STATE INSTITUTIONS. Wisconsin, though one of the youngest states in the Union, already ranks among the foremost in its public institutions. Both in its educational advantages and in its reformatory and charitable institutions it is surpassed by few of the states, and especially so in the west. For its educational advantages it is largely indebted to the munificence of Congress in donating lands for the support of public schools, a state university, normal schools and an agricultural college. There are now in successful operation in this State, a University, comprising several colleges, and five normal schools The general government, when the State was first organized, and since, bestowed large tracts of land to it for educational purposes. This liberality has enabled Wisconsin to adopt a system of district, graded and high schools, normal schools and university which has placed the State in the front rank in the matter of education. The legislature has supplemented this wise liberality of the general government by more or less generous appropriations, until there are now over 6,000 common school districts and 150 free high schools in the State, the number of school houses being 6,000. There are 12,000 teachers employed. It is certainly not an exaggeration to say that the public schools of Wisconsin are, as a whole, in most excellent condition. Much good has resulted in the past from the enlightened views of our legislators as to education in general, and the common schools in particular. Besides, the people themselves are thoroughly imbued with the idea that popular education is the great safeguard of our liberties and the chief corner-stone of our advanced civilization. Toward its unfortunate and criminal classes the State has pursued an even more liberal policy. By direct appropriations from the treasury, the people of Wisconsin have contributed for the upbuilding and support of penal and charitable institutions, the following sums: For the State Prison, $1,147,655.49; for the Industrial School for Boys, $1,248,903.79; for the Industrial School for Girls, $60,000.00; for the Institute for the Blind, $874,840.78; for the Deaf and Dumb, $1,110,692.47; for the State Hospital for the Insane, $2,898,568.02; for the Northern Hospital, $2,380,365.35; for the State Public School, $142,369.23; for the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, $367,256.47;-making a total of $10,240,651.66. Whether these appropriations were wise, or whether they have been judiciously applied, are not proper subjects for inquiry and discussion in a work which aims only to furnish statistics. These expenditures for charitable and correctional purposes may not be too large, but they present a contrast to the amount expended by the State on its higher institutions of learning, and suggest a comparison between the number who have been directly benefited by these two classes of appropriations. The one is for a noble charity from which the State can expect but little return; the other is a prudent investment for which society receives a full equivalent in a more intelligent, virtuous and useful citizenship. |