PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

The State Prison is located at Waupun, and is one of the best in the country. In October, 1870, it contained 217 convicts. In May, 1870, the workshops were destroyed; loss, $70,000.

The Hospital for the Insane, at Madison, is an excellent institution, and is in a prosperous condition. In October, 1870, it contained 532 inmates.

The Institute for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb is at Delavan, and the Institution for the Education of the Blind, at Janesville. The former contains about 122, and the latter 64 pupils. They are excellent institutions, and besides furnishing their pupils with the rudiments of a plain education, teach them some simple, but useful employment.

The State Reform School, at Waukesha, is in excellent condition, and is conducted on the family system. In 1870, it contained 239 boys and girls.

The Soldiers' Orphan's Home School, at Madison, is in a prosperous condition, and is crowded to its utmost capacity. In 1870, it contained 331 pupils.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

In 1870, there were 1396 churches in Wisconsin. The value of church property was $4,749,983.

FINANCES.

In 1870, the total debt of the State amounted to $2,252,057. The receipts of the Treasury for the fiscal year, ending September 30th, 1870, were $886,696, and the expenditures $906,329.

In 1868, there were 34 National banks, with a capital of $2,960,000 doing business in the State.

GOVERNMENT.

In this State, all citizens of the United States, without regard to color, all foreigners who have legally declared their intention to become citizens, Indians who have been declared citizens by Congress, and civilized persons of Indian descent who do not belong to any tribe, are entitled to vote at the elections.

The Government is vested in a Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and Attorney-General, and a Legis

lature, consisting of a Senate (of 33 members) and House of Representatives (of 100 members), all chosen by the people. The State officers and Senators are elected for two years, and Representatives for one year. The general election is held in November.

The judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court (consisting of a Chief Justice and two Associates, elected by the people for six years), Circuit Courts, County Courts with probate powers, and in Justices of the Peace. All judges are elected by the people.

The seat of Government is established at Madison.

The State is divided into 58 counties.

HISTORY.

The country west of Lake Michigan was first explored by the French, in 1659. Its name is derived from its principal river, which was called by the Chippewas, who dwelt along its head waters, Weeskon-san, which signifies "gathering of the waters." In 1661, the Jesuits in Canada began to establish missions along the south side of Lake Superior; and in 1668, after the peace between the French and the Six Nations, a number of new missions were established, and the country fully explored. Father Marquette and his companions passed from the head of Green Bay to an Indian village on the upper part of Fox River. Father Allouez had visited this village, but no Frenchman had ever gone beyond it.

"Being guided by the friendly Indians, Marquette and his companions came to the Wisconsin River, about three leagues distant, whose waters flowed westward. They floated down the river till the 17th of June, 1673, when they reached the Mississippi, the great 'Father of Waters,' which they entered with 'a joy that could not be expressed,' and raising their sails to new skies, and to unknown breezes, floated down this mighty river, between broad plains, garlanded with majestic forests and chequered with illimitable praries and island groves. They descended about 180 miles, when Marquette and Joliet landed, and followed an Indian trail about six miles, to a village. They were met by four old men, bearing the pipe of peace and 'brilliant with many colored plumes.' An aged chief received them at his cabin, and, with uplifted hands, exclaimed: 'How beautiful is the sun, Frenchmen, when thou comest to visit us!-our whole village awaits thecin peace thou shalt enter all our dwellings.' Previous to their departure, an Indian chief selected a peace pipe from among his warriors, embellished with gorgeous plumage, which he hung around the neck

of Marquette, 'the mysterious arbiter of peace and war-the sacred calumet the white man's protection among savages.' On reaching their boats, the little group proceeded onward. 'I did not,' says Marquette, 'fear death; I should have esteemed it the greatest happiness to have died for the glory of God.' They passed the mouth of the Missouri, and the humble missionary resolved in his mind, one day, to ascend its mighty current, and ascertain its source; and descending from thence toward the west, publish the gospel to a people of whom he had never heard. Passing onward, they floated by the Ohio, then, and for a brief time after, called the Wabash, and continued their explorations as far south as the mouth of the Arkansas, where they were escorted to the Indian village of Arkansea. Being now satisfied that the Mississippi entered the Gulf of Mexico, west of Florida, and east of California; and having spoken to the Indians of God and the mysteries of the Catholic faith, Marquette and Joliet prepared to ascend the stream. They returned by the route of the Illinois River to Green Bay, where they arrived in August. Marquette remained to preach the gospel to the Miamis, near Chicago. Joliet, in person, conveyed the glad tidings of their discoveries to Quebec. They were received with enthusiastic delight. The bells were rung during the whole day, and all the clergy and dignitaries of the place went in procession, to the cathedral, where Te Deum was sung and high mass celebrated."

