Wisconsin has shared in the general prosperity of the year. Our harvests have yielded good returns and our products have found ready markets at good prices. Agriculture, our greatest industry, has been well rewarded, and the financial condition of this class, who contribute so much to the growth and wealth of our state, has been materially improved. Capital seeks investment at a much reduced rate of interest; our manufacturing industries have steadily and permanently increased, and many other enterprises and resources have been developed during the year. The laws have been faithfully and efficiently executed, and peace and tranquility have prevailed throughout the state during the year with as few exceptions as is usual. FINANCIAL. Without further delay I proceed to a more detailed statement of the condition and affairs of the state. From the reports of the Secretary of State and State Treasurer, it appears that the balance remaining in the treasury belonging to the several funds at the close of the last fiscal year was $836,300.20. The receipts and disbursements of the general fund, which embraces all the revenue of the state applicable to the payment of the ordinary expenses of the state government, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1881, were as follows: SCHOOL FUND. The receipts and disbursements of the school fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1881, were as follows: Receipts....... Disbursements.. Balance September 30, 1880..... Balance September 30, 1881 $164.382 40 43,395 23 31,581 70 152,568 87 The amount of productive school fund on the 30th day of September, 1881, was as follows: Total amount at interest.... Cash on hand.... .$2,637,644 94 152,568 87 SCHOOL FUND INCOME. The interest received on school fund investments and on the principal due for sales of school land constitutes the school fund This fund is derived from the proceeds of sales of land granted by the United States to the state for the support of the State University. The receipts and disbursements for the year were: The amount of the productive University fund on the 30th day of September, 1881, was $195,443.01, which, together with the cash belonging to the fund, made a total of $226,796.86. UNIVERSITY FUND INCOME. The receipts from this fund were $66,992.18, which amount was disbursed to the treasurer of the Board of Regents. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE FUND. The number of acres of land remaining unsold belonging to The amount of productive Agricultural College fund on the 30th day of September, 1881, was $236,574.01, and there was also cash on hand as above, $35,365.80. The Agricultural College fund income on the 30th day of September, 1881, was $15.968 27, all of which was disbursed to the treasurer of the University. NORMAL SCHOOL FUND. The receipts and disbursements of this fund for the year ending September 30, 1881, were as follows: The amount of productive Normal School fund on the 30th of September, 1881, at interest, was $991,765.69. The Normal School fund income at the same time was $83,054.90, all of which was disbursed to the treasurer of the Board of Regents of the Normal Schools. DRAINAGE FUND. The receipts and disbursements of the Drainage fund were as follows: DELINQUENT TAX FUND. The receipts and disbursements of this fund, which is derived from taxes collected on state lands, were as follows: The receipts from this source accruing from sales of land forfeited to the state were $1,516.19. Of this amount $1,250.45 was disbursed to parties entitled by law to receive the same. Balance on hand September 30, 1880 $7,784 45 8,050 19 SAINT CROIX AND LAKE SUPERIOR RAILROAD TRESPASS FUND. The receipts and disbursements from this fund for the fiscal year were as follows: The report of the secretary of state shows that there was remaining unexpended in the treasury, September 30, 1881, balances to the several charitable institutions from appropriations as follows: STATE DEBT. The distribution of the bonded debt of the state, September 30, 1881, was as follows: War bonds outstanding..... Total.... $2,000 00 2,250,000 00 57 00 $2,252,057 00 And in addition to this, there was on the 1st day of January, 1882, a deficiency for the care of the state charitable and penal institutions as shown by the report of the Board of Supervision, of $55,944.82, and a claim of the United States against the state for $206,133.04, making a total of $2,514,134.86. EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES. The secretary of state makes the following estimate of the expenditures to be defrayed from the treasury during the year beginning January 1, 1883: This estimate shows that it will be necessary for this legislature to provide the sum of $250,000, and I would recommend that the amount is reasonable and proper. 2-A. J. |