River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-01-18
100000 90
S1.04l,72O IS

This estimate shows that 1t will be necessary fot
the legislature to provide the of 100000 for
the year 1884, which win be 2 OF a mill on Che
sessed valuation
The balance 10 the credit of the governors con-
tngent fund On Jan. 8, 1888. was : $3.50 and
the expenditures therefrom during the year were
stats. In view of the possible demand upon
this fund the next two years. recommend that the
sum Of $4,000 be appropriated therefor st TIC
The account between tbs State of Wisconsin and
the United States Tor the direct war tax as shown
by the Statement of the first controller of the
United States treasury, stands as follows: Amount
due the United States Sept 50, 1881, 1907
0s5.16. During the year there has been placed 10
the credit of the State. $50, 1850, leaving
1857. There are now before the depart
ments for adjustment, claims which will be allowed
and credited to the STATE amounting to $4,000.
Tho State claims as due from the United States
balance of $50. $40. Oh upon the claims presented
by her for 1he equipment and payment OF troops
during the war. This balance has all been disal-
lowed by the accounting officers, and consists of
various items ranging from SO TO $500. Many of
the items have been ruled out for want of proper
vouchers and evidence, and il is probable that with
considerable research and labor many of the items
may yet be allowed but do not feel at liberty to
incur EXPENSE i'll that direction without first re-
ceiving legislative sanction.
PUBLIC LANDS.
The sale of public lands during the fiscal year was
21S,395. S4 acres, at prices ranging from 30 cents
to "a per acre. The report Of the commissioner,
shows that there is now on nd nearly l,000,00O
acres OF public lands; that there nearly 21r
600 acres not yet put in the market, aud that thor
nave been selected during the year $1,000
acres for which the State will soon re-
ceiye patents. These selections were made 10y
sending competent man into the field to examine
each tract, and l am satisfied that the work has
been faithfully performed, and that thereby the
State has secured good lands. The commissioners
in theif report suggest cogent reasons for some
changes in the laws regulating the sale of lands to
the end that the State may be enabled to obtain
prices nearer the value of the land sold.
EDUCATION
- f,,Ra Of, ls
great for satisfaction to the educational III
terests of the State. and for full discussion of the
special subjects that may require your attention /
would refer YOU to his report. There seems 10 be
no want of harmony in the various parts OF our
school system, and with the general development
and progress we have every reason to be pleased
The attendance az schools OF pupils between the
ages of seven and fifteen years, the time WREN all
children ought to attend schools. is 81 per cent OF
the whole number in the STATE between those ages,
This percentage proves Wisconsin TO De ialrIy
equal to the older Eastern States in appreciation OF
school privileges. The total valuation of school
property, including buildings, sites, libraries. ETC.
is $J,6I4, 9SS. The total amount expended for
public and private schools during the school year
was 81, 57T4 02 need not impress upon you the
importance of fostering our common school system
aud promoting in every way the cause of popular
education.
The board of regents Of the university report
satisfactory progress in all departments; that
the appropriation of last year has been judiciously
extended, but that there are yet re-
pairs greatly needed in making the older buildings
what they should De. Inc amDitlQu OF the yculg
Tor higher and advanced education cannot be too
literally encouraged, and commend all the needs
of this institution TO your liberality.
The departments Of agriculture aud practical
mechanics would seem TO demand particular notice,
The exDegiments of the professor of agriculture,
made by virtue OF special appropriations Of the
Legislatures upon amber cane aud the ensilaga OF
folders, have been, in large measure, completed.
an1 Prof, Horny reports that beyond doubt sugar
and syrup can be probably made from Amber cars
in this State, and that the soil Of the State IS par
srFx, xa-aH aTa Of
cane. The professor likewise reports that his
experiments with ensilage of folders demon
sirats the fact that the food product fer
stock be greatly increased at very little
cost to the farmers. The interests represented IL
the farmer and the mechanics are second in i'm
pOrtanee TO none other. and any legislation which
Will stimulate the efforts OF either, or which viii
open the door to more comprehensive and intelli-
gent effort, will be profitable in the long 10 the
commonwealth. To this eud l recommend that
there be appropriated annually the sum OF 5000
for the est enlistment and maintenance of an eX
psrimental station the university farm, and
also recommend that provision be made for the
publication and distribution of reports Of the
perimeu's heretofore made, and OF such as shall be
hereafter made
There have been 9ls students in attendance at
the various normal schools during the year. There
have been 81 graduated and licensed, and there
are now employed in the public schools OF the State
$50 graduates Of the normal schools, and l,033
undergraduates Sixty institutes have been held IL
81 counties. with total attendance of 3.eS2, AID
at an expense Of S6,433 The regents report the
schools III o prosperous ccnuitlon. ana earnest $
endeavoriug 10 perform the work assigned 10 them.
STATE PRISON.
A. the close Of the fiscal wear there were confuvd
in the State prison az WauDln StS persons. lie
total cost of maintaining the prison for the past
yesr has been SAL, 75l So. OF which the prisoners.
earnings have furnished S31, l293 80: receipts
from visitors were 1873 30, making the net cost 70
the State of supporting tie institution SIG, 42S.5
The broad distinction between the confirmed crirni
nal and the man who has committed his first Cf
fense. and who By judicous training may be
stored 10 sefsustsiDing and seif-resDecting citi.
Eeusbip. leads 10 the belief that the legslatUs
might. with much prOpriety, devise some meth
by which The courts should determine whether the
ofeDse was the first or not, and that the sentence
should 3s sleh that the public would be protee.ei
from the depredations Of the habtual cTiminal
The board of control. in their report, have recon-
msuded a system OF indeterminate sentences.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
The number OF boys in attendance at the State
Industrial school at Waukesha on Sept 80, lass
was 299: average attendance during tte
year, 321. There have been admitted
during the year, 50 boys; discharged, $50.
The boy Is sentenced before the age Of fourteen and
nay be kept there until be is ghteea: and have
serious doubts as 10 whether the term Of attendance
Is not toe long; as TO whether the institution
should not be rather more a school and somewhat
less penal institution. There is some force il TIE
view that II boy cannot he reformed IN Two OF
three years that he ean properly conduct himsaf
in the community. logger attendance IN such an H.
stution Is not only useless TO him. but Is fFau1
with DANGER 10 his companions, and may, and prob
ably always does exert very injurious influence
upon the newer aud younger inmates of the iusiitu