Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-01-16

grounds taken from
e. @. McFetridge). 47,7S2. 03
Total .............- ----- s77,7s2 o3
Other fund investments:
School fund, bonds
UniVer'y fund, loans 2i6, $1,000
Agricultural college
fund, loans. -. 240. 993. O6
Normal school fund,
loans :............ 1802, Al .S5
1OIal ----- 81. o24 040 Of
It win be seen that while there are two
mortgages to the credit of the general
fund, aggregating S77,7S2.03, the cash of
that fund is actually oyerdrawn to the
amount Of 1929. 90 On October 1. 1894
three months ago, there was in the general
fund the. sum of S977, 315.71 Thus In
three months the disbursements from the
general fund have aggregated $685., S62 So SO
Education.
No surer evidence of the growth of a
people is to be found than it's interest in
and support of education. This is espe-
cially true of 4 people who govern them
selves. The trainers of our constitution
wisely provided permanent system of
popular educa ton to be supported by taxa
ton This has, been supplemented by
grants from the national domain. Wiscon-
SIN mas long INDUCED just, pride in its
system of public schools, and in the high
standard Of scholarship which has been
attained and held by them [ know it will
be your pleasure to foster the system
IN every, way, which, in your Judgment,
is needed.
The last Legislature made a provision
TOR revising the present school laws of
the state, thus affording an opportunity
TO remedy such defects as past experience
may have disclosed The report Of the
state superintendent of public instruction,
recently issued. indicates that in compIi-
ance with the provisions above referred
to. bill is to be submitted at this SEES
SION embodying important notifications
OF existing laws.
The annual loss to the school fund from
the failure on the part of cities to prop
erly return the proceeds of penal fines
merits your serious attention Obedience
to the law should be enforced. at least
until provisions of the constitution relat-
ing to the subject can be amended and the
laws are repealed.
During the past eight years, according
to the report Of the state superintendent
OF public instruction, over 5000 small Ii
Drar1eS have been established in the coun-
try schools of the state These libraries
are broadening and lettering not only the
schools, but the homes of multitudes of
children, and they should be extended nm
til their influence reaches all the children
IN the commonwealth.
The University of Wisconsin.
The growth and progress of the state
university has been SO marked that it is
with pleasure L call your attention to If
Because Of its growth and its charging
usefulness, the university is entitled to
your, most generous consideration There
mas been so IaNge an increase in the Num-
Der OF students from the state who nav
no fees for tuition that there is urgent
need for additional provision to meet the
increased expenses. The increased attend
ance from our own state is one of the
most promising features of the growth
OF the institution and will be appreciated
as direct fulhllment of it's primary pur-
pose.
State Historical Society.
There exists an urgent necessity for
some provision for the safe housing of
the Historical society collections. The
VARIABLE character of these collections
need hardly be dwelt upon. The leading
scholars OF the continent and many from
the centers of learning abroad have Civ
en- testimony to their value and imDor-
lance. Their destruction by fire would
not only be loss to the state. but to
every historical student and scholar in
the country. The rooms occupied by the
collection in the capitol building are not
freproof, and there is the constant dan
ger that the state and country may suf-
fer an irreparable loss. A fireproof
building for the protection of these collec-
tons should be provided for at once.
If the university library and the His.
torical socety's collections could he
placed under one roof, it would be an
economical and convenient arrangement.
Normal Schools.
Some additional legislation will be re-
quired to make provision for maintaining
the efficiency of our normal schools. The
year will close with q deficit in the nor
NAL school fund This subject should
receive prompt attention.
The present board of normal school
regents appears to be a rather cumber-
some body The real work of the board
necessarily falls upon few members.