Dane County, Wisconsin - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 3 of those read), 1880 (part 2 of 2)

1875 - From the college of arts, Harriet E. Bacon, Carrie A. Barber, Isaac S. Bradley, Alice A. Crawford, Mary C. Draper, T. F. Frawley, F. S. Huntington, C. H. Lewis, George S. Martin, Juliet D. Meyer, Clara Moore, W. H. Rogers, George C. Synon, C. G. Thomas, Fannie West, James Melville, A. G. Schulz and B. C. Walter - the last three with the degree of Bachelor of Civil Engineering ; A. D. Conover and James Moroney, Jr., graduating as Civil Engineers; from the college of letters, as Bachelors of Arts, W. G. Clough, Kate D. Dewey, A. S. Frank, C. F. Harding, F. S. Luhman, J. W. Mills, J. M. Mills, W. S. Noland ; as Bachelors of Letters, H. A. Odell, C. E. Pickard, P. F. Stone, J. E. Wildish and F. W. Winchester: from the law department, L. J. Arthur, C. V. Bardeen, C. W. Bunn, J. H. Bottenseck, W. H. Butler, E. R. Garr, E. W. Chafin, Thomas Coleman, B. F. Dunwiddie, W. A. Frankhn, C. S. Fuller, Ansley Gray, L. E. Haynes, E. G. Hursh, J. C. Kerwin, Thomas Lynch, E. B. Manwaring, W. C. McLain, John McMahon, Duane Mowry, A. J. O'Keefe, A.

E. H. Smalley, Mills Tourtellotte, Volney Underbill, G. A. Underwood, E. P. Vilas, Hempstead Washburn, E, G. Webster, J. B. Winslow and E. R. Woodle.

1876 - from the college of letters, H. R. Cook, R. B. Dudgeon, E. T. Fames, Albert S. Ritchie, Helen D. Street, and W. H. Williams, in the ancient classical course, as Bachelors of Arts ; H. S. Daniels, Agnes A. Hascall, J. W. Hiner, A. H. Noyes, R. E. Noyes and Helen Remington, in the modern classical course, as Bachelors of Letters ; from the college of arts, Sarah C. Ames, Lizzie G. Atwood, J. H. Calkins, Tirza J. Chapman, Lillie S. Clark, C. S. Dietz, Emma E. Dudgeon, B. W. Gillett, Mary M. Henry, Elinor Henry, E. R. Hicks, Caroline A. Hobart, Clara L Lyon, D. E. McKercher, Elizabeth A. Meyer, Mary L. Nelson, Mary J. Oertel, A. E. Smith, Abbie D. Stuart, G. C. Stockman, Fannie A. Walbridge, Nellie M. Williams, E. C. Wiswall, and Elsena Wiswall, as Bachelors of Science ; G. P. Bradish, J. J. Fisher, J. B.. Trowbridge, and W. W, Wood, as Bachelors of Civil Engineering; George Haven and Oliver Matthews, as Bachelors of Mining Engineering ; C. F. Ainsworth, W. H. Baird, W. P. Baker, S. J. Bradford, A. H. Bright, Z. A. Church, Henry Frawley, E. C. Higbee, A. L. Lamont, 0. L. Lardon, F. M. Lawrence, L. K. Luse, George U. Leeson, F. L, Morrill, H. M. Needles, T. J. Pereles, James Quirk, E. H. Ryan, W. H. Rogers, W. F. Redmon, Oliver Schee, J. D. F. Stone, W. A. Short. C. _S. Taylor, and C. A. Youmans, in the law department.

1877 - from the college of letters - in the ancient classical course, as Bachelors of Arts, Brigham Bliss, C. L. Dudley, Franklin Fisher, Howard Morris, and S. W. Trousdale ; in the modern classical course, as Bachelors of Letters, Alexander Craven and Mary Hill ; from the college of arts - course in general science, Carrie B. Carpenter, S. H. Cook, T. H. Gill, Benedict Goldenberger, F. N. Hendrix, Hattie M. Hover, E. M. Lowry, Florence E. Mitchell, Frank Moore, Annie A. Porter, A. C. Prescott, J. C. Rathbun, Matilda Reuel, H. J. Smith, Alice btickney, Nellie M. Tate, W. E. Todd, S. M. Williams, and H. C. Wood - as Bachelors of Science ; as Bachelors of Civil Engineering, John F. Albers, J. P. Paine, N. F. Phillips, J. M. iurner, and James Whelan, Jr. ; and as Bachelor of Mining and Metallurgy, W. A. Hover ; trom the law department, H. W. Bingham, H. H. Curtis, J. J. Fruit, W. W. Haseltine, John i- Kean, Herman Pfund, F. E. Purple, James Reynolds, W. F. White, and John T. Yule. T? V n^ - ^^^^ ^^^ college of letters - in the ancient classical course, as Bachelors of Arts, IV.. Conover, W. A. Germain, Mary Hill, C. E. Hooker, Francis E. Noyes, 0. W. Ray, and . J. Taylor; in the modern classical course, as Bachelor of Letters, Alexander Berger ; from the college of arts, in General Science, C. E. Buell, W. A. Corson, H. W. Eaton, W. S. Field,

Helen L. Hatch, Alice F. Frisby, Almah J. Frisby, W. J. Fuller, B. F. Gilman, T. P. Lindley, Martha Mann, Nettie L. Porter, F. B. Robinson, R. G. Siebecker, and Lewis E. Walker as Bachelors of Science ; as Bachelor of Agriculture, W. W. Brown ; as Bachelor of Civil Engineering, W. H. Bradley ; as Civil Engineers, George P. Bradish, William Munroe, and John F. Albers ; and as Metallurgical Engineer, Oliver Matthews ; from the law department Carroll Atwood, F. E. Briggs, F. C. Brooks, S. 0. Campbell, T. H. Gill, L. P. Hale, J. s'. Keyes, P. V. Lawson, J. R. Matthews, A, H. Noyes, R. E. Noyes, J. O'Connor, R. B. Salter, E. H. Sprague, E. A. Tucker, R. F. Wilbur, R. F. Pettigrew, and William Windsor, Jr.

Unusual advantages are offered by the university to young women. They have a range or studies and a quality of instruction equal to those of the very best American colleges, while the expense is less than half that usually met with at seminaries and colleges for women. There is no distinction, in advantages, made between young men and young women. A young woman can take any of the courses, or select studies from any of them.

Ladies' Hall is a fine building, well furnished and well provided with all the conveniences and public rooms necessary for the comfort and profit of the students. All the expenses of a young woman, except those strictly personal, who boards in Ladies' Hall, need not exceed $185 per year.

This institution had its origin in the generous appropriation of $5,000 out of the general treasury, by Congress, contained in the seventeenth section of the organic act creating the Territory of Wisconsin. At the first session of the Territorial Legislature, held at Belmont in 1836, a joint resolution was adopted, appointing the Hon. John M. Clayton, of Delaware (through whose instrumentality the clause in the organic act making the appropriation was inserted), Hon. Lewis F. Lima, of Missouri, Hon. G. W. Jones, then Delegate in Congress from this Territory (which at that time included what now constitutes the State of Iowa as well as Wisconsin), and Hon. Peter Hill Engle, the Speaker of the first Territorial House of Representatives, a committee to select and purchase a library for the use of the Territory, and authorizing them to draw the sum appropriated for that purpose from the Federal Treasury. Mr. Engle was the active member of the committee, and made the selections and purchases, with the approval of the other members. James Clarke, publisher of the Belmont Gazette, and first Territorial printer, was the first Librarian.

The first appropriation by the State to replenish the library was made in 1851. The sum of $2,500'was then appropriated, to be expended under direction of Gov. Dewey in the purchase of law books. Subsequently, in 1854, the sum of $3,000 was appropriated for law and miscellaneous works; and in 1857, the additional appropriation of $1,000 was made for the same purpose, together with a standing appropriation of $250 for such additions to the law and miscellaneous departments of the library as might from time to time be deemed desirable.

In 1864, the annual appropriation was increased to $300, and two years later the additional sum of $600 was placed at the disposal of the Governor for the purpose of supplying deficiencies m the law department. These appropriations were continued until 1877, when the annual appropriation was increased to $1,500.

The purchase of miscellaneous works for the library was virtually discontinued in 1866, except that purchases were subsequently made for completing imperfect sets of works of reference. In 1875, the miscellaneous works were transferred to the State Historical Society. Since that time, the condition of the library as a State law library has rapidly improved. It stands among the best in the States of the Great Northwest, and with its present resources will be able to maintain the high position it occupies.

Smce the organization of State government, the following-named gentlemen have occupied the position of State Librarian : George P. Delaplaine, C. G. Mayers, Fritz Anneke, William , iT/' ^T ^^^^ *° ^^^^' ^"^S^^^ Kreuer, from 1854 to 1856 ; Horace Rublee, from 1856 to 18b0; Samuel C. Bean, from 1860 to 1863; 0. M: Conover, from 1863 to 1874; Francis Massmg, from 1874 to 1876 ; J. R. Berryman, from 1876 to date.

