Incoming and outgoing correspondence with the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER STATES (was Series 29, 1/1/1-7 and part of Series 34, 1/1/1-12) includes notices of official publications, federal land bills, military affairs, war claims, court cases, petitions, and statistics on national and state debts.
DISASTER correspondence, 1871-1915, (was Series 84, 1/1/8-4) consists of letters from military officers, relief commissioners, newspaper editors, doctors, farmers, and others about relief contributions, requests for aid, seed distributions in burned areas, resignations from relief commissions, and financial matters.
About the DULUTH CANAL case (was Series 31, 1/1/1-9) and other related matters such as the Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary, a special survey of the Superior harbor, and railroads to Superior and Duluth there is incoming correspondence from legislators, lawyers, army engineers, railroad officials, promoters and others.
About Wisconsin's participation in various national and international EXPOSITIONS and fairs there is incoming correspondence (was Series 132, 1/1/15-3 and Series 283, 2/3/5/24-4) from officials, promoters, commission members and delegates. The final report to the governor of the State Board of Managers of the Pan-American Exposition, 1901, (was Series 283 2/3/5/24-3) is also included.
Filed under the heading of FARM MORTGAGES (was Series 43, 1/1/3-3) are letters to the governor concerning lands mortgaged to build the LaCrosse and Milwaukee and the Milwaukee and Horicon railroads, the default by these railroads on their bonds, the sale of the mortgaged lands, the state refusal to permit foreclosure, and the affairs of the Wisconsin Railroad Farm Mortgage Land Company which was created by the Legislature to administer the mortgaged lands.
FOX-WISCONSIN CANAL at Portage (was Series 46, 1/1/4-1) is documented by maps, diagrams, and correspondence with farmers, land agents, surveyors, canal company officers, governors of other states, and members of Congress. Subjects represented in the correspondence include financing and construction of the canal, acquisition of lands along the proposed route, and proposals for federal support.
The governor's correspondence concerning the WISCONSIN GEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY (was Series 87, 1/1/8-7), includes letters from geologists Increase Lapham and T.C. Chamberlin, teachers, printers, and legislators concerning survey expenses, publication and distribution of reports, appointment of the State Geologist, and other topics.
The encouragement of IMMIGRATION to Wisconsin (was Series 126, 1/1/14-1) consists of letters from emigration agents, railroad officials, real estate dealers, and farmers. Among the documented topics are railroad plans for the encouragement of immigration, applications for appointment as emigration agents, proposed legislation, inquiries about acquisition of land under the Homestead Act, and other topics.
About INDIANS (was Series 133, 1/1/15-4) there is correspondence from legislators, reformers, farmers, interpreters, Indian agents, and others including pleas for Indian removal, claims of Indian depredations, expressions of fear of Indian raids, and financial information. Some reports of Indians agents are included as well.
LAND correspondence (was Series 36, 1/1/2-1 and 1/1/2-4) pertains to surveys, frauds, and grants; swamp lands; preemption rights; illegally reserved lands; land office legal cases; claims on Indian lands; construction of railroads and dikes; and appointments of land commissioners and agents.
Segregated correspondence relates to various matters concerning LIGHTHOUSES (was Series 47, 1/1/4-2). Included is incoming correspondence from Army engineers, officials of the Department of Interior, canal company officials, and farmers concerning the construction of lighthouses, positions as lighthouse officials, and federal aid to finance lighthouse projects. Also included are maps and diagrams of lighthouse sites. Some material filed here concerns the Sturgeon Ban Canal.
The LUMBER AGENTS files (was Series 37, 1/1/2-3) consists of incoming and a few outgoing letters from timber agent, farmers, printers, newspaper editors, marshals, land commissioners, and attorneys about appointments and payments, timber fund reports,
trespassing on timber lands, stumpage payments, cutting of timber on burned lands, and seizure of illegally cut timber.
Several folders relate to the construction of military cemeteries and MEMORIALS (was Series 59, 1/1/5-12) about Wisconsin's participation in Gettysburg, and various other Civil War battles. Also filed here are some letters relating to “Old Abe” the eagle mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry and to criticism of Frank A. Haskell's account of Gettysburg. This portion of the series is available on microfilm.
The construction of a MILITARY ROAD between Fort Howard and Fort Wilkins (was Series 48, 1/1/4-3) is documented by correspondence with road contractors, landowners, commissioners, and attorneys and a few maps of the proposed road.
RAILROAD correspondence (was Series 41 and 42, 1/1/3-1 and 2) consists of exchanges with company officials, attorneys general, railroad commissioners, farmers, newspaper editors, and lawyers concerning rates, federal land grants, damage claims, sinking funds, disasters, and some specific railroads such as the Wisconsin Central.
Correspondence concerning the acquisition of a new STATE SEAL (separated from Series 131), 1878-1881 consists of exchanges between Governor William E. Smith, George W. Burchard, secretary to the governor, and engraver Henry Mitchell.
Grouped as TIMBER AGENTS AND LANDS (was Series 37, 1/1/2-2) there is correspondence concerning timber fund reports, trespassing on timber lands, stumpage payments, cutting of timber on burned lands, appointment of agents, and seizure of illegally cut timber.
Incoming letters from legislators, regents, professors, University alumni and others relate to appointment to the Board of Regents, construction of Science Hall, and other topics pertaining to the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN (was Series 134, 1/1/15-5).