The country continued to be occupied by French traders and missionaries, until the treaty of 1763, by which it was surrendered to Great Britain. The territory was governed by the laws of Canada until after the Revolution. Great Britain parted with it reluctantly, and did not withdraw her garrison from the post at Green Bay, until 1796. It was then made a part of the Northwest Territory of the United States. In 1809, it was included in the Territory of Illinois, and continued to form a part of it until 1818, when Illinois became a State of the Union. Then Wisconsin was joined to Michigan for purposes of government.

The principal events of the Black Hawk war occurred within the limits of the present State of Wisconsin, and the country was thus brought so conspicuously before the public, that its merits excited a decided enthusiasm amongst the people. After the peace, many emigrants located themselves in the southern part.

In 1836, Michigan was erected into a State, and Wisconsin was organized as a separate Territory. In 1841, a heavy emigration set

in, and continued during 1842 and 1843. In the last year, the number of persons who settled in the Territory is estimated at over 60,000. The population increased rapidly, and on the 29th of May, 1848, Wisconsin was admitted into the Union as a State.

During the rebellion this State contributed 96,118 men to the service of the United States.

CITIES AND TOWNS.

Besides the capital, the principal cities and towns of the State are: Milwaukee, Green Bay, Watertown, Prarie du Chien, Racine, Kenosha, Janesville, Beloit, La Crosse, and Fond du Lac.

MADISON,

The capital of the State, is situated in Dane county, on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona, 80 miles west of Milwaukee, and 132 miles northwest of Chicago. Latitude 43° 5′ N., longitude 89° 20' W.

The city lies in the midst of the "Four Lake Region," so called from a chain of beautiful lakes which extend over a distance of 16 miles, and discharge their surplus waters into Yahara or Catfish River, a tributary of Rock River. Mendota, or Fourth Lake, the uppermost and largest, is 9 miles long, 6 miles wide, and from 50 to 70 feet deep in some places, and is fed chiefly by springs. It has beautiful white gravelly shores, and pure cold water. Monona, or Third Lake, is 51⁄2 miles long, and two miles wide; and lakes Waubesa and Kegonsa are each about 3 miles in length, by 2 miles in width. The isthmus is about three-quarters of a mile in width. The city stands in the centre of a broad valley surrounded by heights from which it can be seen for several miles. "Madison perhaps combines and overlooks more charming and diversified scenery, to please the eye of fancy, and promote health and pleasure, than any other town in the West; and in these respects it surpasses every other State capital in the Union. Its bright lakes, fresh groves, rippling rivulets, shady dales, and flowcry meadow lawns are commingled in greater profusion and disposed in more picturesque order than we have ever elsewhere beheld.”

The city is handsomely built, with broad, well-shaded, and paved streets dropping down to the shores of its pretty lakes. It contains many handsome public buildings, commercial edifices, and private dwellings. The Capitol is the pincipal edifice. It stands in the centre of the city, in the midst of a beautiful park of 14 acres, and is 70 feet

above the level of the lakes. It is built of native limestone, and is an imposing structure. Its original cost was $500,000. The Court House is a tasteful building.

The public schools of the city are among the best in the State, and are in a flourishing condition. They consist of a high school, and a grammar school for each ward. Besides these are several private schools. The State University stands on the outskirts of the city, in a grove of 40 acres, and on an eminence overlooking the lakes. It has an annual income of over $30,000. It possesses a fine library. The Historical Society is a flourishing institution, with a good library and collection of relics, etc. The libraries of the city, including that of the State, number over 30,000 volumes. The State Lunatic Asylum is located here.

The city contains about 14 churches, and 6 newspaper offices. It is lighted with gas and supplied with pure water. It is governed by a Mayor and Council. In 1870, the population was 9176.

Madison is supplied with excellent water-power, and is to a limited extent engaged in manufactures. It is a place of considerable trade, and since the completion of the railways connecting it with the other parts of the State, has grown in every respect with marked rapidity. It is much frequented by pleasure seekers as a place of summer resort, and is regarded as one of the healthiest cities in the Union.