768 



WISCONSIN". 



continues to meet all reasonable anticipations. 

 The whole number of inmates during the year 

 was 471, and the number remaining September 

 30, 1877, was 364. The average number for 

 the year was 341. The expenditures amounted 

 to 46,321, including $900 for permanent im- 

 provements. The expenditures at the Institu- 

 tion for the Education of the Blind were $19,- 

 686, exclusive of $64,353 expended for build- 

 ing purposes. The number of pupils in attend- 

 ance during the year was 91, of whom 76 were 

 present September 30, 1877. At the Institute 

 for the Deaf and Dumb, the current expendi- 

 tures amounted to $31,426. The average at- 

 tendance during the year was 155. The sum 

 of $94,823 was expended for the maintenance 

 of 498 patients in the Wisconsin Hospital for 

 the Insane, near Madison. The number of in- 

 mates at the close of the year was 382, and the 

 average number during the year was 370. In 

 the Northern Hospital for the Insane, 704 pa- 

 tients were cared for at a cost of $122,559. 



A more systematic provision is urged for the 

 hundreds of chronic insane scattered over the 

 State in jails, poor-houses, and private families. 



There are about 800 inmates of the Soldiers' 

 Home near Milwaukee. 



The geological survey of the State has been 

 prosecuted with very satisfactory results during 

 the year. The second volume of the final re- 

 ports has been published. 



The number of acres of public lauds sold dur- 

 ing the year was 42,064.81. 



During the year there were forfeited 15,- 

 015.54 acres, for non-payment of annual in- 

 terest, amounting to $20,200. 



The whole number of acres held by the State 

 at the close of the year was 1,568,655. 



The Commissioners of Fisheries conduct 

 hatcheries at Milwaukee and Madison. At the 

 former, fish for the great lakes are hatched and 

 raised, and at the latter, inland varieties. Dur- 

 ing the past year there were turned out from 

 the Milwaukee establishment 1,736,000 lake- 

 trout fry, and 6,295,000 young white-fish. 

 From the Madison hatchery 67,500 California 

 salmon and 179,000 brook-trout were distrib- 

 uted. 



The Republican State Convention assembled 

 at Madison, September llth, and nominated tb.3 

 following ticket: For Governor, William E. 

 Smith, of Milwaukee; Lieutenant-Governor, J. 

 M. Bingham, of Chippewa ; Secretary of State, 

 Hans B. Warner, of Pierce ; State Treasurer, 

 Eichard Guenther, of Winnebago ; Attorney- 

 General, William E. Carter, of Grant ; Super- 

 intendent of Public Instruction, W. 0. Whit- 

 ford, of Rock. The Convention adopted the 

 following resolutions : 



That we reaffirm the principles which have guided 

 the National Republican party hitherto ; that we de- 

 clare it to be the steadfast purpose of the Republicans 

 of Wisconsin to cooperate with all good citizens in 

 maintaining, in letter and spirit, the constitutional 

 amendments framed to secure equal rights and pro- 

 tection to all, in maintaining the plighted faith of 

 the nation, and in promoting reforms to secure 



economy and efficiency in every branch of goVern- 

 rnent. 



That, most earnestly desiring the pacification of 

 the Southern section of our Union and its speedy re- 

 turn to material prosperity, we are mindful that this 

 can be gained only by obedience to law, by protec- 

 tion to all in every right, by a careful regard for that 

 class of citizens least able to protect themselves. In 

 the efforts of the present National Administration to 

 restore peace and concord to the South, we recognize 

 a magnanimous purpose to remove every semblance 

 of excuse for lawlessness and violence. We hope that 

 this magnanimity will be duly appreciated, and that 

 the reciprocal pledges made by prominent citizens 

 and officials of the South will be faithfully kept. We 

 shall rejoice if the Southern policy of the President 

 produces the hoped-for results of order and peace. 

 But if these results shall not follow this experiment, 

 we demand that other measures be adopted which 

 shall secure to all citizens, without distinction of 

 race or color, the fullest enjoyment of their consti- 

 tutional rights. 



That the determination of the National Executive 

 to render the civil service more efficient and less ob- 

 noxious to criticism meets our approval. The per- 

 fection of our system of government in every detail 

 of administration is one of the most important duties 

 of the hour. All efforts in that direction should be 

 fairly considered, neither hastily approved nor con- 

 demned. 



That in the purposes and patriotism of President 

 Hayes, we declare our unshaken confidence. 



Jtesolved, That the attention of Congress is called 

 to the necessity of such modification of the patent 

 laws as shall, while affording adequate recompense 

 to the inventor, at the same time secure the complete 

 protection of the people from undue exactions for the 

 use of patented articles. 



That we rejoice that the fidelity of the Republican 

 party in upholding the national credit has brought 

 our currency so near the point of resumption of spe- 

 cie payment. We hold that the silver dollar should 

 be restored to ita former place as money, and made 

 legal tender for the payment of debts except where 

 otherwise distinctly provided by law, with coinage 

 BO regulated as to maintain equality of value, and 

 preserve the harmonious circulation of gold, silver, 

 and legal-tender notes as money. 



While we earnestly condemn all violence, outlaw- 

 ry, and mob rule, yet the R_epublican party expresses 

 its heart-felt sympathy with the condition of the 

 workingmen who are willing to work but are unaHle 

 to find employment ; and public attention should be 

 called to the grave importance of the labor question, 

 and the most careful consideration should be given 

 to the same by Federal and State Legislatures. 



That we oppose any further bestowal o ( 'public lands 

 upon railroad corporations, and urge the establish- 

 ment of such governmental regulation over inter- 

 state railroads as their importance as national high- 

 ways and the interest of the people demand. 



That we congratulate the people of Wisconsin that, 

 during the many years in which the Republican party 

 has been in the ascendency, no stain has been found 

 upon its record in this State ; and we therefore con- 

 fidently point to its whole history, and especially to 

 the wise and economical administration of Governor 

 Harrison Ludington, as the best evidence and guar- 

 antee of its intentions and purposes for the future. 



Resolved, That the Republican party is in favor of 

 an appropriation by Congress for the purpose of as- 

 sisting, under suitable regulations, the surplus labor- 

 ing men of the larger cities and mining districts to 

 settle on the public lands. 



The Democratic Convention met in Fond 

 du Lac, September 26th, and nominated James 

 A. Mallory, for Governor; R. E. Davis, for 

 Lieutenant - Governor ; James B. Hays, for 



