dresses were delivered by Rev. James H. Brady, S. J., of Milwaukee, Dr. Frederick J. Turner of Madison, Mrs. T. H. Brown and Mrs. James Sidney Peck of Milwaukee, and Mayor Alois Zienert and Mrs. H. E. Andrews of Portage. A congratulatory letter from the secretary of our society was also read, his presence being impracticable because of contemporaneous engagements in another state. The monument of red Wausau granite stands at the intersection of Bronson avenue and Wisconsin street, as near as may be to the portage path. Upon one of its faces has been cut this inscription: "This tablet marks the place near which Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet entered the Wisconsin River, June 14, 1673. Erected by Wau-Bun Chapter, D. A. R., 1905." The cost was $200, mostly defrayed by members of the chapter, the remainder being subscribed by public-spirited citizens. The examples set by De Pere and Portage will surely soon be emulated by the people of other historic towns in Wisconsin. Other Wisconsin Libraries The secretary of the society being ex-officio a member of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission, some notice of the work of that body during the past year seems appropriate in this connection. Since our last report, buildings have been completed and occupied at Antigo. Darlington, Hayward, Monroe, Rice Lake, Richland Center, Washburn, and Waupun. The new library buildings at Kaukauna, Madison, and Viroqua are nearly completed and will be occupied before the end of the year. The average cost of these libraries, excluding Madison, is $10,000. The Richland Center and Darlington buildings represent the latest thought in library architecture, differing in some respects from other library buildings of similar size designed during the last few years. The Madison building will have cost, upon completion, approximately $75,000. Part of the second floor will be occupied by a school for library training, to be con ducted by the Wisconsin Free Library Commission. These quarters were especially planned for that purpose, and comprise a large general work room, revision room and bibliographical library, preceptor's office, exhibition hall, and lecture rooms. The following gifts from Andrew Carnegie have been accepted within the twelve months, the amount granted to Wauwatosa being for an addition to the building heretofore occupied: Arcadia, $5,000; Cumberland, $10,000; Edgerton, $10,000; Kaukauna, $10,000; Sturgeon Bay, $15,000: Washburn, $18,000; Watertown, $20,000; Wausau, $25,000; Wauwatosa, $6,000. By gift from Mayor Putnam the city of Brodhead has acquired a building suitable for city offices, and spacious quarters for a public library will be included therein. Plans are under way at Mauston for a new city hall, in which it is likely that provision will be made for public library rooms. The subscription library at Waterloo has, by vote of the association, been converted into a free public library. The several traveling library systems in the state have been considerably enlarged. The traveling libraries circulated by the Free Library Commission now number 291, representing 13,962 volumes; among these are three owned by this society-two on Wisconsin history, and another on the history of the Middle West. The proprietory traveling library systems, and systems maintained at county expense, in addition to those above mentioned, swell the total number of books in circulation to 22,972 volumes, the total number of libraries in which these are grouped being 479. Eight counties have made appropriations for traveling libraries, and in two other counties the cost is borne by private citizens. These figures do not include a considerable number of small groups of books in foreign languages, which are sent to communities in different parts of the state having many foreign born residents.' For the foregoing information we are indebted to Secretary Henry E. Legler, of the commission. Banner of Perote Guards, First Alabama Regiment I. Banner of Cedar Creek Rifles, South Carolina Captured by Sixteenth Wisconsin, February 22, 1865 |