WISCONSIN. 



773 



average number of students in attendance 

 duriug the year was 150. 



The normal schools also are in successful 

 operation. In the school at Shepherdstown, 

 which was organized during 1873, the highest 

 number of pupils in attendance for the first 

 portion of the year was 42, the average 38 ; 

 for the latter part of the year, the highest 

 number in attendance was 100, and the aver- 

 age 66 ; with a prospect of increase. 



At Marshall College, the whole number of 

 pupils in attendance was 161; the average 

 number 75. 



A law was enacted at this session, " to pro- 

 vide for free education in Bethany College." 

 It makes a standing appropriation of three 

 thousand dollars per annum, to be paid in 

 half-yearly installments to the said college, on 

 condition that it shall educate one student 

 from each of the fifty-four counties in the 

 State, free of all charges, and with all the 

 privileges accorded to regular students. Each 

 county in the State shall be entitled to send 

 one student; and when any of them fail to do 

 so, the regents of the college are empowered 

 to make appointments to fill such vacancies. 



In the Hospital for the Insane the average 

 number of patients during the year is set down 

 at 280 ; the cost of maintenance and medical 

 attendance for each patient being $137. The 

 total expenditures made on account of the 

 hospital during the year amounted to $80,- 

 080.05; of which $38,377.97, were for current 

 expenses; $38,812.88, for construction of 

 buildings. 



The inmates at the Institution for the Deaf, 

 Dumb, and the Blind, numbered 60 in the 

 average during the year ; the cost of mainte- 

 nance and instruction for each pupil having 

 amounted to about $260. The aggregate ex- 

 penditures of the institution during the fiscal 

 year ending September 30, 1873, were $20,- 

 680.20. 



The material interests of "West Virginia ap- 

 pear to be in a flourishing condition. The 

 State steadily advanced during the year in 

 wealth : the progress made in the different 

 branches of business, though not rapid, seems 

 to ^be healthy ; the towns increased in popu- 

 lation and trade ; new farms were opened up, 

 and old ones better cultivated ; new manu- 

 facturing establishments were started, and old 

 ones extended their operations ; and all made 

 satisfactory returns for the investments of cap- 

 ital ; the forest and mine contributed their full 

 share to the general wealth, and the laborer 

 received better compensation for his services 

 than in the times past. 



WISCONSIN. The Legislature of 1873 was 

 in session from January 8th to Marcli 20th, 72 

 days. During this time 136 general, and 145 

 private and local laws were passed. Among 

 the most important acts passed were those 

 providing for a geological survey of the State, 

 to be begun in Ashland County, and completed 

 within four years, by a chief geologist and four 



assistants, to be appointed by the Governor, 

 $13,000 being appropriated annually; giving 

 the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company 

 the land grant, conditioned on building roads 

 from Prescott to Superior and Bayfield, from 

 Red Wing to Chippewa Falls, from Monroe to 

 Shullsburg; to change the management of the 

 State-prison from a commissioner elected by 

 the people once in two years, to a warden ap- 

 pointed by the Governor with consent of the 

 Senate, and a board of directors ; to substitute 

 the Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and 

 Attorney-General for the State, as a State 

 Board of Assessors; applying the temper- 

 ance law of last winter to all cities and in- 

 corporated villages, regardless of any special 

 provisions of their charter; increasing the 

 salaries of Supreme Court judges to $5,000, 

 and of circuit judges to $3,000 ; and provid- 

 ing for a State tax for 1873 of $321,110. 



Joint resolutions were passed ratifying the 

 constitutional amendment restricting munici- 

 pal debts to five per cent, of the valuation ; for 

 the appointment of an agent to prosecute the 

 claims of the State against the General Gov- 

 ernment for five per cent, on United States 

 lands; in favor of cheaper postage and no 

 franking ; and urging the improvement of St. 

 Croix Lake and River. 



The subject which attracted the largest share 

 of the attention of the Legislature, and caused 

 the most public discussion throughout the 

 State, had reference to the St. Croix land 

 grant. These lands were granted to Wiscon- 

 sin by Congress in 1856 and in 1864, to aid in 

 the construction of a railroad from Lake St. 

 Croix to the head of Lake Superior. The 

 State having assumed this trust, the question 

 of disposing of the grant came up before the 

 Legislature. The grant was eagerly sought by 

 two parties, the North Wisconsin Railroad 

 Company and the Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- 

 road Company, which led to a spirited and 

 protracted contest in the Legislature. This 

 resulted in the passage of a bill conferring the 

 grant upon the Milwaukie & St. Paul Railroad 

 Company. 



After the exciting contest for the posses- 

 sion of this aid, no little surprise was created 

 by the announcement of the rejection of the 



rant by the Milwaukie & St. Paul Railroad 

 ompany. In the official communication, dated 

 May 14, 1873, sent by the president of this 

 corporation to the Governor, the reasons as- 

 signed for not accepting this grant were, that 

 the act of Congress passed in 1856, granting 

 lands for the construction of a railroad from 

 the St. Croix River or Lake to Lake Superior, 

 provided that " if said roads are not completed 

 within ten years, no further sales shall be 

 made, and the land unsold shall revert to the 

 United States." By the act of 1863 the time 

 fixed for the completion of the roads was ex- 

 tended five years. As these were the only 

 acts of Congress on the subject, it was an- 

 nounced by the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad 



