The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-02-20

road as smooth as possible for travel. |
Never form the road, unless positively
unavoidable, so that all the travel IS
forced or single track. No matter
how much the track is rounded, it viii
quickly become deep in mud in a
wet time. One central track should
be formed some hard material, and,
if gravel cannot be had, hard clay is
the next best material, and must be
hauled from the nearest point where it
can be got. A portion Of the road in
every district viii afford good travelling
the year round if not touched by the
pillow and scraper. When the entire
width of the road can be used for travel.
and one track gets cut up and muddy,
another portion of the road can be used.
| The only way such piece of road could
be improved is to make central track
of some hard material hauled and spread
on. In some cases the most that is
needed to secure good road is to pro-
vide sufficient drainage to carry away
quickly from the road the rain fall. The
practice of securing neglected plows by
blowing on the sides Of the roads is a
nuisance that ought to be abated i'm
mediately. The public are entitled to
the whole width OF the road for travel
and it is a misdemeanor to make any
part Of the highway unfit for travel.
There is no doubt but bad roads are q
very serious tax on our industry We
have become so used to the burden that
we do not realize it. We seem to be
| without any ambition to supply ourselves
with reasonable AMI good roads, though
we pay out enough yearly to secure the
i best roads. We have never stopped to
figure out the tax on our teams, our har-
ness, our wagons and our time in haul
| ing even small load over bad road
| This lisa case in which we cannot lay
| the blame on the bloated bond-holder
who escapes taxation, or on the great
railroad monopolies. We are our own
oppressors, aud to our own intelligent
efforts must we look for relief. Shall we
wait until some designing politician stirs
us up to hate ourselves for our supiness
and folly?
ASSESSING PROPERTY FOR TAXATION.
Another important paper read and
discussed was that by d. K. Tenny, of
Madison, on our system of assessing
property for taxation. A whole column
could be filled with the points presented
in the paper and the suggestions brought
out by the discussion. Some of the
evils pointed out were that in order to
| favor their reelection assessors were in
terested in satisfying the taxpayer by
assessing his property as low as possible
and failing to discover all property
liable to assessment. IF the assessor
were thorough and conscientious in his
work, the taxpayer would see that he
did not serve again. The present sys-
! tenn of assessment resulted in farm
property and other real estate paying a
much larger snare Of taxes than per-
sonal property, in the proportion of
about to 8. Mr.. Tenny had been very
industrious and pain-taking in gather
ing statistics which proved his position.
His remedy IS to supersede our present
system by electing state assessor, who
should appoint district assessors respon-
sible to him for the efficiency of
their work, and should be employed
throughout the year in listing property
and ascertaining its value.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
| Among the papers read was one by J. M.
Smith, of Green Bay, favoring the estab-
Iishment, by the state, ofan agricultural
college separate from the state university
J. G. Sloan, of Madison, read paper in
opposition to the scheme. This proved to
be one of the biggest questions before
the convention, and the discussions were
earnest, and were participated in by a
large number. A bill has been intro
duced in the Assembly appropriating
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
to organize and establish an agricultural
college. The friends of the measure
have but a hasty, crude plan, and /
think our legislators will be inclined to
wait and endeavor to learn whe her the
educational interests Of the state de-
mand the organizing of another college
The time between now and the meeting
of another legislature can be used to
thoroughly canvass the question, and if
it appears that another college is an
educational necessity the expense should
not be considered an objection. In the
meantime plans for the organization Of
a college can be considered and digested.
i MISCELLANEOUS. "
j will merely mention some other inn
portant papers read before the conven-
ton. 1.-The Sanitary Problem" was q
/ paper read by Prof. Smith, of Beloit
| College. The aim of the paper was to
show the danger of contamination of
our wells by the proximity of cess pools
and of filth that can wash in from the
lsurface or percolate through the earth
T." Our swamp lands" was paper show
ing the status of the remainder of the
lands granted to the state for educational
purposes and the use and condition of
the funds. A paper on tobacco culture
showed, among other facts, that Wiscon-
sin is one oil the leading tobacco growing
states in the Union. In commercial
1 point of view, it is bringing the state
much wealth and is providing work for
a large number of persons. However
much the Psychologist and philanthro-
pist may regret the dreaded evils re-
sulting to the human system from its
| use, we suppose it viii continue to be
grown as long as the demand for it
makes it profitable. A bill has been in
troduced into the Assembly that there
shall be taught in our schoola knowledge
of the physiological effects of alcohol
ard narcotics. A paper on cranberry
culture showed the hourishing condition
of this industry in this state and its i'm
pertance Thousands of acres of our
swamp lands can be utilized for the
| planting of cranberries. Some legisla- |
ton is needed to favor uniform sys-
tenn of drainage and provide for re-
serve water supply to cover the planta-
tons in case of frost to save the crop
from injury. From what has been men |
toned, though not half has been told
one cannot Judge of the breadth and ex-
tent of the convention. 1t is an impor-
tant and valuable school for farmers, and |
large number avail themselves Of its
advantages. To attend its three or four
days sessions, and listen to the papers
and discussions, broadens ones views of