568 UNITED STATES: — WISCONSIN
School attendance is compulsory for all children between 7 and 14 years of age, in cities for the entire school year, and in towns and villages for 6 months a year. In 1910 the public elementary schools had 14,729 teachers, and 464,311 enrolled pupils; 269 public high schools had 1,394 teachers and 30,370 pupils. The 12 public normal schools had 132 teachers and 2 790 pupils in 1909.
The University of Wisconsin at Madison was begun in 1850, It is governed by a Board of Regents, consisting of one member from each congres- sional district, and two from the State at large, apjjointed by the Governor for a term of 3 years. It has 581 professors and instructors and 5,741 students. Instruction by correspondence has been introduced, with 5,936 students enrolled in 1911. Other important Colleges in the State are: Beloit College, of Beloit, non-sectarian, 36 instructors and 465 students ; Lawi-ence University of Appleton, inter denominational, with 36 instructors and 499 studenis ; Ripon College, non -sectarian, with 23 instructors and 230 students ; St. John's Military Academy, Delafield, Episcopal, 18 pro- fessors and instructors and 211 students ; Concordia College (Lutheran), Milwaukee, with 7 professors and 203 students ; and Marquette University, Milwaukee, R.C., with 187 instructors and 1,660 students. There are besides several smaller colleges.
Charity. — In 1910 the state had ten charitable and penal institutions, and the number of their inmates were : State prison, 709 ; reformatory, 240 ; industrial school for boys, 360 ; public school for dependent children, 1 80 ; school for the deaf, 194 ; school for the blind, 77 ; home for the feeble-minded, 917 ; two hospitals for the insane, 1,288. The administration of these insti- tutions is subject to a State Board of Control. In 1910 the cost of their maintenance was 971,596 dollars. The State expenditure in maintaining the chronic insane in county asylums was (in 1910) 481,622 dollars.
The supervisors of each town have care of the poor who have a settlement (gained by a year's residence) in the town. The county board has charge of the poor who have no settlement in town, city or village, and may establish a poorhouse ; but the distinction between town and county poor may be abolished by vote of the town supervisors, and the county be made responsible for the support of all such poor. The county judge may conmiit a pauper to the poorhouse for 60 days or indefinitely. To bring a pauper into a town where he has no settlement is punishable by fine. Parents and children are liable for each other's support.
Finance, Defence. — For the 2 years ended June 30, 1910, the receipts and disbursements (all funds) of the State Government were to the following amounts: —
Dollars
Balance June 30, 1908 1,728,047
Receipts for 2 years 23,507,463
Total 25,235,510
Disbursements for 2 years ..... 23,675,523
Balance June 30, 1910 . . . . 1,559,987
The State has no bonded debt; but in 1908, 2,251,000 dollars was due to State trust funds on certificates of indebtedness arising out of former bonded debt. The assessed valuation in 1909 was 2,478,561,786 dollars.
