Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-01-23
ooyernor.s Message.
To the Honorable the Legislature:

E -undaIce, to US as a commonwealth and as a
people.
during the two years Just gone we have happily
been spared the presence Of pestilence, famine OF
other cause Of general distress. The commercial
depression prevalen. in the ce1ntry At large has
fiuched us more lightly than many other state
Peace has dwelt continually within our borders.
The spirit Of obedience to law has abded 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 good couaition, and
the trust funds kept constantly invested far as
cssible in interest bearing securities, produce a
The general 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 TO the several
trust funds.
OF the general fund there was On hand on the
goth day of September, 1882, S3642 06S. The re-
aepts of the fund for the biennial term have been
1850, 20i04, the disbursements therefrom 81 33e,
So. 81, leaving balance on hand September 80,
1884, OF $685., 56715.
By separate years and By comparison with the
year ending September 80, 1882, the disbursements
sGSS Fl being efs i ssaS f m6Ts thsn
for the year ending September 30, 1882. This IT,
crease is explained by the facts that the capitol
extension expenditure for 1888 was SS727i2 % more
than in 1882; the legislative expenses SO 0o4 GO
more than in 1882, and the expense Of publishing
the Geological Survey, as provided by law, more
by s26, .02 than in 1882.
For the year ending September 80, 1884, the dis
bursements from the general fund were $685.
3S5 H. being $3.50 42 81 less than for the year 1882
fact that, while in 1882 the legislative expenses
AID cost of publishing the laws were SPA 400. %
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
mott alFN fn lGlo md
chase of furniture required for the new extern
sons.
The expenditures thus made to January /, 1885,
are: For the rebuilding of the west steps ana por-
tco, which found to be in a dangerous condition,
the sum of 81, 49303; for building and repairing
the walks and driveways around the new wings
and in the park the sum Of 81 80; for chang
ing the old supreme court and library rooms into
committee rooms, and making connecting cor
wings, S4,71991; for carpets for the new
wings, S276Il7, and for gas fixtures, and fitting
same in the new wings, the sum of 81, 356.42. l
have also caused TO be placed in the boiler room,
at cost Of $780, two new boilers for the purpose
of supplying the additional heat required for the
extensions
gent fund TO Jan. ], 1885, were S1.74745, and the
balance to the credit of the fund was So, 06782.
In view Of the many possible urgent demands
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. 1884, SIS, 1872 81, and the
productive school fund on that day amounted TO
S2913 G12. 10, and the school fund income for the
biennial term was 1896, 973.62
The university fund has received during the
two years S2 oS5 6S; had on Sept. 30, 1882 81 966,
30 and has paid out for bonds and loans $2t 933.-
IS. The total amount of the university fund pro-
duciLg an income on Sept. 80, 1854 was SOS, 500
30 The receipts of the university fund income
for the two fiscal years were 1852, 056 of which
$3.50 was interest en the johnson endowment,
$50, 332 20 were received from the university
and SOB, 075,03 from tho tax levied under the
statute.
The agricultural college fund receipts for the
two years were $50, 62S 65; balance on hand Sept.
30 1882 So, 304. AZ. The disbursements $35,SG6 AZ;
leaving balance Sept. 80, 1884, Of 500 Ga. The
productive agricultural college fund, now draw
ing interest, Is $@S6 o. and the income of tho
fund for the biennial term was S3i 947.54
The Normal School fund has received during
the two years S25S, s13. So. There was on hand
September 80, 1882, $17,969 g.. There has been
disbursed during the same time $3.50, 331. n, and
there remained on hand September 30, 1884 S14, :
451. 80. The total amount OF Normal Scrool fund
drawing interest is 81 800 572 SO, and the in
come for the period, including interest tuition
fees, etc, was SIG 23 &c. all of which was trans
ferred to the regents of the normal schools.
There was to the credit Of the Drainage fund
September go 1882, S46 sos 90 and it has received
during the two years S131 .575 46. There was on
hand September 80 1884, sIS6l0 81 and $131, 763 %
he's been apportioned to counties and diSbursed
under the laws.
OF the st. Croix and Lake Superior Railroad
trespass fund there remained on hand September
30, 1884, $50, o02. 49, 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-
amounts due them paid over and the fund closed
Up.
ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES
The Secretary of State estimates that the reve
nues received, under the general laws VIII be SUI
ficient to defray the ordinary expenses OF the
state for the years 1886 and 1887: At the end OF
the fiscal year there was a balance on hand or
retary of state did not include the item of S24oOOO
of state tax, which was authorized by the last
legislature in the tax levy Of 1884 and it seems to
me that no 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
The amount of S5l ,145 Sc. The accounting officers
of the government have, from time to time cred
tied to the state upon the direct war 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 thGt
the state has paid portion of its direct war tax
out of these trust funds AS think these funds,
especially the school fund, should be carefully
and jealousy maintained, l believe provision
should be made for reimbursing them the amounts
so credited.
There is bill now pending In both houses of
congress providing that the entire direct war tax
be refunded to the several states. by repaying
such as have paid, and by credting such as have
not paid The passage of this bill would enttle
Wisconsin TO receive back the sum of S429, 1896 g.
and have credit for the S51 1856 unpaid. sug-
gest that the legislature memorabilia congress to
pass this bill
CHARITABLE AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
The charitable, reformatory and penal institl-
tons of the state are by the law as it now 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
fot'the years 1888 and 1894 there remained unex-
pended on the 30th day of September, 1884, Si25,-
$3.50, and on the LIST day of January, 1885, there
remained S56,474.f0
The total number OF persons cared for In the
six state institutions under the charge of this
board was ,721, and the daily average was 2,0l6;
the total cost to the state for current expenses to
September 80, 1884, was S651 69l; and to the LIST
day of January, 1885, was 1921, 40.
The State Hospital for the Insane has had an
average of 476 patients under treatment for 1SS3
and an average of $40 for the year 1884, and cost
S9G5I5 20 for the year 1888 and sol s2 % for the
year 1851; weekly cost per capita for 1888 OF
$3.50 and fer 1881 of S346. The cost Of subsist-
cnce, including farm products, for the year 1881
was $50 10, and for the year 1884 was $37 566 H.
The board eStiln 4tes the expenses of this hospital
for the years 1885 and 1886 TO be $4,000 each
year. and estimates that there will be paid by
counties for the term S., s51.12 there remains of
the last appropriation unexpended 49,, 600, and
this leaves TO be appropriated by the legislature
for current expenses fox the two years, $94 900.
They also ASK LOT special appropriation OF
$4,000 :or the improvement of the water supply,
which Is now in tanks on the top Of the building,
aud which is not safe and not so available in case
of fire.
The Northern hospital for the insane had an
average Of 56T patients during 1888 and 613 dur
lug 1884, and the current expenses for 1883 were
STA, 1S5 A. and for 1884 were S1lTll052 a weekly
cost per capita for 1882 OF 49, and for 1884, 50 g.
The cost of subsistence proper, including pro
ducts of the farm. in 1888 was $36927.l5, and in
1884 was S51 ,44l02. The board estimates that the
expenses of this institution will be S24S 900 for
by counties Sl0i,51S 81: leaving to be supplied by
the legislature for current expenses $4,000. BY
a fire on November 10, 1884, destroying the inte
r9r of the building containing boiler, pump,
engine, laundry, drying and ironing rooms, This
Institution sustained an estimated loss OF Sl09So
aud TO make the repairs necessary by reason of
this Iire the board have been permitted 10 incur
an Indebtedness in excess OF their appropriation
to the amount of $500, and for the payment Of
this sum an appropriation should be made.
The Institution for the Education of the Blind
has had an average of 81 pupils for 1888, at an
pense Of S1667o,lS and an average OF IS for 1884,
at an expense OF ST. 25. 81; and the board est-
mates the expenses for 1885 and 1856 at SS6,3o0;
and with a surp us of 81 500 from the last appro-
pviation, asks that there be appropriated for that
week for 1888 and S. "a for 1854 This is neceSSa-
rily much larger in this institution than in the
others because OF the small number of pupils, the
expense of instruction in music, and because the
pupils are less helpful by reason OF their misfor
tune.
The Institute for the Education Of the Deaf and
Dumb had an average OF 1SS pupils In 1888, and
s5 In 1884 and at expense of SIS $50 for 1888,
and SIS, $50. 81 for 1854 The per capita cost was
s. IS q week for 1883, and s. 81 for 1884, The
expenses for 1885 and 1886 estimated at So 0oo
tie probable receipts from sales at 81 500 and q
surplus st the end Of the present appropriation