The whole number of volumes in the library at the present time is, in round numbers 14,000. Rooms are set apart at in the capitol at Madison for use of the library.

In 1854, L. J. Farwell sold to the State one hundred acres of land on the north side of Lake Mendota, in the town of Westport, for the location of the " Hospital for the Insane." It is about three miles from Madison by a direct line across the lake, and six miles by carriage road. The grounds also adjoin the track of the Chicago & North- Western Railroad. By an act of the Legislature, approved March 30, 1854, the Governor was authorized to appoint Commissioneis to prepare plans and let a contract for the erection of a lunatic asylum, substantially on the plan of the asylum at Worcester, Mass., both in respect to design and expense. In pursuance of this act, Gov. Barstow appointed Commissioners and a Superintendent; The contract was awarded to Andrew Proudfit, and the work commenced. On the assembling of the Legislature in 1855, that body annulled the contract on the ground that the plan adopted was much more extensive than had been authorized, and bore no particular resemblance to the Worcester asylum, as well as for other reasons. The result of this action was that the work was suspended.

By an act of the Legislature, approved March u, 1857, the State Hospital for the Insane was established, and L. J. Farwell, John P. McGregor and Levi Sterling were appointed Commissioners by the Governor. The Commissioners, at their first meeting, on the 5th of May, elected L. J. Farwell, President ; J. P. McGregor, Secretary, and Levi Sterling, Building Superintendent, and employed S. V. Shipman as architect.

The following is a synopsis of the plan of the buildings, as drawn by the architect, S. V. Shipman : The structure to consist of the center or main building, with two longitudinal and two transverse wings - the main building to be 65x127 feet; the longitudinal, each 41x92 feet, and the transverse wings 40x8ti feet ; the main building and transverse buildings are to be four stories high - cellar eight feet, first story twelve feet, the second of the main building fifteen feet, the third story thirteen feet and the fourth story eleven feet. The first, second and third stories of the wing will be twelve feet each ; the walls of the fourth, or attic story, will be ten feet. The main building and each of the transverse wings are to be surmounted by a cupola, that of the main building being fifty feet and of each wing twenty-seven feet above the roof.

After the adoption of plans, specifications and detail drawings, notice was published in every city in the State that proposals would be received until September 1 following for doing all the work and furnishing all the materials in accordance with the plans and specifications.

On the 1st of September, the bids were opened and the contract awarded to Nelson McNiel, of Portage City, for building the central or main building, one longitudinal and one transverse wing for the sum of $73,500..

Mr. McNiel, after making some progress on the work, threw up his contract, which caused much delay in the completion of the building, and it was not until some time in 1860 that it was turned over to the Board of Trustees for the reception of patients.

An act was passed, approved April 11, 1861, during the last session of the Legislature, appropriating $40,000 for the enlargement of the building. That act authorized the Board of Trustees, or such committee as might be designated by them, to construct a longitudina,! and transverse wing, to be located on the west side of the center building, corresponding in dimensions with the wings on the east side of the center building. In pursuance of a requirement of this act, the executive committee advertised for sealed proposals for furnishing materials and doing the work ; and, at the time designated in the advertisement, several proposals were laid before the board to be examined and their respective merits determined. After all of proposals had been considered in reference to the price proposed and the general interests of the institution, it was unanimously agreed and ordered that the mason-work and furnishing the materials therefor should be let to Joseph Parkins, of the County of Dane, for the sum of |20,- 500 and that the carpenter-work and painting and glazing, with the materials therefor, should be let to Bradley & Norton, of the city of Racine, for the sum of $9,450.

In accordance with the order, contracts were entered into between the executive committee and the aforementioned parties on the 6th day of June, 1861, and the requisite bonds to secure the completion of the contract and the faithful performance of the work were duly made and deposited by the several contractors.

The heating apparatus, gas pipes and fixtures, registers, window guards and sewerage were not included in either of the contracts just mentioned, as it was deemed advisable to have that work performed by the State, under the direction of the board, by purchasing the materials and having them fitted by persons in their employ. The Board of Trustees, in their annual report for 1861, speak of the commendable zeal of the contractors in the prosecution of the work, which was commenced on the 1st of June of that year, and which was so far advanced as to be roofed and inclosed before the winter set in.

The Legislature, at the session of 1866., passed an act approved April 11, for erecting one transverse and one longitudinal wing on the east side of the main building. On the 19th of June, proposals were received from contractors, and the contract was awarded to A. Proudfit for the mason work at $64,500, and Anderson, Davidson, & Co., carpenter work, $33,500, the whole amounting to $98,000.

The entire length of the hospital building is 569 feet, the center building being 65x120 ; the first longitudinal wing on each side of the center is 132 feet, and the last on each extremity is 119 feet. The transverse wings are 87 feet long. This elegant and commodious building is surrounded by ornamental grounds, wood and farming lands to the extent of 393 acres, and, with the extensions and improvements recently added, forms an asylum creditable to the enterprise and philanthropy of the people of Wisconsin, and well adapted for the care of the unfortunates needing their protection. The hospital will now accommodate comfortably 550 patients.

The Legislature of 1871 made some important changes in the law governing the hospital. The number of Trustees was reduced from fifteen to five, and required to meet quarterly instead of semi-annually, as formerly. And again, in 1872, this law was changed to embrace the government of the Northern Hospital for the Insane.

All insane persons living within the limits of the following-named counties, will be received at the Wisconsin State Hospital as far as accommodations can be furnished :

J. Edwards Lee, M. D., was the first Medical Superintendent, having been elected by the first Board of Trustees, on the 22d of June, 1859, and the furniture and furnishing of the center building and first wing, and arrangements for the reception of patients were conducted under his supervision.

The second Board of Trustees, organized April 10, 1860, and on the 22d of May following Wointed John P. Clement, M. D., to supersede Dr. Lee as Superintendent; and in June, 1860, Mrs. Mary C. Halliday was appointed Matron. The first patient was admitted July 14^

Dr. Clement resigned January 1, 1864, and from that time until April 20, the hospital was m charge of John W. Sawyer, M. D., Assistant Physician, when A. H. Van Norstrand, M. D., was elected Superintendent. Dr. Van Norstand resigned June 6, 1868, and was succeeded by A. S. McDill, M. D. s J ) J-

Dr. McDill resigned in October, 1872, and on the 29th of April, 1873, Mark Ranney, M. was appomted Superintendent, and entered upon his duties July 23.

D. F. Boughton, M. D., who had served a number of years as Assistant Physician in the hospital, was chosen to fill the vacancy occasioned by Dr. McDill's death, and is still in charge of the institution.

The following table shows for each year the statistics of the hospital from July 14, 1860 when the first patient was admitted, to September 30, 1879 (end of the hospital year):

The cost of construction of the hospital, the current expenses, the whole number of patients, and the average number, have been, each year, as follows :

Tear

Gov. Fairchild, in his annual message to the Legislature in 1870, recommended the reduction of each Board of Trustees, having charge of the State charities and institutions, to five, and the appointment of a State Board of Charities and Reform.

Althouah the suggestion was favorably received by the Legislature, the bill embodying his views, after passing one House, failed in the other, for want of time to reach it at the close of the session.

Section 1. To the end that the adminUtration of public charity and correction may be conducted on sound principles of economy, justice and humanity, and that the relations existing between the State and its dependent classes may be better understood, there is hereby created a State Board of Charities and Reform.

The act further made it the duty of the board " to investigate and supervise the whole system of charitable and correctional institutions supported by the State or receiving aid from the State Treasury ; to investigate into the condition of the poor-houses of the State, the cost of pauperism, and also to investigate the jails, city prisons, and houses of correction ; to look after the care of the insane, and ascertain if they are treated humanely ; " and, in general, the board was directed to ascertain for the information of the Legislature any important facts or considerations bearing upon the best treatment of criminals and the diminution of crime. The act further provided that the office of the board should be in Madison.

The board appointed by Gov. Fairchild consisted of the following-named persons : Willard Merrill, Janesville, for one year ; William C. Allen, Racine, for two years ; H. H. Giles, Madison, for three years ; Andrew E. Elmore, Fort Howard, four years ; Mrs. Mary E. B. Lynde, Milwaukee, five years. It organized April 13, 1871, by the election of H. H. Giles as President, William C. Allen as Vice President, and Samuel D. Hastings as Secretary. Willard Merrill was re-appointed in 1872, for five years ; William G. Allen was re-appointed in 1873, for five years. In February, 1874, Mrs. Lynde and Messrs. Merrill and Allen sent their resignation to Gov. Taylor, and the vacancies created were tilled by the appointment of Mrs. Lynde, of Milwaukee, W. W. Reed, M. D., of Jefferson, and E. E. Chapin, of Columbus. The term of H. H. Giles expired in April, 1874, and he was re-appointed by Gov. Taylor.

Under Chapter 414 of the laws of 1876, the board was re-organized, and Gov. Ludington appointed W. W. Reed, A. E. Elmore, Rev. H. C. Tilton, of Whitewater, and H. H. Giles and C. H. Haskins, of Milwaukee, to serve from one to five years, and in the order named. H. H. Giles was elected President, A. E. Elmore Vice President, and Theron W. Haight, of Waukesha, Secretary - the latter in place of Gen. A. C. Parkinson, who had served two years as Secretary.

