Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-22
Governors Message.
To the Honorable the Leqislot,re;,

You assemble after the lapse of longer period
than any which ever before separated Legislative
sess ohS IN NlSconSln and 1t IS fitting that we first
reVerenty and gratefully acknowledge the bless
'hgs Whlch under Providence have come, IN rich
undaIce, to us as commonwealth and as a
people
during the two years lust gone we have happily
been spared the presence of pestilence, famine or
other cause of general distress. The commercial
depression prevalen. ia the country ut large has
touched us more lightly than many other stats
Peace has dswet continually within our borders
The spirit of obedience to law has abided with on
people Justice has been promptly and faithfully
administered. Education, the life of our govern
entail system, has gone forward with vigorous
step. And all in all we have abundant cause for
contentment and gratitude-
FINANCES.
The state finances are in a good condition, and
the trust funds kept constantly invested as far
possible IN Understanding securities, produce a
The geaeral fund account, as reported by the
secretary of state, furnishes complete statement
OF the cost of maintaining the state government
for the past two years including interest paid
upon certificates Of Indebtedness 10 the several
trust funds.
OF the general fund there was on hand on the
Both day of September, 1882, S36422 S. The re-
ceipts of the fund for the biennial term have been
S2907, 20404 the disbursements therefrom s. 332,
$500, leaving balance on hand September 30,
1884 of 1898 567.15
By separate years and by comparison with the
year ending September 30, 1882 the disbursements
were as follows: For the year ending September
90 1883 81 ,296 Az 10 being S109 64S6 more tran
for the year ending September 30, 1899. This in.
crease IS explained by the facts that the capitol
extension expenditure for 1888 was SS7274.23 more
than in 1882; the legislative expenses $50 004 60
more than In 1882, and the expense Of publishing
the Geological Survey, as provided by law, more
by S26,282.02 than in 1882.
For the year ending September 30, 1884, the dis
bursemenIs from the general fund were 81 ,036,-
385 H. being $50 422 81 less than for the year
The greater part of this reduction arises from the
fact that, while in 1882 the legislative expenses
aAd cost OF publishing the laws were S124, 0628,
the biennial system obviated the necessity of any
expenditure for either purpose in 1884
The expenses incident to the care of the capitol
building have increased somewhat during the
past year, because of the many repairs which !
did net deem it prudent to delay, and Of the pur-
chase OF furniture required for the new extern
Eions.
The expenditures thus made to January 1, 1885
are: For the rebuilding of the west steps and por-
tco, which found to be in q dangerous con titiOn,
the sum of 81, 49303; for building and repairing
the walks and driveways around the new wings
and IN the park, The sum Of S4796S0; for chang
ing the old supreme court and library rooms into
committee rooms and making a connecting cor
ridor, the sum Of S2O91 II. for furniture for the
new wings, S4,71991; for carpets for the new
wings, 226417, and for gas fixtures, and fitting
same III the new wings, the sum of ST ,356.42. /
nave also caused to be placed in the boiler room.
at a cost of s.; co. two boilers for the purpose
of supplying the additional heat required Tor the
extensions
The expenditures from the governors contin-
gent fund to Jan. /, 1885, were S1,74Z45, and the
balance to the credit of the fund was 50, O8z62
upon this fund, would recommend that the
usual appropriation be increased.
TRUST FUNDS,
There was to the credit of the school fund in
the treasury on Sept 3d. 1894, S18 49,. or and the
productive school fund on that day amounted to
S2913, G12 l6, and the school fund income for the
biennial term was $685., 1882.
The university fund has received during the
two years $21 OBS GS; had on Sept 30 1882, ST. $685.
50, and has paid out for bonds and loans S24, $685.
B8. The total amount of the university fund pro-
ducilg an income on Sept go 1884 was 1928 909.-
30. The eCeipts Of the university fund income
for the two fiscal years were S152, O5S, of which
$3.50 was interest en- the Johnson endowment,
5000 20 were received from the university
S27 sol n from the interest the university fund,
and SOB, O7503 from the tax levied under the
statute.
The agricultural college fund receipts for the
two years we're $50 SOS, IS; balance on hand Sert
30, 1882, S. 304. Il. The disbursements S35S66 49,
leaving balance Sept 30, 1884, of S66 81. The
productive agricultural college fund, now draw
ing interest is S~S6965 %, and the income Of the
fund for the biennial term was S34. 947 81
The Normal School fund has received during
the two years 1888, S13 So. There hand
September So 1884, SI7 969 81. There has been
disbursed during the same time S262, 331. n, and
there remained on hand September 80. 1884, S14
451 So The total amount of Normal ScrOol fund
now drawing interest ia S129O,572 36, and the in
come for the period, including interest, tuition
fees, etc, SIG, 23 SO, all of Which
feTTed to the regents of the normal schools.
There was to the credit of the Drainage fund
September go 1882. S4SSO %, and it has received
durinS the two years St31 SIS 46. There was on
hand September 80 1884 S48.619 81 and S131 1888 90
has been apportioned to counties and disbursed
under the laws.
OF the St. Croix and Lake Superior Railroad
treSpaSS fund there remained on hand September
80, 1884, $36,093.70, and as the companies have
completed their roads and they are now protect
ing their own lands, and but few lands remain
unpatented, this fund can now be adjusted be
tween the state and the companies, and the
amounts due them paid over and the fund closed
up.
ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES.
The Secretary of State estimates that the reve-
uueS received, under the general laws will be Sut-
ficient to defray the ordinary expenses OF the
state for the years 1856 and 1887. At the end OF
the fiscal year there was a balance on hand or
$93S 561 Is. Owing to this large surplus, the sec
Rotary of state old not include the item of S24OOO0
of state tax, which authorized by the last
legislature in the tax levy of 1884, and it seems TO
me that additional tax will be necessary for
1886 and 1887. This is the first time in its history
the state has reached this desirable condition.
STATE DEBT.
The account between the state and the general
government for direct war tax, as stated by the
ii st comptroller of the treasury, shows that the
state is yet indebted to the general government to
the amount of S51, 145. So. The accounting officers
of the government have, from time TO time, cred
tied to the state, upon the direct tax, certain
sums which should have come TO the state as
trustee and have been passed to the school and
swamp land funds. Thus it has GENE about that
the state has paid portion Of its direct war tax
especially the school fund, should be carefully
and jealoUSly maintained, l believe provision
should be made for reimbursing them the amounts
so credited
There is a bill now pending in both houses of
congress providing that the entire direct war tax
be refunded to the several states, by repaVIng
such as have paid and by crediting such as have
not paid. The passage of this bill would entitle
Wisconsin TO receive back the sum of S429, 1966S,
and have credit for the $51, 1856 unpaid. sug-
gest that the legislature memorabilia congress TO
pass this bill.
CHARITABLE AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
The charitable, reformatory and penal institu-
lions of the state are by the law it is under
the control of the State Board Of Supervision,
whose report will be laid before you. OF the
whole amount appropriated for these institutions
for the years 1888 and 1884 there remained unex-
pend d on the 30th day of September, 1884, S125,-
$3.50 and on the 1st day of January, 1885, there
remained S56,474.10.
The total number of persons cared for IN the
six state institutions under the charge of this
board was 8 ri, ana the daily average was 2,016;
the total cost to the state for current expenses
September 80, 1884, was Se51, 691, and 60 the LIST
gay of January, 1885, was 1921, 10S.40.
The State Hospital for the Insane has had an
average of 476 patients unGer treatment for 1888,
and an average of $40 for the year 1884, and cost