Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-22

| changes have secured more equitable diStrhl1-
ton of the companies allowed by law a more
| systematic organization of the regiments and are
believed to have materially increased the eficien-
cy OF the force, which is now in b tier condition
| than yer before, and mder good discipline
/ I invite YOUR early and careful considaro
ton To the necessity of making provision for
| compiling perfeerng and recopying the files and
| ecords of the adjutant generals sffice pertain
ing to the war of the rebellion. The demand for
transcripts of the military hi tory of solid ars
steadily increases and necessitateS use of n,
! original papers, which is now rapidly DESTROYING
them The value of these records TO the sta,
( the soldiers and those depend, Mt upon them
cannot be overestimated, and it is beyond cues
zion tnat TINS value VIII increase for many ears
to come, as the possibility of supplying their
place by the testimony of individuals is rapidly
decreasing. When this important work has bapn
completed, so to meet the requirements of the,
office, | recommend that complete roster of
Wisconsin volunteers, showing the material facts
in the military history of each soldier, be prepar-
ed and printed by the state. The example of all
our neighboring states in this regard is well
worthy of our imitation. The cost viii be trf1ing
compared with the value OF such duplication
IMMIGRATION.
The biennial report of the Board OF Immigra-
ton shows that of the 49, 1858 Immigrants arriving
/ at Milwaukee during the year 1888 u, $50 made
/ Wisconsin their home: and of the Il 272 immi-
! grants who arrived at the same place during the
year 1884, 90 632 remained in the state. The board
! have no means OF Informing themselves of the
/ number of immigrants who land at lake ports
! other than Milwaukee, or who go dire ct into
! Wisconsin from Chicago without passing through
| mliWauKeF. Inc newcomers were mostly Ger
| mans and Scandinayiaps, who settled principal v
! in the northern portion of the state The dis
] hursements of the board during the year 1888
! We're S3,OS9.20, and during the year 1884 were
| S2,90557.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
| The report of the State Board of Health and
Vital Statistics shows that the state is compare
| lively free from any serious diseases and that
| there have not recently been any extensive epi-
| denies The board however, urgently presents
| the fact that il is the common belief of those
DOME flalf
that cholera will extend from Europe to this coun
| try within the next few MONTHS and that should
it do So no CITIZEN or community in this state is
| free from the danger that it may reach them
| They therefore urge upon all citlzens and com
munitles such preparation as will put them in the
besl possible attitude of defense and they aavse
| that fund of not less than $4,000 be provided
by the Legislature to M ct ali emergencies that
may arise for the general safety of the state
| Legislation is also needed to confer upon the
board greater power to ena lie il TO enforce such
rules and regulations as it may make for the re-
porGng of cases of contagious epidemic dis
eases, and to enable them to maintain a 0uaran-
inc whe never occasion II ay require it.
Matters relating TO the public health are of uni
versal concern. and as this board is composed of
gentlemeH eminent in their profeSSioH, who have
given the subjects within their province thoroug
study for the benefit of the people, free of CHARGE
you will, am assured, give proper attention to
their report and suggestions. The report should
be printed apart from the pubic reports, and the
greater number should be distributed by the
board.
FISHERIES.
The Fish Commissioners have expended s6518
for the year 1888 aud $3.50 43 for tire year
1884 and have been very successful in their work
The recommendations of the board relating to
the preservation OF the fish, deserve your atten-
ton; and especially should the unreaSon able and
unlawful catching of fish in great quantities IN
the inland lakes and rivers in some manner be
checked.
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
Under chapter 319 of the laws OF 1888, estab-
90 til
Frank A. Flower, of Milwaukee, Commissioner,
and he at once entered the duties of his
office. The law as it now stands is very imper
feet and Inadequate for the purpose for which it
was designated, and should he revised and
amended by this legislature. This bureau, with
encouragement on the part Of the legislature and
better facilities for collecting statistics, win result
in great benefit to the state.
EDUCATION
The vital Importance Of popular education can
not be overeStimated, and the interest of our
people in the subject is commensurate with its
Importance. The report of the state superin-
tendGnt, which | commend to y@ur attention. is
replete with ntei eStng statistics and suggestions,
ana SHOWS the common ScnoOl system OF our state
to be in condition of steady growth and inn
provement, which is exceedingly gratifying.
In July last this state honored with the
meeting of the National Educational association,
held in this city. This the largest educational
convention ever held. and there were among its
members many of the most eminent persons of
that procession in the United States. The meet
ing resulted in great good to this state, and the
system were the subjects OF commentator and
praise.
have 40 doubt you will give just and thorough
consideration to all suggestions for the improve
ment or the public schools, or for extending their
field of usefulness; but feel justified in calling
to your especial attention the recon 91endation
the state superintendent, that provision be made
by law for the free supply of text books for the
pupils in the public schools. The absence or UNI
formity in the books used even in adjacent school
districts, creates serious expense to that quite
large class of citizens who are not permanently
located; and this expense falls most heavily upon
a Glars least able to bear it, and whose children
receive their education almost entirely from the
common schools, and has, no doubt, deter
red many children from attending SCHOOL
The experience of a, large number of cities and
some states, which hare adopted the system of
free text books, indicates that larger attendance
VIII be secured q .Igner efficiency attained. time
saved asd less money expended, by supply ing just
the books required.
UNIVERSITY.
The reports of the regents and the president of
the university will be laid before you, from which
it is pleasure to note that the institution is in
generally satisfactory condition. 1t has recently
met with a serious loss, by the destruction bv fire
of Science Hall with valuable corrections "yrd APP
paratus. The regents viii p eaent to you plans
and estimates for q building to eplace the one
destroyed, and will ask for the requis tie appro-
priation for that and other purposes. The uni
versty has attained high rank and ought 70 be
an object of universal pride 10 the people 1t de
yes generous support from the state, and
dst its wants will receive liberal treatment ct
your n6nuS.
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is the chief source of wealth to the
state and the ultimate reliance of its people Upon
the successful prosecution of this pursuit depends
| in great degree the prosperity and happiness
of all classes. The interests involved are so i'm
/ porant aud SO far reaching and diverse in detail
| that commission state board of agriculture
/ should be established Other states have found
| such of great practical utility.
The state has become great thoroughfare for
the transportation of life stock from different
sources Some means should be provided where
by our domestic animals may be protected firm
the impo' taton and spread Of contagious dis
eases. The state board of health has suggested
the appointment of veterinary surgeon with
t adequate power in the premises, and I commend
! this matter TO your attention.
| The great prog esS that dairy huSbandry has
made in this state is largely due to the efforts Of
! the State Dairymen's Association. To this in
! dus.ry, and to the energy and intelligence dis
| played by the dairymen, much praise is due for
/ bringing about result ia which the Stats4 Justly
| feels great pride. l recommend a liberal APP
preparation for this association, and also that its
proceedings oe printed aus bound separately
The state horticu nral society represents a dis
tinct branch OF indu. try, and its proceedings
! should be printed and bound in volume by it
! elf and reT1aiO formerly a thp iii. T1OSaI of