In April, 1878, Mr. Haight resigned as Secretary, and Theodore D. Kanouse, of Watertown, was elected in his place. Mr. Kanouse resigned in September, 18 (9, and H. H. Giles, a member of the board, was appointed for the balance of the year. In April, 1880, Rev. A. 0. Wright, of Fox Lake, was elected Secretary.

In 1879, J. H. Vivian, M. D., of Mineral Point, was appointed- to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Rev. H. C. Tilton, and in February, 1880, Mrs. E. B. Fairbanks was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of C. H. Haskins.

The board now (November, 1880.) consists of Mrs. Fairbanks, of Milwaukee, W. W. Reed of Jefi'erson, A. E. Elmore, of Fort Howard, J. H. Vivian, of Mineral Point, and H. H. Giles, of Madison.

The board supervises all the charitable and penal institutions of the State, as well as the jails and poor-houses. The private charitable institutions are also under its supervision.

Through the influence of the board, the prison management of the State Prison has been brought to a high standard of efficiency under the watchful care of a non-partisan Board of Directors. This of itself is a reform worth noting.

It has removed quite all the children from the poor-houses of the State, by procuring the passage of the act prohibiting their retention therein. This reform will in the future save more to the State than the entire cost of the board. It will diminish pauperism, and thus save the tax-payers. It has reformed the poor-houses of their dirt and filth. It has greatly improved the condition of the chronic insstne in the poor-houses, so that now that class are quite as well cared for, at an expense of from $1 to $1.75 per week, as in the State Hospitals, at $4.25 to 14.75 per week.

The poor-houses are now as cleanly as the average homes of the people. It has reformed the county jails by the introduction of cleanliness and order, the separation of the sexes, where possible, the extermination of vermin, and improvement in ventilation. Through its influence, juvenile . ofi'enders are no longer confined in county jails, but sent at once to the Industrial School at Waukesha. All this has been done in the entire absence of authority, except to look into and inquire and report, the exercise simply of moral power.

It has introduced into the State institutions a uniform system of keeping the books and accounts, simple in detail and easily understood. It has reduced greatly the expenditures in the different State institutions, by requiring a detailed report of the expenditure of all the moneys placed in their keeping. This reduction in a single institution has equaled the entire expenses of the board. The cost to the State has averaged about $2,200 per year, and, outside of special investigations, it has cost less than $2,100, as gathered from the reports of the Secretary of State. No member of the board receives any pay, except when ordered by the Governor to make an investigation. The Secretary receives a salary of $1,500 per year, and devotes his whole time to the work, under the direction of the board.

All the county poor-houses are visited each year, and nearly all the jails. The State institutions are visited twice in each year - once by the board, and once by each individual member, at times when not expected. No notice is given of these visits, except the annual one of the board in the fall. It has made several investigations that were ordered by the Governor.

A large amount of work has been done by this board - much of it the public know nothing about. Many complaints have been investigated and many evils reformed.

The board has not "sounded its horn," but quietly pursued its way ; has gained public confidence and become one of the permanent institutions of the State.

Y. - The State Fish Hatchery. The first account of artificial impregnation of fish-eggs was given to the world late in the fourteenth century, and it is said to have been discovered by Don Pinchon, a French monk. The art seems to have been forgotten, if it had ever existed, till 1758, when it was revived by Jacob! and an account of it was published in German by Count Goldstein. The first practical use of the art was made in Hanover. In 1837, a Mr. Shaw, in Scotland, resorted to artificial impregnation for the purpose of restocking salmon streams. In 1811, Boccius, a civil engineer of Hammersmith, England, practiced the art with the trout. In 1842, Joseph Reney, a poor fisherman in the Vosges, without any knowledge in respect to previous experiments, discovered the art and restocked the Moselle and other streams, gaining thereby, his livelihood. Prof Caste, of the College of France, gave to the enterprise his sanction, and this gave rise to the modern industry of fish culture. This business is carried on extensively and profitably throughout Central Europe, and is patronized by the Governments of the Great Powers. One estaDlisnment at Hunnigen, Germany, with its buildings and ponds, covers eighty acres.

About twelve years ago, the attention of the New England States and New York was called to this subject, owing to the alarming depletion of their streams in producing fish food. Scientific and practical labors were vigorously entered upon, and, availing themselves of the experiments made by European Governments, a system of State Fish Commissions was set on foot by interested parties, and by the aid of public money those depleted waters have been brought back to their maximum supply of fish. Gradually State Fish Commissions have increased, until now a number of them are in existence. The Dominion of Canada, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the headwaters of the lakes, manifests a lively interest in artificial fish propagation, and has several large artificial hatcheries, one of which is located at Windsor, opposite Detroit, where from 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 of whitefish are annually hatched and planted in Detroit River.

The great success resulting from the artificial propagation of fish in Europe, and an inquiry into the cause of the rapid and alarming decrease in the number of fish in the United States waters, led to the organization of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries in 1871. Congress, in the year 1879, appropriated to the United States Fishery Commission $75,000. This was mainly expended in scientific researches respecting the fish, its habits and causes of depletion, and in aiding the States provided with Fish Commissions by donating to them the impregnated ova of the better varieties.

Wisconsin is one of the most favored States, all things considered, for fish culture in the Union, Michigan and Minnesota being her only rivals.

The first appropriation made by the Legislature of Wisconsin for the purpose of fish culture was in 1873, when the sum of $500 was placed at the disposal of the Commissioner of Fisheries for the United States. In 1874, the Wisconsin Commission was organized and the sum of $360 appropriated to pay current expenses and supply the wants of the Commissioner. In 1875, the appropriation was increased to $2,000, by which the Commission was placed upon a sound financial basis, and in a condition to commence work for which it was designed. From that time can be reckoned the beginning of fish culture by the State. In 1876, the sum appropriated was 110,000. It became at the same time the duty of the Commissioners to purchase a site for a State Hatching-House, and to erect thereon a hatching-house, tenement, ponds, and to equip the hatching-house for hatching purposes and in all practical ways to procure spawns and fish to be disposed of in furtherance of the purposes of the law.

In 1876 was completed the purchase of the grounds, the erection of the buildings, and the construction of the ponds (seven in number) of the Madison Hatchery, and that year witnessed the first hatch of fry at that locality, the distribution of which began in the spring of 1877. Prior to the fall and winter of 1876, the hatching had been conducted in private establishments.

The grounds purchased were located in the town of Fitchburg, Dane County - a tract known as the "Nine Springs," on Section 3, about three miles southwest of the city of Madison. The tract consists of a fraction less than forty acres, and the price paid was $35 an acre.

The Commissioners established a temporary hatching house at Milwaukee for the hatching of spawn of the whitefish and lake trout. The Common Council and the Board of Public Works of that city gave space in their water-works building for that purpose, with permission to draw all the water required for hatching purposes from their reservoirs.

In 1S77, $8,000 were appropriated by the State to the object of fish culture in Wisconsin. A like sum was also given in 1878, and the Commission re-organized, increasing the number of members from four to seven, the Governor remaining, as before, a member ex officio.

By the purchase of three acres and a fraction, the site of the hatchery, near Madison, 13 now made to contain forty-three acres, with as fine springs as are in the State or in the Northwest, and wonderfully adapted for the purposes of the Commission. Improvements have also' been made and two additional ponds constructed. The temp^orary hatching establishment ;it Milwaukee is still continued. The appropriation for the yea'r 1879 by the State amounted to?8,000; for 1880, $2,000.

J he Commissioners of Fisheries of Wisconsin, who have served in that capacity since the passage of the law, in 1874, authorizing their apoointment, are as follows : William Welch, A.

Palmer, P. R. Hoy, H. F. Dousman, Moses Hooper, Mark Douglas,* John F. Antisdel,* Christopher Hutchinson,* J. V. Jones,* Philo Dunning* and C. L. Valentine.* Govs. LudingtoD and Smith* have also served as ex officio members under the law making them such. M. D, Comstock and H. W. Welsher have served as Superintendents of the Wisconsin Fish Commission, the latter being still in office.

Among all the noble women who gave themselves to the sanitary work of the war, perhaps few were more peculiarly fitted for forming and carrying out plans than Mrs. C. A. P. Harvey. The thrill of horror with which the people of Wisconsin learned that their Governor, Louis P. Harvey, had been drowned at Savannah, Tenn., was one of those things never to be forgotten by the residents of the State. His self-appointed work had been the care of our soldiers after the fearful conflicts at Pittsburg Landing and Shiloh, and out of this grew the career of his stricken wife. At her own request, she soon received from Gov. Salomon a "commission to act as one of the sanitary agents of the State.

