INTRODUCTORY. With this edition of the Blue Book Wisconsin issues its thirtieth consecutiv. volume of official statistics and information. The matter presented has been carefully prepared and digested, and while the features of the book do not materially differ from those of its predecessor, great care has been exercised to make it a complete official resume of matters pertaining to the state government for the past two years, as well as those relating to the national government and to the various states of the Union. As the last forms of the Blue Book go to press, a new state institution has been made an established fact, a brief history of which must be given here, inasmuch as it is too late to appear in its proper place in the book. In 1895, the legislature authorized the appointment of a commission to examine certain lands in Polk county, with a view of establishing, in conjunction with the state of Minnesota, an inter-state park on the dalles of the St. Croix river. The legislature of 1899, under the provisions of chapter 102, which became a law April 1, 1899, appropriated $6,500 to purchase park territory, and to maintain the same, the state of Minnesota having already acquired the land on her side of the river. As evidence of the character of the new park, the following statement from an eminent authority on parks, living in New York, will be of interest: "It is such marvels as Niagara, the Palisades, the Dalles of the St. Croix, the Yosemite valley, and the great gorge of the Colorado which ought to appeal to us as a special charge for which our civilization is responsible." Among the many features of the inter-state park, wrought by the hand of nature, are: Old St. Croix Fireplace (the coloring of this is remarkable), the Devil's Chair, the Kitchen, Bake-oven, Sitting Room, Pulpit, the Cross, Old Man of the Dalles or Sentinel, the Cave, the Gopher, the Hammer-head or Two-faced Man, the Pulpit, Desk Rock, Echo Rock, Eagle Nest Point. Two views from the inter-state park will be found among the illustrations. Many inaccuracies have appeared heretofore in the reproduction of the state's constitution. The pages devoted to that instrument in the present volume correctly set forth its provision to the minutest detail, together with a brief history of its inception. The illustrations contained herein show the changes which have been made In several of the buildings of state institutions since the last edition of the Blue Book was printed. WILLIAM H. FROEHLICH. ILLUSTRATIONS. State Capitol Executive Residence Inter-State Park Light Horse Squadron Armory Wisconsin State Prison Wisconsin Fish Hatchery Normal School, Platteville Normal School, Whitewater Normal School, Oshkosh Normal School, Milwaukee Normal School, Stevens Point Normal School, Superior State Hospital for Insane Northern Hospital for Insane School for the Blind Home for the Feeble-Minded Public School for Dependent Children.. Soldiers' National Home Portrait of Senator Spooner Portrait of Senator Quarles University-Science Hall University-Armory University-Main Hall 497 University-Library Hall 504 University-South Hall, Ladies' Hall, North Hall. 505 University-Machine Shop, Dairy and Horticultural Buildings... 508 University-Chemical Laboratory, Law Building and Washburn Observatory 509 |