Document F. COMMUNICATION OF WILLIAM T. STERLING. TO THE HON. DAVID NEWLAND, Speaker of the H. of Reps: Sir-By a resolution of the House of Representatives, passed December 25th, 1841, I am requested, as late Librarian, to report to your honorable body, whether I have purchased any stationery for the use of the Legislature at its present session? In answer to which I have the honor to submit the following report: That about the first of August last, I made out a bill of stationery and forwarded it to Charles Walker of New York, and after awaiting an answer from Mr. Walker, until the first of October, and believing that he would pay no attention to my order-from the fact that about eight weeks had elapsed since the bill was sent. I then made out another bill and order and forwarded it to Mr. Gale of Chicago, and on the 18th of October, received a note from Mr. Gale's partner, stating that he (Gale) was then in New-York for the purpose of purchasing the stationery. By the same mail I received a letter from Mr. Walker, stating that the stationery ordered by me had been purchased, and shipped to the care of Messrs. Dousman and Brown of Milwaukee; consequently L was unable to countermand either order, but was compelled to receive both lots. When the stationery was received, I believed that the Legislature would be unwilling to receive a double quantity, and supposed the best course I could take, as I was personlly responsible as well for the stationary purchased, as for charges for transportation and storage, to sell the poorest lot. I have, therefore, sold about half of the lot purchased of Mr. Walker, and applied so much of the proceeds of such sale as was necessary, for the payment of transportation and storage, and the balance remains in my hands, to be applied to the payment of Mr. Walker's demand when it becomes due. I would beg leave futher to state to your honorable body, that the reason why I have not delivered the stationery above mentioned, to my successor in office, is that I am personally responsible to the persons from whom it was purchased, and the faith of the Territory not pledged, as I did not think I had any power, under the law which authorized the purchase, to make such a pledge. I would respectfully ask your honorable body to authorize me, by resolution or otherwise to deliver the balance of the stationery remaining in my hands, to my successor in office, or some person, and release me from all responsibility in relation to the same, as it would relieve me from much trouble and anxiety. The following is a schedule of the lot of stationary purchased of Mr. Walker, now remaining in my hands, to wit: 1 ream engrossing paper, 16 by 22, 2 reams envelope paper, 2 66 letter 4 1-2 reams cap 33 inkstands, 16 cts. 66 66 $12,00 3,50 10,00 15,00 22,50 5,28 I have also delivered out of the above mentioned lot, to the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Council, for the use of the Legislature, the following, viz: The following is a schedule of stationery purchased of Stephen F. The above lot of stationery has been delivered to the Legislature at different times, during the present session, with the exception of the following, which yet remains in my hands, to wit: 7 reams cap paper, 4 1-2 reams letter paper, 1 ream engrossing paper, 2 reams envelope paper, 1 dozen papers sand, 1 pound sealing wax, 1 dozen bottles black ink, 3 bottles red ink, 2 bottles pounce, 3 pounds twine, 2 Congress knives, 4 boxes candles, 16 brooms. All of which is most respectfully submitted. I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, Document G. REPORT OF BYRON KILBOURN, LOAN AGENT, TO NE- REPORT: On the 26th day of February, 1839, the Governor approved the act passed by your honorable body, entitled "an act to provide for aiding in the construction of the Milwaukee and Rock River Canal," which act provides, (Sec. 1,) "that to aid in the construction of the Milwaukee and Rock River Canal, the Governor of the Territory be and he is hereby authorized, to borrow on the pledges hereinafter provided, any sum or sums of money not exceeding fifty thousand dollars," and said act further provides, (Sec. 20,) "that the Governor is hereby authorized and empowered for the purposes aforesaid, to appoint such agents as may be necessary and proper for obtaining any loan by this act authorized," &c.-In pursuance of which power, the undersigned was duly appointed an agent to negotiate said loan, by letters patent, under the hand of Governor Dodge and the Great Seal of the Territory, dated March 14th, 1840. The undersigned in pursuance of the authority so vested in him, immediately opened a correspondence with a large number of capitalists at the east, and in various parts of the United States, and also forwarded to each a newspaper article, setting forth the advantages of investments here, and desiring their aid and co-operation in the negotiation of the loan. From all the persons with whom I held this correspondence, I learned the discouraging state of the money market, and from none could I obtain such encouragement as to induce the belief that a loan could be obtained on any terms, restricted as this loan was, by various provisions of the act authorizing it. |