Year: 1875


age and proportionately diminishing the partial
dependence OF the Institution upon legislative be-
nevolence.


In connection with this subject again be-
speak your earnest consideration of the problem
whether our existing system of public instruc-
ton cannot be harmonized and simplifed as
to render public labor and expenditure in this
department OF progress more economical and
efficient We have at present schools of every
grade common to the several States. But they
are neither so supplied and distributed as to meet
they possess that completeness of organization,
mutual dependence of relationship and
unity of purpose so essential to the efficiency of
State system of education. Manifestly, our
schools should be organized into system of
successive grades, wherein certificate of compile
tion of the course in the school of grade should
be passport of admission to the next higher, and
in all schools supported by the public money of
Wisconsin courses of instruction should have
reference, in whole or in part, to courses of in
struction in public schools of succeeding grade
within our own State. -


INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS


Apparently the greatest need of our State at
this time in the higher department of education
is better supply of schools of intermediate
grade, between the lowest and the highest, SINH
lar to the plan of some of the Eastern States; so
that not only in the larger cities, but also in
every county, if not in every town. there shall be
series of free schools leading our youth through
successive gradations from the primary school up
TO the university. For fuller discussion of this
important subject, as also of the need of legis-
latlve measures looking to a greater uniformity
of textbooks, refer you to the able report of
our State Superintendent.


1t has been suggested by prominent friends of
education that the erection of a ccnlral normal
school in connection with the university would
strongly tend to harmOnize all interests and to
give measurable unity and efficiency to our edu-
CatlOnal plan. The reasonableness of this sug-
gestion is obvious As its name implies, the
university is intended to supplement all classes
of instruction taught in the State by public au
thorsty, and the adoption of this suggestion,





tiOna burden upon the people, would at least in
additional efficiency and unity to this special
department of instruction.


IMPROVEMENT OF NATIONAL WATER COURSES.


/ regret my inability to congratulate you upon
q more liberal improvement of our national water
courses during the past season. While l have
no official knowledge of precise results, it is a
matter of notoriety that the appropriations made
by Congress for this purpose the past year were
in proportion to the magnitude of
the interest committed to its charge and de-
pendent upon its bounty. The improvement
of our lake ports has been continued to mod
crate extent, but not on scale commensurate
WI the Importance of our commerce
or the revenue derived from our people
by the Federal Government. Work at the Fox
and Wisconsin Rivers was not actively resumed
until July, and the better portion of the season
was needlessly lost to the prosecution Of that
enterprise. am unoficially informed that de-
tached sections of the Wisconsin River, for
considerable portion of the distance from Port
age City to Prairie du Chien, are deemed complete
for navigable purposes; that dredging out the
connecting canal between the Fox and the Wis
consin Rivers is being prosecuted under contract,
and that the efficient continuance of the work the
ensuing season requires further and more lib
eral action by the present Congress.


Probably quarter of million of our people
reside on the Immediate shores of deep waters,
navigated by steam and sail. These waters are
grand highways which nature has kindly and
abundantly bestowed upon our our people. They
upon their bosoms precious burdens from
our farms and workshops ir exchange for
rich products of foreign industry and skill.
Over all this broad expanse of navigable waters
the Federal Government holds complete and in
disputable sway. In the solution of the grand
problem of cheap exchanges of products we
ask of that Government to return to us but
fraction of that which we pay for its support, by
enlargng the natural channels of trade, by pro-
viding sufficient shelter for our shipping, and by
protecting the lives OF our gallant and hardy
sailors from the rage of November storms. We
ask this not merely on the ground of justice, and
much less on the ground OF unrequlted bounty;
The wisest statesmen Of our time are confirmed
by every intelligent engineer of the Federal
service in estimating an ultimate profit to the
Treasury upon every dollar judiciously dis
bursed in this branch OF the public
service. In truth, there are no figures
adequate to a complete expression of the
past or the future advantages, either to the Gov
or to the people, of the easy and safe nav
igation of our lakes and rivers. The conceded OBJ
legations of the Government in this. department
have been the foundation of our growth and the
life of our industry. But while it is fortunate for
our own people that the duty of the Government
is neither doubtful nor obscure, it is unfortunate
that the extent of that duty is not better defined,
and that its faithful discharge cannot be more
promptly enforced.


AS to the special claims OF the Fox and W1scon-
sin Rivers improvement, need not indulge in
repetition of facts have already stated in my
first annual message and on other occasions InOw
call your attention simply to the conceded truth
that not less than one-thrd of the States are
more or less directly interested in this i'm
and to the testimony of Senator
Window and other high authority that it's com
pletion would connect the commerce of nearly
2 1000 vessels on the lakes with that of
would save ten cents per bushel
on the cost of wheat shipments which would
naturally be contributed from Minnesota, Wis
consin, Nebraska Iowa and Missouri, amounting
to yearly aggregate TO these States of not less
than $10000,u00; would other mill
ions upon the cost of transporting iron,
Wisconsin and Michigan, and Eastern mer
chandse received in exchange; and that
with the completion of the Huron Canal, its nat
ural extension, distance would be sufficiently
abbreviated to encourage a large additional pro-
duction and ship pment, even promising to the
toiling producer of the West profit on his sur
plus oats and corn A hundred thousand West
ern producers are now praying Congress for
more prompt and liberal action for the attain
ment of these advantages, and ask you to unite
with me in o memorial of similar character, In
behalf of this and such other improvements of
this class as clearly demand the continued and
more vigorous support of Federal authority.


THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.


In pursuance of an act of the last Legislature,
entitled An act relating to railroads, express
and telegraph companies it became my duty in
May last to appoint Board of Railroad Commits
sioners. Conscious of the responsible duties as
signed to the commission under the law, it was
my earnest endeavor to so constitute the Board
as to avoid any just suspicion of political par
tialty or OF desire to preJudge the interests OF
believe every one familiar with the facts
Will concur with me in bearing cheer
full testimony to the impartiality and ability with
which the work of the commission has thus far
been perform ed. In addition to the ordinary du-
ties of similar commissions, the act clearly I'M
piled the necessity of protracted investigation,
impossible of satisfactory completion within the
few months intervening between the organization
of the Board and the meeting of the Legislature.
Sufficient progress has been made, however, to
assure us that the Commissioners have laid broad
and strong the foundations of future progress and
more intelligent legislation.


THE RAILWAY CONTROVERSY.


Immediately previous to the organization of the
Board of Commissioners formal communications
were Forwarded to me by the Presidents of the
Chicago, Milwaukee IL st. Paul Railway Com
pany and of the Chicago & Northwestern Rail
way Company, notifying me- the one In ssta wolus s
the law in important particulars wouid ne uisae s
garded by these corporations and assigning rea-
sons for this determination


Irnder these circumstances no alternative was
me- The Constitution declares that
The Governor 'sshall exI edite all such measures
as may be resolved upon BY the Legislature, and
ecnted ;, This Constitution / had solemnly sworn
TO support. I possessed no opportunity and no
power to determine the merits of the law. 1t is
revise the action of the legislative branch of the
Government or to consider objections to the
performance of duties it had required. Nor
Is il permissible that corporations, because
vested with extraordinary responsibility
and influence can rightfuly await the progress of
protracted judicial investigation as condition OF
obedience to public authority. Such an assump-
tion is subversive of all law In this respect the
obligations of powerful corporation are no
greater and no less than those of the humblest cit
izen within the jurisdiction of the State And
should have been false to you and false to the peo
pie we mutually represent had failed IN TINS
emergency to exert all the authority vested IN the