In the performance of duties thus assumed by her, she found many Northern men languishing in Southern hospitals, whose lives depended upon their removal to a more invigorating climate. Becoming convinced of this, she went to Washington, and, by her almost unaided efforts, procured the establishment of a convalescent hospital at Madison, Wis. The building thus used, and known as Harvey Hospital, had been built for a residence by Gov. Farwell, and by its high, spacious and airy rooms, with ample communications between them, was admirably fitted for hospital purposes. After it was no longer needed for this use, Mrs. Harvey conceived the idea of converting it into a home for soldiers' orphans.

Upon her return from the South, in 1865, Mrs. Harvey brought with her a half-dozen orphans of the war, whom she had picked up, not inquiring on which side their fathers fell. Chiefly through her persistency and indomitable will, the United States Government was induced to convey to the State of Wisconsin the three wings of the building which had been rented as hospital wards, and all the fixtures and supplies, provided the State would purchase the building and grounds. Before this arrangement was completed, however,necessary funds were raised by private subscriptions, and the Home was opened January 1, 1866, .with eighty-four orphan inmates, and Mrs. Harvey at its head.

The first bill for a Soldiers' Orphans' Home in Wisconsin was introduced in the Assembly in 1865 ; but the law authorizing its establishment was enacted by the Legislature of 1866, although the Home was opened January 1 of that year. The amount received from private subscriptions was $12,884.69. The property was purchased by the State for $10,000, and the Home became a State institution March 31, 1866. Under, the direction of Mrs. Harvey and a board of trustees, the building was thoroughly refitted and furnished. On the Ist of May, 1867, Mrs. Harvey resigned as Superintendent, and Henry Harnden as Financial Agent. F, B. Brewer succeeded Mrs. Harvey, and Mrs. Brewer was appointed Matron. Mr. Brewer resigned the 1st of January, 1868, and I. N. Cundall was elected to the position of Superintendent. After filling it over a year, he resigned, and Was succeeded by W. P. Towers, Mary Towers, his wife, taking the place of Mrs. Brewer, as Matron. Mr. Towers resigned March 1, 1872, and was succeeded by R. W. Burton. Mrs. Burton was the successor of , Mrs. Towers as Matron. Mr. and Mrs. Burton continued to occupy their respective positions until the Home was finally closed.

Under the law of 1870, six of the pupils of the Home were sent to the Normal School at Whitewater to be educated at the expense of the State for two years, the expense not to exceed 8200 per year for each pupil.

During the year 1871, one of the boys of the Home, Mendel P. Blakesley, of Patch Grove, was recommended by the examiners as a suitable candidate for the naval school at

In the same year, the Home received $23,000 in bonds and $554.97 accrued interest, after paying all the expenses in securing this magnificent bequest; which was the Home's share of nearly $100,000 left by Horatio Ward, deceased, an eminent American banker, who died in London, Eng., to the various Homes that have been formed throughout the loyal States for the orphans by the late war for the restoration of the Union. The philanthropic testator expressed his desire as to the disposition of this fund as follows : " I judge that the interest only, for a time, will be used, and that the bequest will be so managed as to give the orphans, as they become of age, a sum of money to fit them out in life, and thus gradually extinguish the fund."

The Legislature of 1871 enacted a law to the effect that, after September, that year, all children remaining in the Home should become the wards of the State, and that the State Board of Charities and Eeform should be their legal guardians, with authority to bind out any of the children to such trade or occupation as was deemed best, and to exercise a close supervision over their interest and safety, during their minority.

On the 30th of September, 1873, there were 153 children in the Home. The Legislature of 1872 appropriated $30,000 for the current expenses, and, in 1873, $20,000 for the same purpose.

But the number of the orphans now continually decreased, owing to the fact that homes were found for many, while some were returned to their mothers ; none were kept in the Home after they reached the age of fifteen years, except in special cases. At length, when the number had diminished to less than forty children, it was thought best to close the institution. This was in 1875. The whole number of orphans cared for during the continuance of the Home was about seven hundred.

The Legislature then transferred the Home to the Regents of the University of Wisconsin, authorizing them to establish, as contemplated by the reconstruction act of 1866, a medical college or course of lectures upon all branches usually taught in such an institution, when, in their judgment, such college should be required by the medical profession of the State. But the President of the University, in his report for 1875, said: "The time does not seem to have arrived for the establishment of a medical department. Such a college, if established, should certainly be located at Milwaukee, as affording, by its size, far more clinical advantages than Madison, or than any othre place within the State. We should be glad to unite a medical college in Milwaukee to the University; and should hope both to aid it and receive aid from it." In 1876, an act was passed authorizing the sale of the Home by the Regents, or its use for any purpose they might deem expedient. It has since been disposed of, and a Norwegian seminary established therein. This institution is elsewhere described.

" Immediately after the closing of the war, Mrs. L. P. Harvey and other benevolent citizens began to organize the sympathetic interest which all good citizens felt for the welfare of the children whose fathers had lost their lives in defense of national unity. Voluntary subscriptions were invited for the purpose of providing a home for these children, and over $12,000 were subscribed and collected. Mrs. Harvey and B. F. Hopkins solicited from the Secretary of h^A^^ "^^ °^^y^ buildings on the shores of Lake Monona, at Madison, which were owned and had been occupied by the General Government during the war as a military hospital, and in which to gather the soldiers' orphans.

" The use of the building was granted, and there, during the fall of 1865, the altar of the aome of Wisconsin Soldiers' Orphans was erected. On the 31st of March, 1866, the Legislature made an appropriation of $10,000 for the purchase of the building, adopted the Home, and provided by law for its government. All soldiers' orphans whose fathers had enlisted in the state were mvited to participate in the benefits of this home, where generous maintenance and good common-school privileges were provided^ $12,000 were expended in a substantial school building. Nine years afterward, in the spring of 1875, the home was abandoned and the property transferred to the Regents of the State University. For each one who was an inmate at that time, having no home, one was provided ; those having friends or relatives, were taken in charge by them, and, by way of aid, $5 per month was paid by the State to the guardian or parent until each of the children had arrived at the age of fourteen years. There were admitted into the home, during its existence, six hundred and eighty-three children. Of these, twenty who wished to qualify themselves for teachers, were given the opportunity of a full course at the State Normal Schools, in addition to several years' attendance at the home school. The amount of the appvopriations made by the Legislature for the support of these children and for their educatioi and care, including cost of buildings, from the date of the first act of adoption, March 31, 1866, until the close of the trust so far as the State is concerned, December 31, 1879, was 8342,300."

Chaptee Yii

State Histoeical Society - Wisoonsin State Ageicultuhal Soctett - State TTob- TicuLTURAL Society - WiscjoNsiN Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters - The Old and the New Capitol - The Capitol Grounds - Dane County Bible Society - Political Divisions - United States Court House.

The organization of an historical society for Wisconsin had been the subject of public dis- Bussion during 1845 and 1846, and, in October of the latter year, a meeting was held for that purpose at Madison. A. Hyatt Smith was chosen President ; Messrs. Doty and Burnett, Vice Presidents ; Thomas W. Sutherland, Secretary ; E. M. Williamson, Treasurer ; all to hold their respective appointments until the annual meeting, which was fixed for January, 1847. At the first annual meeting, Morgan L. Martin was chosen President, and the other officers were re-elected. The second annual meeting, in January, 1848, was slimly attended, but the organization was not abandoned, and W. R. Smith was chosen President for the ensuing year. The success of the society had not, so far, met the expectations of its founders and friends, and, in January, 1849, a meeting was held for the purpose of creating a new organization, with a view to increasing the membership and to secure a more efficient co-operation in the collection of material for such a society on the part of early settlers and prominent citizens throughout the State. A new organization was effected ; the Governor, Nelson Dewey, was made ex officio President of the society ; I. A. Lapham, Corresponding Secretary ; Charles Lord, Recording Secretary, and one Vice President was chosen for each of the twenty-five counties then organized. When L. J. Farwell became Governor of the State, and President of the Society, in 1852, he directed a full set of the Territorial and State laws and journals to be placed in the society's library. These, together with two volumes of Proceedings of the American Ethnological Society, presented by Frank Hudson, comprised the total works in the library in October, 1852.

After a newspaper discussion, during a part of 1853, regarding some minor difierences, the Society was re-organized in January, 1854, under a charter jjbtained from the Legislature in March, 1853, when W. R. Smith was chosen President ; J. W. Hunt, Librarian ; 0. M. Conover, Treasurer; Charles Lord, Recording Secretary; Lyman C. Draper, Corresponding Secretary; and S. H. Carpenter, Librarian. In 1855, Daniel S. Durrie was chosen Librarian; Messrs. Durrie and Draper have ever since held their respective offices. From the date of its re-organization to the present time, the society has had a prosperous career. It occupies the second floor of the south wing of the State House for its collections. Its officers claim to have 90,000 books, pamphlets and documents. There are collected here files, more or less complete, of nearly all the newspapers of the State. The Society has accumulated a number of prehistoric copper implements and Indian relics, and has published eight volumes of historical collections. Many portraits of pnneers and noted citizens belong to the society. The library has, by action of the society and the State, become, for all practical purposes, a State library. Liberal appropriations for the purchase of books and for the salaries of its officers, are made by the Legislature annually.

