Box 23, Folder 4: Wisconsin: Geographical & Topographical 1844

SCHOOLS. 39

any unsold public lands, for the purpose of establishing a University in the Territory; and in 1838, a law was passed "to establish the University of the Territory of Wisconsin," which is to be located at or near Madison, the seat of government. It is under the direction of a Board of Visitors, consisting of twenty-one members, of which the Governor, Secretary of the Territory, and Judges of the Supreme Court, are members. This board held one meeting at Madison soon afterwards— but all subsequent attempts at meeting have failed, on account of the great number necessary to form a quorum,—consequently nothing has been accomplished in relation to this important subject. The Legislature, a few years since, appointed Commissioners to select a portion of the lands, who made a selection of ten thousand two hundred and fifty-acres in the Milwaukee Land District, and an equal quantity in the Green Bay District: the remainder is yet to be selected. Should this subject be placed in the hands of a few discreet and practical men, it is believed that the lands donated might be made to produce a fund sufficient to establish, in a few years, an institution which would be a great honor and blessing to the country. Why is this matter so neglected in this enlightened age and country?

One thirty six part of the whole Territory, being the section numbered sixteen in each township, is set apart for the use of schools. These sections are reserved from sale by the general government, and are to be transferred to Wisconsin whenever she becomes a

40 POPULATION.

State. School Commissioners are appointed in each town to take charge of these lands—to lease them for a term of years—and to attend to other matters relative to common schools. A tax is levied upon all the taxable property, for the purpose of erecting school houses, and of paying the incidental expenses of teaching. Already have a great number of school houses been erected in the different towns and school districts. The number of scholars taught in 1840, according to the census then taken, was nearly two thousand.

Also a college has been commenced, at a most beautiful location, on the Twin Lakes, twenty-seven miles west from Milwaukee, under the management of the Episcopalian Church. The energy which has characterised its commencement, gives promise of much future usefulness.

Also a college has [illegible] at Beloit in Rock Co [used?] in the [change?] of the [Presbyterian?] [illegible] [illegible]

The Legislature, on the 5th of April, 1843, adopted resolutions asking an appropriation of land by Congress, for the purpose of establishing within the limits of this Territory, institutions for the instruction of the deaf and dumb, and blind, and an asylum for the insane. Whether Congress will grant this very reasonable request, remains to be seen.

In 1830, the United States census shows a population of three thousand two hundred and forty-five, in the counties of Brown, Crawford and Iowa, then constituting that portion of Michigan which is now established as a separate Territory of Wisconsin. In

[Duplicate page beneath-POPULATION. 41].

Jan 1846. Population of Wisconsin-The following estimate of the population of our territory, by counties, and of the number of delegates to which each county would be entitled in the Convention to form the Constitution, under the [illegible] of 1 delagate to every 1800 inhabitants, has been prepared at Madison.

[Date Tables of Estimates].

This, it will be remembered, is an estimate merely. Of course, as the bill also provided for taking the census of this territory, the Governor wll have accurate data upon which to base his appointment of Representatives. Our belief is that the census will show a larger population than the estimate allows.

POPULATION. 41

1836, the population was over eleven thousand; in 1838, eighteen thousand; in 1840, thirty-one thousand; and in 1842, the date of the last enumeration, it was forty-six thousand six hundred and seventy-eight. Since that census was taken, the flood of new comers, by every arrival, has been such that there cannot be a reasonable doubt that the present population of Wisconsin exceeds on hundred thousand souls.

The following table shows the population of each county, at the date of the several enumerations:

[Table showing counties from Brown to Winnebago's population in 1830, 1836, 1838, 1840, 1842, and 1846.]

Note of Territory Sept 1846—13,387 Master 6803 [Colls?] 5788 [Holter?] 790

42 PRODUCTIONS.

By this table there appears to be a diminution of population in the county of Brown, between 1838 and 1840, and in Portage county between 1840 and 1842: the first was occasioned by setting off new counties from Brown, and the last by the omission, in 1842, of the soldiers and officers of the garrison at Fort Winnebago. In 1842, the population of Milwaukee county was nearly one-fourth of the whole number in the Territory.

In 1840, the number of males was ----- 18,757 " " females 11,992 showing an excess of males of ------ 6,765 The number of free colored persons was -- 185 " slaves ---- 11 " deaf and dumb ---- 5 " blind ----- 9 " insane and idiots ------ 13 Employed in agriculture----- 7,047 " mining ---- 794 " commerce ----- 479 " manufactures and trades ---- ,814 " learned professions ---- 259 Number of white persons over twenty years of age who could not read or write ---- 1,701 Scholars in common schools---- 1,937

Lead, copper, shot, and furs, constitute the chief articles of export from Wisconsin—nearly all her other products being engaged in mining, and of the immense immigration which is so rapidly flowing in upon us;