Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-01-16
Total amount ex-

pended 80 SO sos, 2I5 So So 935, 613 70
The report deals with the moss tai questions
affecting not only the present bu. Z future well
fare of the individual and tue s,ate-and this
whether regard be had to questions of finance or
questions OF good citizenship. When we con-
slider that the whole number OF persons enrolled
in the state betw cen the ages of lour aud twenty
years June 30. 1855 567, 702. and that
of this number only 265 AT were reported as at
tending the public schools, the state may well In
quire as to the reason OF 80 much absenteeisn
and apply the proper remedy.
confess to much solicitude for the common
school, and especially for the district school in
rural communities. 1t is TO the little country
school that we must look, in great measure for
the incubation OF the true principles of Ameri-
can citizenship. 1t is here that the great body
receive during their lives. / have q profound
respect for the high school, the academy. the
college and the university. These, however, are
but the trutt of FOWLER blossom, and they
have many and advocates.
1t is unnecessary that | should press
their claims claims upon you But the com n
lege," is go much everybodys business that in
many respects il suffers from lect. The child
that is. the citizen that Is to be, has right to
demand OF the state that it be provided. as
against all contingencies, with a reasonable
amount of instruction in common English
branches Especially has it right to demand
that it be provided with the ability TO read and
write the language of this country. In this con-
nection would recommend such legislation as
per1ntenCents to inspect all schools for the pur-
pose. and with the authority only, to require
that reading and writing in English be daily
Taught therein.
The railroads of Wisconsin are to be counted as
among the foremost factors which have brought
the state to its present high development. For
tunately for the best Interests of all concerned
there has existed for years friendly spirit OF CO.
operation between the people and the roads,
evolved from economic consideration of their
mutual and correlative dependence. Our terri
tory IL trayersed by not less than twelve import
ant lines which connect the East and the great
Northwest. Besides this, we enjoy the great ad-
vantage of water navigation OH three sides OF the
state for nearly the whole year. Lying thus in
the commercial pathway Of the continent, inter-
state as well as domestic commerce is depenoent
upon the wisdom of the laws which may be en-
acted Tor the control OF these great Interests
The memorable struggle which took place i'll
1874 settled forever the right of the people to con-
troll corporations.
The problems of legislation at the present
time, therefore, are not so much for supremacy
as for the right adjustment of the relations be-
tween the people and their servants. All Laws
should be tempered largely with the desire to do
that which is tor the best for the future of Wis
consin as whole.
1t has been quite too common in recent years
to represent the agricultural element i'll our pop
ulation as entertaining hostile and agrarlan sen-
timents towards railroads and other corpora
tions and demagogues have sought to commend
themselves to this element by advocating legls-
lation of most radical and destructive charac-
ter. That they have hitherto failed in Wisconsin
is due to the well-ihformed conservatism OF the
farmers. 1 feel myself authorized to say
in their behalf that they have no SYM
pathy, as / have none, with any effort
at legislation. on any question, which springs
from prejudice. Present laws may not be per-
fect but proposed amendments should be scru-
tinized with CARE and matured as well with
reference to future conditions as to present ext,
gencies. Commercial preblems-and railroad
transportation Is one of them-have always been
the most difficult to inclose in legal definition,
and so at the best large proportion of the diff
w
| aginary, must find their solution in the great
| unwritten law OF common sense and mutual in
terest
AS nearly as can be ascertained the entire
mileage of the state is SITS miles; increase in
| two years of 400 miles. Of this $40 miles were
| built in 1887 and 60 miles in 1885, The entire
cost of the railroads of Wisconsin reported on
the 3oth day of June, 1888. was sos, 1867 6o6.27.
| The amount OF ptaI stock at same date was
| S97 1913. 51586 The amount of debt funded or
bonded) and unfunded was SLY, 81, 909. 35, or
total of capital stock and debt of s2l4s4l 425 81
There was earned on WISCONSIN ,od Pallro as
| Se1, 619.O6. of which sc 266,259.35 was for
] the transportation OF passengers. and ST.. 49,
1924 for transportation OF freight, and S1,459,-
| 400 Al for the transportation of mails, express
] etc. The number of passengers carried in same
year 6, 779 932 at expense of little less than
/ 252 cents per mile. The number of tons freight
carried during same year, 697, All and the rate
/ per ton per mile was 964 1000 of l cent per mile.
| There has been decrease in the cost of freight
carriage in ten years OF over so per cent The to-
| tai earnings per mile of road, on an estimate of
524S miles of operated trackage, was 81, 742 9S.
Of this ST. 1913 OF per mile for passengers; Ss-
27O 81 per mile for freight and $2740S for mails.
| express and miscellaneous matter.
/ In the past the Wisconsin railroad commissioner
! has been the medium of adjusting matters of diff
ference between aggrieved parties complaining
! against the railroad companies and the COM
panies themselves. In most or all the cases sat-
isfactory adjustment has been had. If in any re-
spect the interests of the people need more pro-
lection by clearer definition of his powers or
rights, it should receive your deliberate thought
and unbiased action.
Il THE NATIONAL GUARD.
The reports OF the adjutant and quartermaster
generals will put you in possession of all the
facts concerning this Indispensable adjunct OF
the state government. may say IN brief that
the alton consists of three regiments, one
battalion OF infantry. one troop of cavalry and
one light battery, agrregating 2s2 officers and
enlisted men. The expenses foE 1887 were SA,
SOFA and for 1888 s56, 927. 81. 1t is with pro-
found ratification that am able to report that
thara has been no OCCASION 10 call upon any DOR.