The officers of the society from its first organization are as follows : Presidents - A. Hyatt MQith. 1846 ; Morgan L. Martin, 1847 ; William R. Smith, 1848 ; Nelson Dewey, 1849-51 ; the treMnrv'<rf\v^ «n4 the three following ones are not, atriotly speaking. State inatitutions, as they are not supported wholly by funds from of the atotl .?1"°'.*°'' "^ "iiler oontrcl of officers not appointed by the State. Each one, however, is located at Madison, the Capital oiaie, wnere it baa its yearly meet'oga. - Ed.

Wisconsin State Agricultural Society

The permanent organization of the society was effected March 12, 1851, by the election of Erastus W. Drury, of Fond du Lac, President, and of A. C. Ingham, of Madison, Dane Co., Secretary. The first State Fair was held at Janesville, Rock Co., October, 1851, with an address by John H. Lathrop, Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin. Henry M. Billings, of Highland, was President in 1852 ; Elisha W. Edgerton, of Summit, in 1853, 1854 and 1865 Harvey Durkee, of Kenosha, in 1856 ; J. F. Willard, of Janesville, in 1857, 1858 and 1859 B. R. Hinkley, of Summit, from 1860 to 1872 ; William R. Taylor, of Cottage Grove, was elected President for 1873, but, having been elected Governor of the State, he resigned at the first meeting of the board in 1873 ; Eli Stilson, of Oshkosh, was President from 1873 to 1877, inclusive ; N. D. Fratt, of Racine, was elected for 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1881. Albert C. Ingham was Secretary in 1851, 1852, 1853 and 1854; George 0. Tiffany, of Madison, in 1855, 1856 and 1857 ; D. J. Powers, of Madison, in 1858 and 1859 ; John W. Hoyt, of Madison, from 1860 to 1871, inclusive ; W. W. Field, of Boscobel, from 1872 to 1877, inclusive ; George E. Bryant, of Madison, was elected Secretary for 1878, 1879 1880 and 1881, Chauncey Abbott was Treasurer in 1851 ; Simeon Mills in 1852 and 1853 ; Samuel Marshall, 1854, 1855 ; D. J. Powers, 1856, 1857 ; David Atwood, 1858 to 1870, inclusive ; Harrison Ludington, 1871, 1872 ; F. J. Blair, 1873 to 1877, inclusive ; Cyrus Miner, 1878 to 1881, inclusive.

From the above it will be seen that the society has entered upon its thirtieth year ; that all of its secretaries, with the exception of W. W. Field, have been citizens of Dane County. The , society owns fair grounds in connection with Dane County near the University of Wisconsin. It has held twenty-seven exhibitions, nine of which have been held in Madison, and its officers say with pride that they have never compromised a debt or a premium, but have always paid at the rate of a hundred cents on the dollar. The society has printed eighteen volumes of five hundred pages each. Seven thousand of these volumes are yearly distributed to the people of the State. While the society is in effect a State institution, its home is in Dane County, and the yearly exhibite of the citizens of the county show that they appreciate it and believe in its good works. It has commodious rooms in the Capitol, which are much visited by people from abroad. It haa a library of fifteen hundred volumes, a fine mineral collection and some exhibits of works of art. It is a department of the State that all its people should foster, for, while Wisconsin has some grand commercial cities, her greatness and glory will depend largely upon the tillers of her soil.

Wisconsin State Horticultural Society

The Wisconsin State Horticultural Society was, originally, the Wisconsin State Fruit-Growers' Association, which was organized in December, 1853, at Whitewater. Its avowed object was the collecting, arranging and disseminating of facts interesting to those engaged in the culture of fruits, and to embody for their use the results of the practice and experiments of fruit-growers in all parts of the State. Exhibitions and conventions of the Association were held annually up to 1859, after which the society was disorganized, owing to the breaking-out of the rebellion. A volume of transactions was published by the Association in 1855. In 1859, its transactions were published with those of the State Agricultural Society. From 1860 to 1865, no State horticultural association was in existence. In September of the latter year, the Wisconsin Fruit- Growers' Association was re-organized as the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, and elected the following officers : President, B. F. Hopkins, Madison ; Secretary, J. 0. Plumb, Madison ; Treasurer, F. C. Curtis, Columbia County ; Executive Committee, George J. - Kellogg, Rock County, and L. P. Chandler, Dane County. The Legislature had previously provided for the publication of the proceedings of such a society in connection with those of the State Agricultural Society.

The new society has held annual exhibitions, usually in connection with those of the State Agricultural Society, and one or more annual conventions for the reading of papers upon, and the discussion of, horticultural subjects. In 1871, an act was passed by the "Legislature, incorporating the society, and providing for the separate printing of 2,000 copies annually of its transactions, of which there are now ten volumes. The most active, intelligent, and persevering horticulturists of the State are members of the association, and to their careful observation, to their enthusiasm and determined persistence in seeking means to overcome great natural difficulties, the State is largely indebted for the success already attained in horticulture.

Wisconsin Academy Of Sciences, Arts And Letters

Early in 1870. this institution was organized, and, by an act of March 16 of that year was incorporated, having, among its specific objects, researches and investigations in the various departments of the material, metaphysical, ethical, ethnological and social sciences; a progressive and thorough scientific survey of the State, with a view of determining its mineral, agricultural and other resources ; the advancement of the useful arts through the application of science, and by the encouragement of original invention ; the encouragement of the fine arts, by means of honors, and prizes awarded to artists of original works of superior merit the formation of scientific, economical and art museums ; the encouragement of philological and historical research ; the collection and preservation of historic records, and the formation of a general library ; and the diffusion of knowledge by the publication of original contributions to science, literature and the arts. The academy has already published four volumes of transactions, under authority of the State.

The Old And 2Tew Capitol

The First State House. - By the act establishing the seat of government, the sum of $20,000 was appropriated for building the capitol, and three Commissioners were required to be chosen by joint ballot ; to cause necessary public buildings to be erected at Madison ; to agree upon a plan for these buildings, and contract for their erection ; one of their number to be Treasurer, another Acting Commissioner to superintend the erection of the buildings. In pursuance of this act, on the 7th of December, Augustus A. Bird, James Duane Doty and John F. O'Neill were elected Commissioners, and, at their first meeting, Bird was chosen Acting Commissioner, and Doty, Treasurer. A plan for a capitol, estimated to cost from $40,000 to |i5,000, was adopted. The Commissioners did not advertise for proposals for the erection of the building, agreeably to the provisions of the act by which they were appointed, because they were oi the opinion that it could be built much cheaper than any one would be willing to contract to do it - they therefore, in the exercise of their discretionary powers, concluded to commence and continue the work themselves until they were able to ascertain how it could be done with the least expense and best advantage to the Territory.

On the 10th day of June, 1837, A. A. Bird, the Acting Commissioner for constructing the capitol, accompanied by a party of thirty-six workmen, arrived at Madison. There was no road at that time from Milwaukee to the capit^il, and the party were compelled to make one for their teams and wagons as they came along. They left Milwaukee on the 1st of June with four teams. It rained incessantly, the ground was drenched with water, and was so soft that even with an ordinary road their progress would have been slow ; but when to this are added the obstructions of fallen trees, unbridged streams, hills whose steepness labor had not yet mitigated, and the devious course which they necessarily pursued, it is not surprising that ten days were spent in accomplishing a journey, which, since the advent of the railroad through the Four Lakes country, can be performed in a little more than three hours. They forded Rock River near the site of the present city of Watertown, and the Crawfish at Milford. The first glimpse they had of the sun during their journey, was on the prairie, in this county, now known as Sun Prairie - a name given it at that time as a compliment to the luminary which beamed forth so auspiciously and cheerfully on that occasion.

The workmen, on their arrival, immediately proceeded to erect temporary houses and cabins for their own use, the most of which were put up near the foot of King street, near Lake Monona. The buildings were not of the highest order of architecture, since little or no lumber <;ould be procured except such as was cut with a whip-saw. The excavation for the foundation walls of the capitol was soon made, and the workmen proceeded at once to get out stone and timber. It was intended to have the building erected on the corners of Sections 13, 14, 23 and 24, of Township 7 north, of Range 9 east, of the Government survey, or the exact center of the park in Madison; but as the post of the section corners was found standing on the west edge of the level of the square, or where the ground begins to descend to the west, the ground for the foundation was so staked oif that the corner was under the west door, and not in the center of the building. Moreover, the west wall was not placed on the section lines ; consequently both these causes operated to throw the walls away from a coincidence with all the streets of the village.

The work had so far advanced that measures were taken to lay the corner-stone, with appropriate ceremonies, on the ensuing July 4. Large preparations were made for the occasion, and on that day quite a number of persons were assembled. Among them were J. D. Doty, M. L. Martin, A. Nichols, Benjamin Salter, Dr. Ilsley and John Messersmith. The corner-stone - in the "northeast " corner, of course - was laid by A. A. Bird, Acting Commissioner, and the ceremony formed the principal part of the " national celebration."

