Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-01-20


1909 103.44S.7s
1910 ................ 162,351. SO
1911 123,3I2.2s
1912 204,427.11
1913 .................. 2I7047.0s
1914 259,665. 80
The State Board Of Public Affairs
has recently investigated this matter
and strongly critics the lack Of sys-
tenn.
The entire subject OF printing de
serves consideration and / recommend
that some better supervision be estab.
lished by law over the matter of pub
lie printing in order that useless publ
cation may be eliminated and that
some regard be had for the probable
demand, thereby substantially reduc-
ing the expense.
State Insurance.
1t has been the policy of the state
since 1903 to assume the fire risk on
its own buildings. The insurance car
ried on st1Ge property by the state is
reported by the commissioner as S17,-
$4,000 In addition to this there is
on the statute books OF the state a
provision that all property of cities,
counties, villages and school districts,
after favorable vote on the part Of
boards or councils having charge Of
such public property, may contract
for their insurance protection with
the commissioner OF insurance. The
amount Of insurance carried under
this provision is reported 10 be 81, 1885,.
s59. making a total of insurance car
ried by the state of 1925, 1859.
The Board of Regents of the normal
schools have recently brought an ac-
ton in court to compel the insurance
to turn over to the nor
NAL school fund an additional sum of
s106,S00 in settlement of loss caused
by the destruction by fire Of the state
normal school at Superior. 1t is evil
dent from this that If the courts order
the payment Of this amount the insur-
ance fund will show a deficit, which
means that the premiums accredited
10 the insurance account in the past
zen years have not accumulated a fund
hat protects the state against loss
sither by fire CT tornado; in fact the
state has lost a substantial sum of
~ AAOt AAEuIlik us DIODEILYs
The present condition of this fund
after an experience of ten years
demonstrates conclusively that state
insurance on the basis on which 1t has
been carried on Is a failure. I recon-
mend that the present system Of state
ire insurance be discontinued, and a
more reliable insurance be substituted
therefor
Highways.
The state now is engaged in what
S generally conceded to be an extrava-
yant system of highway building.
There is annually appropriated out of
he general fund $1,2000O0 for state
I'D, and 100000 to the highway COM
mission with which TO carry out the
purposes of the act. It must be borne
n mind that In addition to this the
owns and counties which ask for state
lid must each furnish an equal sum
o that provided by the state. II the
for 1914 is used the total
mount expended on state aid roads
or that year would be $500, 900, ex-
'lusiye of the expense of the cop-mis-
zion and whatever the towns and coun-
les might have expended for super
7ision. This amount is generally re-
garded by the people as excessive and
to the taxpayers
II would seem that the first step
in proceeding with this pro-
ect IS to organize, under the super
'ision OF a competent highway engi-
leer. staff OF practical roadbuilders,
md this, 1t is generally conceded, is
iiificult to secure Furthermore, there
still is much doubt in the minds Of
men as to the best material
% be used In the construction of high
Ways. These facts, together with the
opposition to high taxes, make it inn
to proceed on a more con-
sentative basis.
The condition OF many state roads
hat have been but recently built
proves conclusively that 1t is neces-
'ary to make better provision for their
1t viii be q waste of
money to go on with these great ex-
for highways unless suit
lble arrangements are made to keep
hem in repair.
State Forestry.
In 1908 the legislature created the
department. of forestry, and began the
project OF reforesting cutover timber
ands in the northern part Of the state.
There is annually appropriated 1885,
700 TO pay the salaries and carry out
he provisions OF the act. The legisla-
ure of 1911 made an appropriation OF
1850 900, distributed over a period of
60 4h1 90 odAf-
.ional lands, and the law further pro-
1idaz for an annual appropriation OF
10000 which can be expended by the
state land commissioners for the pur-
,hase of lands that have reverted to
for taxes and for other lands.
This appropriation has been used each
gear since II was authorized. The
.otal appropriation available to the
forestry department is $4,000 per an
lum.
The state set aside all swamp lands
hat we're left north OF town SO and the
department has the use OF the income
rom these lands derived from the sale
IF dead and down timber, from tres
pass and from sales of scattering and
agricultural lands that are not suit
able for forest reserve. The state for
ester reports that the income from this
latter source has been large. the total
being s435.476.1S. or this amount
1881, zoo. SIS has been expended or re-
Invested. He reports the following in
yestments in lands:
appropriations for lands
expended ..............Sl 46, 027.4S
Income from swamp lands
reinvested in other lands 272.TS1. %