River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-01-13
State Capitol News
BY VIM. j. Anderson
Especial to The Journal)

Madison, Wis.-Wisconsin has TAX
en- a great jump toward the front in
the value of her agricultural crops.
According to figures now being COM
piled BY ]. A. Becker for the state
Department of Agriculture, Wiscon-
SIN in 1919 ranked eighteenth in the
value of her crops. In 1920 the state
came up to the tenth place. This, it
should be explained, is not due wholly
to relatively bigger crops; it means
rather that crop values have not
slumped SO badly in Wisconsin as they
have, say, in the cotton states. 1t
does mean, however, that Wisconsin's
diversified crop system is better for
the state in every way than would be
one leading crop.
Trucks In Highway Construction
Chief Engineer A. R. Hirst of the
Highway Commission raises an inter-
esting question concerning the build
ing and the use of super-heavy trucks
on the Wisconsin highways. 1t is his
opinion that these immense trucks do
not furnish economical transporta-
ton; and besides this, when their de-
structiye effect upon any but concrete
roads is considered, they appear in an
undesirable light. Mr.. Hirst believes
that a three and one-half ton truck
which loaded means seven tons on the
highway is probably as heavy as is
warranted on the states highways.
Banner Producer of Clover Seed
Wisconsin is now the banner pro-
Queer of clover seed, according to the
State Department of Agriculture.
Last years crop was $4,000 bushels;
taken from 10000 acres. The price
the seed brought in 1920 was $10.94
per bushel as against s26.60 in 1919.
Must Plant Whitefish
Commissioner James Nevin, head of
the fisheries division of the Conserva-
ton Commission, declares that I'M
less Canada and the States bordering
on Lake Superior take some united
action to plant whitefish spawn in
that lake, it will cease to be produc-
err of one of the finest food fishes
known. Superior is so deep and so
cold, says Mr.. Nevin, that nature
must be aided by placing spawn in
shallow and protected spots, where it
can hatch unmolested by other fish
and safe from excessive cold.
Death Rate From Various Diseases
The State Board of Health contin-
ues to compile interesting statistics
concerning Wisconsin's death rate
from various diseases. The figures
for the full year of 1919 are the lat
est available. These show that where
as the death rate from typhoid fever
in Wisconsin in 1918 was four to ev-
cry 100000 of population, it was re-
duced to 80 in 1919. The average
for the thirty odd states comprised in
the registration area for 1918 was
12.5 deaths for every 100000 of popu-
lation. There was big falling off in
the total deaths from all causes as
between 1918 and 1919, the disparity
being due chiefly to the ravages of
influenza in 1918. The figures are,
total deaths from all causes for every
100000 population in 1918, 1901; in
| 1911, 1103.8.
Educational Expenditures
The State Board of Education has
issued a bulletin showing that Wis
consin's total expenditures for edu-
cational purposes during the year be-
ginning July 1, 1919, were $30,469,-
455.00, the largest in the states his
tory. Of this sum, $9,552,936 was
expended by the state, and $20,916,51S
was raised by local taxes. For the
year beginning July 1, 1915, the total
expenditure was S19,801, 644.0O, of
which the states share was $780,
450.
For Home for Feeble Minded
State Board of Control this week let
the contract for construction of the
needed buildings of the Southern
Home For Feeble Minded, at Union
Grove, Racine County. The winning
bidder was the Immel Construction
Co., of Fond du Lac, and the bid was
$235,000,00.
Legislature in Session
By the time this correspondence is
published the Legislature of 1921 will
have met and elected its officers. The
short session, which, as in former
years has been predicted, seems I'M
likely to eventuate in view of the
raft of important bills which are al
ready prepared for introduction. APP
preparations, measures in the inter-
est of labor and measures in the in
terest of agriculture are the three
subjects that will be to the front,