The construction of the work was continued by Mr. Bird until the month of September following, when notices for proposals were issued for the first time, and a number of bids were presented. None of them were accepted, and tlie work was continued as before until April ^5, loo8.

to the proposals for the work, bids were received ranging from $24,450 to $125,000, and the contract was awarded to James Morrison for $26,200, April 17, 1838. By an act of Congress, approved June 18, 1838, the further sum of $20,000 was appropriated for ^ k ^ *e work. By November, the walls of the building were up, the roof on, and the two chambers plastered ; but they were not sufficiently dry for the sitting of the Legislature, and the sessions were held in the American Hotel building.

At the session of the Legislature, in 1889, a joint convention of the two houses was held on March 8, and N. C. Prentiss, James L. Thayer and L. H. Cotton were duly chosen Commissioners of Public Buildings to succeed those in office. The work on the capitol was contmued by Mr. Morrison until April, 1841, at which time the work was unfinished. Mr. Pren- tiss, as Building Commissioner, for and on the part of the Territory of Wisconsin, entered into a written contract with Daniel Baxter, by the terms of which he was required to finish the work for the sum of $7,000, to be completed on or before December 1, 1845.

On the 18th of February, 1842, the two houses of the Legislature elected John Y. Smith Commissioner of Public Buildings. The work on the capitol was finished by Mr. Baxter the year following.

" The old capitol," says J. G. Knapp, who, in 1846, was Superintendent of Public Property, "was, by some strange design of the architect, planned without basement rooms^ although the walls were about seven feet below the base, and had doors and windows at each end. For many years, these cellars formed sleeping apartments for the loose hogs of the town, and not unfrequently their music was less enchanting than ^olian harps or grand old organ tones. It struck me that this portion of the building could be better employed, and, as the removal of some three feet of earth in depth was necessary, I let a contract for that purpose at 20 cents .a yard. Into this space the dry wood was transferred and found making much less noise than the hogs had made before. Soon after, that portion of the house having new windows cut in the sides, was made into rooms and offices, and was thus used until the lights were darkened by the construction of the new building."

Speaking of the Representatives' Hall, of the old capitol, Ebenezer Childs says : " The floors were laid with green-oak boards, full of ice ; the walls of the room were iced over ; greenoak seats, and desks made of rough boards ; one fire-place and one small stove. In a few days, the flooring near the stove and fire-place so shrunk, on account of the heat, that a person could run his hands between the boards. The basement story was all open, and James Morrison's large drove of hogs had taken possession. The weather was cold, the halls were cold, our ink would freeze - so that, when we could stand it no longer, we passed a joint resolution to adjourn for twenty days, and I was appointed by the two houses to procure carpeting for both halls during the recess. I bought all I could find in the Territory and brought it to Madison and put it down, after covering the floor with a thick coating of hay. After this, we were more comfortable. Heavy weights of lead were found in the window frames, in demolishing the old capitol, which in the aggregate were worth $300. Lead was used in the early time, as it was cheaper than iron. The building was a somewhat ' imposing ' specimen of architecture, and the imposition became the more apparent as the new capitol began to rise around and above it. It was the scene of many interesting incidents, some of them historical. It was in this building that were held the first Legislatures after the separate organization of Wisconsin as a Territory; here were held the first political conventions ; here the two constitutional conventions assembled ; here Vineyard shot Arndt, and here he was indicted ; here the Dodge and Doty controversies were figured and worked out ; here was enacted the legislation which -made some and unmade others. The old building witnessed many changes ; stood through good and much evil report ; and, finally, passed away, to the gratification of the people of Madison, who then considered the ' capitol question ' settled." >

The New Oapitol. - The old capitol proving inadequate to the growing wants of the State, the Legislature of 1857 provided for its enlargement ; that is to say, for the erection, in reality, of a new building. By this act, the Commissioners of School and University Lands were directed to sell the ten sections of land appropriated by Congress " for the completion of public buildings," and apply the proceeds toward enlarging and improving the State House. The State also appropriated $30,000 for the same object, and $50,000 were given by the city of Madison. The Governor and Secretary of State were made commissioners for conducting the work, which was begun in the fall of 1857, and continued from year to year until 1869, when the dome was completed. The total appropriations for the buildmg were $533,519.67. The cost of the fixtures was $21,994.24.

The height of the new building from the basement to the top of the flag-staflf is 226| feet, while the total length of its north and south wings, exclusive of steps and porticoes, is 228 feet, and of the east and west wings, 226 feet. The completeness of the arrangements on the inside fully correspond with the external appearance of the capitol. On the first floor are the State departments. In the east wing, on opposite sides of the hall, are the Executive office and the office of the Secretary of State. The north wing is arranged in a similar manner, and contains the offices of the State Treasurer and Commissioners of Public Lands. In the south wing, on one side of the hall are the offices of the Attorney General and Superintendent of Public Property, and on the other that of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The rooms of the State Agricultural Society occupy one-half of the west wing, while opposite them are the offices of Railroad Commissioners, Adjutant General, State Treasury Agent, State Board of Charities and Reform, and Commissioner of Insurance. On the second floor, the Senate Chamber occupies the east wing and the Assembly Chamber the west, while on the north wing are the State library and Supreme Court rooms, and in the south the rooms of the State Historical Society. In the basement are carpenter-shops, water-closets, store-rooms and committee rooms. The third floor is also divided up into committee rooms, which are occupied only during the session of the Legislature. Iron stairways lead from story to story from the basement to the tholus, from which a fine view of the surrounding country is afforded.

The Capitol Grounds

On the 6th day of April, 1836, James D. Doty and Stevens T. Mason entered the lands upon which was afterward located " the town of Madison," they receiving a patent of the same on the 10th day of August, 1837. On the 1st day of May, 1836, Doty sold to Mason his interest in the land. Mason, on the 28th of that month, executed to Doty a power of attorney to sell the land, and he did so sell it, on the 1st day of June following, to the Four Lake Company, of which company he was a member and trustee and active manager. He afterward caused to be laid out on the land thus conveyed, " the town of Madison," he acknowledging the plat to be a correct one, on the 27th of October, 1836. This plat is generally known as " the Doty Plit." He afterward had another plat executed similar in most respects to the first one, which was acknowledged by " James Duane Doty as Agent, Trustee and Attorney of the Four Lake Company, and of the stockholders thereof," on 2d day of January, 1837. This is known as " the Doty Trustee Plat." Evidently, the object of the execution and acknowledgment of the second plat was to " cure " any defect in the acknowledgment of the first plat by Doty, which he did "in his own proper person " and not as trustee.

In both plats a " public square " appears, dedicated to the public, to be used for county and Territorial purposes, which square, including streets, is declared to be 914 feet square. What was meant by the donation " for Territorial purposes," was easy to be understood when it transpired that "the town of Madison " was to be a competitor in the race for the Territorial capital; if successful, of course, on the square would be built the building to be used by the Legislature for their meetings, and by all the Territorial offices ; the structure to become, without doubt, when the Territory was admitted into the Union, Wisconsin's Capitol.

The question as to the location of the capital of the Territory was soon settled in favor of Madison, and Doty made haste to "stake off" the public square "therein - the fact being that the Surveyor, John V. Suydam, had only run the exterior lines of the plat. In midwinter, the square was surveyed by Moses M. Strong, of Mineral Point, and its boundaries indicated by stakes. Then followed the commencement of a building thereon for "Territorial purposes ;" but the mterests of Dane County - "county purposes" - in the grounds, were lost sight of.

But the question was soon agitated as to whether the Territory had a legal title to the ground8---a very important question, and one to be settled before much public money should be expended thereon.

f ,,^''® <l"®st'o° '^^ referred to Moses M. Strong, the District Attorney of the United States, tor the ierritory, by the Legislature, who reported on the 23d of January, 1839, that the dedication by Doty, in his two plats, of the public square to the Territory, conveyed no title to the same, but that Mason was the sole owner of the land ; but that the latter, on the 2l8t of March 1837, conveyed an individual half of it to Kintzing Prichette. "Whether," said Mr. Strong' " this deed vests in Mr. Prichette, the half or the quarter of these lands, is a question about which there might well be two opinions, and which it is unnecessary for the purposes of the present inquiry to decide."

"Considering," continues Mr. Strong, " that the interests of the Territory imperatively required that the title to the ground on which the capitol stands, together with such ground adjacent thereto as might be convenient, should be speedily secured to them, or that it should be known with certainty, at an early day, that it would not be, I lost no time in writing to Messrs. Mason k Prichette, and, on the 7th of January instant, I received from them a power of attorney authorizing me to convey the title to the Territory, accompanied by a request that I would execute a conveyance agreeably to the authority given in the letter of attorney. Accordingly, on the 16th day of January, instant. I executed to the Territory of Wisconsin a deed of the tract known and described as upon the plat acknowledged by Mr. Doty as the public square, to be held by the Territory until the organization of a State government, with reversion to the State when, organized ; which secures to the Territory ' a title to the ground on which the capitol thereof stands.'

