,-
583.07, being more than had been collected
from the same source for the ten years preced-
ing. 1t is estimated that there is due from the
several counties for the years in which they
have neglected to obey the law the sum of
$4,000
Your attention is invited to this subject with
a view to ascertain if any legislation is neces-
sary to insure an equitable legal adjustment
! thereof. ## F n
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN.
The several reports of the president and sec
rotary of the board of regents, and the presi-
dent CT the university show that the institution
is In thriving and cOmmendable condition. 1t
is now an institution of which the state should
be proud, made SO by generous donation of
lands granted by congress, by occasional aid OF
the legislature. by the phianthropic munitcence
of Governor Washburn, and the prOvident care
and management of the presidents and faculty.
| The location of the university is more healthful
and advantageous than that of any other iDSti-
tuition Of the kind in the west, and by liberal
and generous policy on the part of the legisla
! ture such as the people of the state would be
proud, in after times, to have bestowed, it may
| be made the most serviceable and distinguished
educational institution in the west.
suggest that you make yourselves familiar
with this institution, and know its wants and
heed them with such provident iberality. that
it will soon advance to that meritorious rank so
| justly coveted.
A. EXPERIMENTS IN AMBER CANE.
| In accordance with chapter 211 of the general
| laws OF 1881, Prof w. A. Henry has made ex-
periments in amber cane and the ensilage OF
! folders. and has made full and complete re-
port thereof to me. In his report Prof. Henry
estimates that syrup can be made at the rate Of
| $50 gallons per acre; and when sugar is worked
| for it can be had at the rate of not less than
1000 pounds per acre of raw sugar, besides 80
gallons OF moasses. The analysis of the chem
ist shows that there is over 1900 pounds Of
| sugar In acre of cane and that half is lost
by the present imperfect methods of working.
| The report of Prof. Henry shows that he has
| expended So, 0S0.O7 of the appropriation. and
that there remains the sum of S919.93 unex-
pended. The raising OF cane is becoming one
| OF UL6 important agricultural prOQucJS OF UlG
| state, and III my judgment should be encOuT-
aged and in view of the satisfactory results
reached by the experiments made and III view
of their undoubted benefit to the many pro-
ducers of cane, would recommend the con-
tinuance of such an appropriation for this pur-
pose as in your wisdom would seem best; and as
there is no provision for printing his report
would recommend that sufficient appropria-
| ton be made for its proper printing and distri-
button.
| STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The State Historical Society has been ably
managed. From very small beginning, it has
grown to be a large institution of peculiar in
terest to the people of the state. 1t is regarded
as one of the most complete collections of its
class in the United States, and is worthy of the
fostering care of the state. Iwouldrecommend
| to the legislature that they provide q suitable
building for the use of the society, separate
| from the capitol. It's present quarters are en-
| tirely inadequate TO its wants, and the rooms it
now occupies are needed for the convenience of
the legislature. In such a building suitable
room should be provided for the Wisconsin
Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The gentlemen composing the board are
among the most eminent in their profession in
| the state, and I would recommend that the
| legislature extend to them q generous encour-
agement. Their labors have resulted in great
benefit to the health of our people, and there
| Call DC no UOuDU IuaU greater DenGUUS may III
the future be expected Their suggestions for
the restriction and prevention of contagious
diseases have been widely circulated throughout
| the state, and have been adopted by large
| class of our citizens, and their wisdom fully
proven. The board has succeeded in securing
reports from about nine hundred different
localities in the state and have awakened
deep feeling among the people upon the subject
of the suppression of disease. Their sugges-
tons for securing for schools, prisons and pub
lie buildings proper hygiene have been adopted
in many localities with good results. In nv
opinion, their services to the state cannot be
dispensed with, and too much care cannot be
taken to protect the lives and health of the
people.
RAILROADS.
The total mileage of the railroads of the
| state, as reported tothe railroad commissioner
on the 30th day of June, 1881, was 3142. 43
| miles, at a cost. including equipments. of $780,
! 641, 1887, being an average of $41, 258O4 per
| mile.
| Tie total earnings of the railroads of the
state for the year ending June 80. 1881 were
SIS, AIS, l72.6l, being an average of "a, 814. 81
per mile of operated road. The operating ex-
! penses were SO, 0S5, 437.08, being S2,826.28 per
mile; the excess Of earnings over operating ex-
penses was Sc, 1892, 1858, or 81, 988.63 per mile
| The passengers earnings on all of the roads in
the state were So, 527. 1889, and the freight
earnings SIC, 979, 1861. The whole number
Of passengers carried during the year in the
state was 2,966,965, or an equivalent Of 49,
| 599, $50 passengers carried one mile. The
whole number Of tons of freight carried was
5,407, 297, or an equivalent of the carriage of
657, 499. 156 tons one mile. The average rate
Of all freights carried III the state during the
year was 1.63 cents per ton per mile.
The total number of miles of road built in
the state during the year ending December 81
1881, was 300 against 238 22-100 miles for the
year 1880. The total mileage of the railroads
of the state Oh the first day of January, 1892
was 3,433.88 miles. The present indications
are that much larger amount of road will be
built in 1882 than was built IN 1881, unless some
unlocked for financial revulsion shall cut short
work already under contemplation.
The commissioner reports the gratifying fact
that not single passenger has been killed upon
the railroads of Wisconsin during the year,
with very few casualties Of any nature to the
| travelling public. This she rs commendable
] core for the nrntectinr Of human Ito tho