Wisconsin

(wis-kon's in,) a N. central State of the American Union, b. N. by Lake Superior, N.E. by Michigan, E. by Lake Michigan, S. by Illinois, and W. by Iowa and Minnesota, extends bet. N. Lat. 42° 30′ 47", and W. Lon. 87° 30′ 32". It has a mean length of 260 m., and a maximum breadth of 215. Land area, 53,924 sq. m., or 34,511,360 acres. W. lies at a considerable altitude above sea-level, and consists for the most part of an upland plateau, the surface of which is undulating and very generally diversified. Numerous local eminences called mounds are interspersed over the State, and the Lake Michigan coast-line is in many parts characterized by lofty escarped cliffs, even as on the W. side the banks of the Mi i ippi form a series of high and picturesque bluffs. A group of islands known as The Apostles lie off the extreme N. point of the State in Lake Superior, and the great æstu ary of Green Bay, running far inland, gives formation to a long, narrow peninsula between its waters and those of Lake Michigan. The river-system of W. has three outlets-those of Lake Superior, Green Bay, and the Mi i ippi, which latter stream forms the entire S.W. frontier, widening at one point into the large watery expanse called Lake Pepin. Lake Superior receives the St. Louis, Burnt Wood, and Montreal rivers; Green Bay, the Menomonee, Peshtego, Oconto, and Fox; while into the Mi i ippi empty the St. Croix, Chippewa, lakes are those of Winnebago, Horicon, and Court Oreilles, and smaller sheets of water stud a great part of the surface. The climate is healthful, with cold winters and brief but very warm summers. Mean annual rainfall 31 inches. The geological system represented by the State embraces those rocks included between the primary and the Devonian series, the former containing extensive deposits of copper and iron ore. Besides these minerals, lead and zinc are found in great quantities, together with kaolin, plumbago, gypsum, and various clays. Mining consequently forms a prominent industry, and one of yearly increasing dimensions. The soil of W. is of varying quality, but fertile on the whole, and in the N. parts of the State heavily timbered. The agricultural yield comprises the cereals, together with flax, hemp, tobacco, pulse, sorghum, and all kinds of vegetables, and of the hardier fruits. In 1870 the State had a total number of 102,904 farms, occupying 11,715,321 acres, of which 5,899,343 consisted of improved land, and 3,437,442 were timbered. Cash value of farms, $300,414,064; of farm implements and machinery, $14,239,364. Total estim. value of all farm products, including betterments and additions to stock, $78,027,032; of orchard and dairy stuffs, $1,045,933; of lumber, $1,327,618; of home manu fs. $338,423; of all live-stock, $45,310,882. Number of manufacturing establishments 7,136, employing 39,055 hands, and turning out productions valued at $85,624,966. The political divisions of the State form 61 cos., and the chief places of wealth, trade, and population are Madison (the cap.), Milwaukee, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Janesville, Ra cine, Kenosha, La Cro e, She boyg an, Green Bay,Water town, and Whitewater. The executive power is vested by the State constitution pa ed in 1848 in a governor and a istant officers elected for a biennial term. The legislature is composed of a senatorial chamber of 34 members chosenbi-yearly, and of an A embly of 100 members returned annually. The judiciary, in addition to a Supreme Court presided over by a chief and two a ociate justices, comprises circuit and probate courts, and those which lie under the jurisdiction of justices of the peace. W. is represented in the Federal Congre by 2 senators and 8 delegates to the lower house. In 1870, the total a e ed State valuation reached $333,209,838, of which sum real estate represented $252 322,107; as against a true valuation of both real and personal estate aggregating $702,307,329. Exce over return of 1860: total a e ed, $147,264,349; true real and personal, $428,635,661. Taxation (other than national), $5,387,970; of which to State, $874,677; county, $1,507,605; municipal, $3,005,688; total increase over 1860, $3,057,959. Public debt (other than national) $5,903,532, of which State $2,252,057; county, $1,077,128; municipal, $2,594,347. Treasury receipts during 1870, $886,696; disbursements, $906,329. Value of church property, $4,749,983. Education is amply provided for. Independently of the State University at Madison, and those of Galesville and of Lawrence at Applet on, and the colleges of Beloit, Racine, and Milton, there are Normal schools at Platteville and Whitewater. The State is divided into 4,802 common school di sts., maintained at a cost in 1870 of $2,094,160. The charitable institutions of W. include a Deaf and Dumb Asylum, an Institute for the Education of the Blind, and a Soldiers' Orphans School. In Jan., 1870, the railroad system ramified throughout the State totalized 2,779 m. of track, including several lines far advanced towards completion. Immigration is succe fully encouraged by the State authorities, the larger number of yearly new-comers being of Scand in avian and German origin.- The territory now occupied within the limits of the State of W. was explored by French mi ionaries and traders in 1639, and it remained under French jurisdiction until 1703, when it became annexed to the British N. American po e ions. In 1796 it reverted to the U. States, the govt. of which latter admitted it within the limits of the Northwest Territory, and in 1809 attached it to that of Illinois, and to Michigan in 1818. W. became independently territorially organized in 1836, and became a State of the Union, Mar. 3, 1847. Pop. in 1870, 1,054,670, of which 2,113 were of the colored race, and 1,206 Indians out of tribal relations. [s. 965]