Know all men by these presents. That Stevens T. Mason and Julia E. Mason his wife, and Kintzing Pritchette, all of the city of Detroit and State of Michigan, have made, constituted and appointed, and we do by these presents make, constitute and appoint, Moses M. Strong, United States Attorney for the Tet-ritory of Wisconsin, our suffio ent and lawful Attorney for us and in our names to grant, bargain, sell, remise, release and forever quit claim or to convey in fee simple or in any names [manner] whatsoever, which may seem to him proper, all that certain plot and piece of land, together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, lying and situate in the city of Madison and Territory of Wisconsin, upon which the capitol of the said Territory is located and built, together with such lands contiguous and adjacent thereto as is now or has been in the possession of the said Territory, or has been heretofore in any manner or by any other person or persons conveyed to the said Territory unto the said Tenitory of Wisconsin, [sid^ or to such person or persons, his or their successors or assigns, as maybe designated by the proper authorities of said Territory, or may be considered fit and proper by our said Attorney, for the sole use and behoof of the said Territory of Wisconsin, and also for us and in our names, places and stead, and as our proper act and deed to execute, seal and deliver and acknowledge such conveyances and assurances of the said premises unto the said Tevriiory, or to such person or persons, his or their successors or assigns designated as aforesaid to the sole use and behoof of the said Territory as shall be needful and necessary for doing thereof, and as shall be to the good liking and approbation of the counsel learned in the law of the said Territory of Wisconsin, giving and granting unto our said Attorney, full and absolute authority to do, execute and perform any act or acts, thing or things whatsoever, us shall be needful and necessary to be done, touching or concerning in any wise the premises aforesaid or conveying or assuring thereof to the Territory of Wisconsin in as full and ample a manner as we might do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all lawful acts done by our said Attorney by virtue hereof. In testimony whereof, we have hereunto severally set our hands and afSxed our seals this twenty-sixth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.

Know all men by these presents. That we, Stevens T. Mason and Julia E. Mason his wife, and Kintzing Pritchette, all of the city of Detroit, County of Wayne and Stale of Michigan, by Moses M. Strong, our Attorney in fact, in consideration of one dollar received, to our full satisfaction, as well also as in consideration of the benefits and advantages derived and to be derived by us iu consequence of the selection of the land hereinafter described as thesilefor ihe capitol of said Territory, have given, granted, dedicated, aliened, remised, released, conveyed, confirmed and forever quit-claimed, and by these presents do give, grant, dedicate, alien, remise, release, convey, confirm and forever quit-claim unto the Territory of Wisotnsiin, the following tract of land in the County of Dane, in said Territory situate, lying and being iu Sections thirteen, fourteen, twenty-three and twenty-four, in Township number seven of Range number nine east of the fourth principal meridian and described as follows, to wit:

Beginning at a post marked " Public Square," in the section line between said Sections fourteen and twentythree, which stands five hundred and sixty feet west from the cornerof said Sections thirteen, fourteen, twenty-three and twenty-four, thence south forty-five degrees east, seven hundred and ninety-two feet to a post in the section line between said Sections twenty-three and twenty-four, which stands five hundred and sixty feet south from the said corner of said Sections thirteen, fourteen, twenty three and twenty-four, thence north forty-five degrees east, seven hundred and ninety-two feet to a post in the section line between said Sections thirteen and twenty- four, which stands five hundred and sixty feet east from the said coiner of said Sections thirteen, fourteen, twenty-three and twentyfour, thence north forty-five degrees west, seven hundred and ninety-two feet to a post in the section line between said Sections thirteen and fourteen, which stands five hundred and sixty feet north from the said corner of said Sections thirteen and fourteen, twenty-three and twenty-four, thence south forty-five degrees west, seven hundred and ninetv-two feet to the first-mentioned bounds, forming a square plat of ground, the center of which is the said corner of said Sections thirteen, fourteen, twenty-three and twenty-four, supposed to contain fourteen and four-tenths acres, be the same more or less. To have and to hold the aforesaid tract of land unto the said Territory of Wisconsin, until a State Government shall be organized in lieu of the Territorial Government now in existence in said Territory ; and we do by these presents, give, grant, dedicate, alien, remise, release, convey, confirm and forever quit-claim unto the «aid State of Wisconsin, or to the said State Government by whatever name the same shall be called, whenever the same shall be oresnized, the remainder or remainders, reversion or reversions, of the estate, of, in and to the said tract of land and the same forever to hold from and after the time when the Territorial Government of the said Territory of Wisconsin shall cease to exist.

And we the said Stevens T. Mason, Julia E. Mason and Kintzing Pritohette, do hereby further covenant and asree to and with the said Territory of Wisconsin, and to and with the said State of Wisconsin or said State Governnient when organized, that we will forever warrant and defend the before granted and dedicated premises, unto the said grantees respectively, against the lawful claims or demands of all persons whatsoever.

In witness whereof, the said Stevens T. Mason Julia E. Mason and Kintzing Pritohette, by their said Attorney, Moses II. Strong, have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals at Mineral Point, in the County of Iowa, in the Territory aforepaid, this sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.

"In 1846," says J. G. Knapp, "I was elected to the place of Superintendent of Public Property, and, entering upon the duties, I hired one man to do all the work required, to whom I paid $150 a year. At that time, the park was more than half covered with hazel-bushes and oak grubs. The fisrst were destroyed by mowing ; the last were dug up. The wild grass was succeeded by tame grasses, partly by sowing the seed and partly by a spontaneous growth. The trees, then the merest bushes, were trimmed up to about six feet, that being nearly one- half their entire height. In 1847, 1 contracted with Alexander McBride, at 50 cents a tree, for planting the outside row of maples and elms, he agreeing to warrant their growth."

On the 21st of May, 1866, a contract was made by the State with J. H. Underwood, for sinking an artesian well in the park, near the capitol, with wrought-iron tubing, eight inches exterior, and six inches inside ; to be sunk 500 feet. No water was obtained at that depth, and the work was continued to the depth of 1,026 feet, or more than 100 feet below the sea level, but without success. The work was thereupon closed up. Afterward, a shaft was sunk to the depth of the water standing in the well, being about sixty feet below the surface. ,At the bottom of this shaft was placed a steam pump ; and the water was thus forced into the capitol. By this means, a large supply of water was obtained, which proved also to be mineral water.

An analysis shows that one gallon of it contains the following salts : Chloride of sodium, 0.671 grains; sulphate of soda, 1.538 grains; bi-carbonate of soda, 1.956 grains ; bi-carbonate of hme, 8.120 grains; bi-carbonate of magnesia, 6.937 grains; bi-carbonate of iron, 0.555 grains; silica, 1.456 grains; total, 21.233 grains. This water is highly recommended for its medicinal properties. The cost of the well was $8,590.

The park, in its natural state, did not present a very attractive appearance. It was studded here and there with oaks of a small size, and occasionally the view was interrupted by hazelbushes and oak grubs. Gradually, however, it assumed a more inviting aspect. In 1842, a board fence was placed around the grounds, the cedar posts having been cut partly on the banks of the lakes and partly on the Wisconsin Kiver. This, in the end, became an eye-sore to all gcod people, and was finally taken away, and in its place was put up the excellent iron fence which now surrounds the park ; it was finished in 1873, at a cost of $43,691. The stone pillars at the gateways are much admired. Outside the fence, but on the public grounds, there was afterward laid down an excellent pavement with suitable gutters, at the expense of the State. At different times, trees have been set out, until now the grounds are well shaded. The " crowning glory " of the park, however, is the iron fountain, erected in 1878, at a cost of |2,000. Ihe park improvements, exclusive of the fence and well, cost $22,197.43.

The Dane County Bible Society was organized as an auxiliary to the American Bible Society February 10, 1847. John Y. Smith was chosen President ; Chester Bushnell, Vice President ; E. M. Williamson, Secretary ; Benjamin Holt, Treasurer ; and Rev. Charles Lord Depositary. A constitution was framed, and. visitors appointed for the towns of Fitchburg. Sun Prairie, Dane, Verona, Windsor, CoDtage Grove, Albion and for the English settlement. On the 17th of February, 1848, Rev. Mr. Lord, agent of the American Bible Society, who was present submitted a plan for supplying the county and keeping it supplied with the Scriptures. The county of Sauk was embraced in the operations of the society, and an agent (Rev. Mr. Egbertson) appointed to visit the two counties to solicit donations and circulate the Bible. Books were ordered from New York to about the value of |300, and ten ladies and gentlemen were appointed as local agents for the village of Madison. H. G. Bliss was appointed Assistant Treasurer and Depositary.

At the annual meeting, May 29, 1849, the same officers were re-elected, except J. T. Clark, Vice President, in place of C. Bushnell. In January, 1850, Rev. V. A. Bogue was engaged as agent, and an additional supply of Bibles ordered. At the annual meeting, June 13, 1850, the Treasurer reported books on hand, $54.35, and cash received from various sources, |148.68. The debt due the parent society was f 131.78. In June, 1851, some twelve local agents were appointed to canvass the city. At the annual meeting, June 29, the Treasurer reported $856.34 as the cash received from all sources, the balance due the parent society $120.06. In 1852, visitors were appointed for the city. Mr. Carpenter, agent, reported he had received |90, collected in the county. In 1853, $200 was donated to the parent society. In 1854, Charles HoUis, County Agent ; Prof. 0. M. Conover, elected President ; D. H. Wright, Secretary, and D. S. Durrie, Treasurer. In 1855, Charles Hollis 'was County Agent ; engaged for three months. In 1857, George Bevan Smith was County Agent. In 1858, Rev. George W. Elliot was elected County Agent. In 1859, Rev. George H. Fox was elected County Agent, who laboied sixteen weeks, visited twenty-two town societies, and received subscriptions amounting to $393.31. Rev. S. Fallows was City Agent. At the beginning of the year, the society was owing the American Bible Society $510.40. During the year, $223.22 were paid, leaving a balance of $287.18. Eev. George W. Elliot was State Agent. Officers elected were Prof. J. W. Sterling, President ; Rev. James Caldwell, Vice President ; D. H. Tullis, Secretary, and H. <jr. Bliss, Treasurer.

Annual meeting was held February 26, 1860, and the same officers were re-elected. The society this year dispensed with a County Agent, and the experiment was made of receiving remittances directly from the towns to the County Depository. The meeting was addressed by M. M. Jackson and Prof. James D. Butler. Officers were elected the same as previous year, except Prof. 0. M. Conover, as Vice President, in place of Rev. James Caldwell.

Annual meeting was held June 9, 1861; M. D. Miller was elected President; K. J. Fleischer, Vice President; D. H. Tullis, Secretary, and H. G. Bliss, Treasurer. Rev. A. H. Walter was appointed County Agent. In 1862, the same officers were re-elected. George M. Smith was appointed County Agent. In 1863, no meeting was held. In 1864, Rev. L. Salisbury acted as County Agent. In 1865, the annual meeting was held January 29 ; M. D. Miller, elected President; K. J. Fleischer, Vice President; James B. Moseley, Secretary; Charles Hawkes, Treasurer. Two thousand Testaments were donated to the soldiers at Camp Randall. Rev. S. Reynolds was appointed County Agent from July, 1865. Net assets of the society were $385.04, after deducting $548.03 due the parent society.

In 1866, the annual meeting was held February 25. There was due the parent society $598.11. The net assets were $356.52. C. H. Purple was elected President ; J. H. Carpenter, Vice President ; James E. Moseley, Secretary ; Charles Hawkes, Treasurer.

In 1867, the annual meeting was held February 3. William Rucker was appointed County Agent. The officers were the same as the preceding year. Due the American Bible Society,

Mad Ison

Annual meeting was held February 2, 1868, and same oflScers were re-elected. Mr. Rucker was appointed County Agent. The sociecy was organized under the general laws ol the State, 1868, as an incorporated society. The lodging-rooms of the several hotels in Madison, were supplied with Bibles, the American Bible Society paying one-half the expense ; and a supply of books was granted to the Soldiers' Orphans' Home.

In 1869, the annual meeting was held February 7. Total assets of the society were $646.58; due parent society, $129.96. Officers elected were the same as the previous year, except D. S. Durrie was made Secretary, in place of J. B. Moseley.

In 1870, the annual meeting was held February 8, and the same officers were re-elected. Mr. Rucker was chosen County Agent; Rev. 0. D. Teall, City Agent. A memorial was sent to New York for a cheap Danish Testament. The total assets of the society were $782.85. Due parent society, $229.60. Same officers were re-elected. Rev. Mr. Rucker was re-employed as County Agent.

In 1871, the annual meeting was held February 5. A committee was appointed, who reported the following names, who were duly elected : President, J. H. Carpenter ; Vice President, F. J. Lamb ; Secretary, D. S. Durrie ; Treasurer, Charles Hawkes. The report of D. S. Durrie, Secretary, was then read, when Rev. Samuel Fallows addressed the meeting on the following resolution: "Resolved, That the history of the world shows that the Bible was the source of true civilization," which was listened to with marked interest.

In 1873, the annual meeting was held at the Baptist Church, February 2. The officers of the last year were all re-elected. The meeting was opened with reading of Scriptures and prayer, by Rev. C. H. Richards. The secretary reported that the receipts for the past year had been less than the year preceding by $373.52 ; while the expenses had been less by $203.76.

The annual meeting of the society for 1874, was held on Sunday evening, February 1, at which time the following officers were re-elected : President, J. H. Carpenter ; Vice President, F. J. Lamb ; Secretary, D. S. Durrie ; Treasurer, Charles Hawkes. After the election of officers, the anniversary exercises were opened with appropriate services. A report was read by the Secretary, D. S. Durrie, and an address delivered by the Rev. H. Stone Richardson.

On February 7, 1875, the annual meeting was held, when the following persons were elected : President, J. H. Carpenter ; Vice-President, F. J. Lamb ; Secretary, A. J. Krum ; Treasurer, A. S. Frank; with an executive committee composed of members from the different churches.

The annual meeting of the society for 1876, was held February 6. The annual report of the Secretary was read and approved, when the following officers were elected : President, J. H. Carpenter ; Vice-President, F. J. Lamb ; Secretary, Hiram Johnson ; Treasurer and Depositary, A. S. Frank ; the Executive Committee remaining the same as the year previous.

The annual meeting for 1877 was held February 4. The old officers were all re-elected. The anniversary exercises were held immediately following the annual meeting, in the Baptist Church, with an address by the Rev. A. L. Chapin, D. D.

The annual meeting for 1878, met at the Congregational Church, at 7 o'clock, February 3. On motion of Rev. C. H. Richards, it was voted that the officers of the society remain the same as the previous year.

Pursuant to a previous notice, the annual meeting for 1879, was held at the Methodist Church, February 16. The Treasurer reported that $115.15 had been paid the American Bible Society; and that the society had on hand $114.94. The meeting then proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing year, which resulted in the re-election of the old officers. At the anniversary services held the same evening and place, the Rev. J. E. Wright delivered the annual address.

The year of 1880, February 1, the annual meeting was held at the Presbyterian Church, The officers were re-elected, and the Executive Committee remained as it was. At the anniversary meeting the Rev. M. Benson delivered the annual address. The Treasurer reported that $175 had been paid to the American Bible Society, with $61 cash on hand, and a total valuation of $249.20 in books. The society owes the American Bible Society $127.27 for books, leaving $129.93 worth of books paid for in the hands of the society.

Political Divisions

The town government is intrusted to a Town Board of Supervisors, consisting of three members, elected annually at a town meeting. The other town officers are Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, one or more Assessors, four Justices of the Peace, Overseers of Highways, and Constables not more than three. The Justices of the Peace hold office for two years, two being elected at each annual town meeting. The other officers are elected annually at the town meeting. The form of city government depends upon the charter granted by the State Legislature. There are generally a Mayor, the chief executive officer ; a Common Council, consisting of one or more representatives from each ward in the city, and the city officers - a City Clerk, City Treasurer, City Attorney, Chief of Police, a Fire Marshal and City Surveyor.

A village is governed by a Village Board, consisting of a President and six Trustees, elected at the annual charter election. At such election, there are also chosen a Village Clerk, Treasurer, Supervisor (to represent the village in the County Government), Marshal and Constable, and, when necessary, a Justice of the Peace and Police Justice, each of whom holds office for two years.

The County Government is in charge of a County Board of Supervisors, consisting of the Chairman of each Town Board, a Supervisor from each incorporated village, and one from each ward of every city in the county. The county officers are Clerk, Treasurer, Sheriff, Coroner, Clerk of Circuit Court, District Attorney, Register of Deeds, Surveyor, and Superintendent of Schools, all elected biennially.

Where a county has more than 15,000 inhabitants, the County Board of Supervisors may, if they choose, divide the. county into two superintendent districts for school purposes.

Abandoned - City of the Four Lakes, City of the Second Lake, Dunkirk, Dunkirk Falls, Van Buren, Manchester, Beaumont, City of Superior, West Madison, Troy, Middletown, North Madison, East Madison and South Madison. Some of the plats of these places were never recorded.

United States Court House

On the 27th of May, 1868, the corner-stone of the United States Court House and Post Office was laid with appropriate Masonic ceremonies by the officers of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin. Addresses were made by Gov. Fairchild, President P. A. Chadbourne, of the University, and others.

This elegant edifice is located on the corner of Wisconsin avenue and Mifflin street, opposite the City Hall in the city of Madison. It was built by the General Government, without regard to expense, and by mechanics who were paid by the day, under the direction of A. B. ' Mullett, Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department, Washington, and S. V. Shipman, Superintending Architect. It is a four-story building above the basement ; the corners and facings are constructed of Joliet marble, but Madison stone is used for the inside walls. It is 113 feet in length, and 70 feet in width ; is built in modern style, and surmounted with a mansard roof. The interior arrangements are complete in all respects. The first floor, occupied as the post office, is fitted up with all the modern improvements.

In the second story are the offices connected with the United States District Court, and those of the Assessor and Collector of Internal Revenue.

The building is placed upon the most permanent and enduring foundations, extending some thirty feet into the earth, and it is literally fire proof, being built of stone and iron, except a few interior casings, which are of black walnut. The structure is an ornament to the State and a credit to the General Government. It was completed in 1871.