USA > Michigan > Michigan state gazetteer and business directory, 1877 Volumme III (v.1) > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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New Hudson, Oakland
Mason,
Lenawec i
Mill Creek,
Kent
Newport,
Madison,
Livingston
Mill Grove,
Allegan
New Richmond,
Malta,
Oceana
Millington,
Tuscola
New Salem, Allegan
Mancelona,
- Antrim
Milo,
Barry
Newton,
Manchester,"
Washtenaw
Milton,
Macomb
New Troy,
Berrien
Manistee, c. h.,# B. C.,
Minden,
Sanilac
Niles,* B. G.,
Manistee
Mineral Spring,
Newaygo
Nixon,
Missaakre
Maple,
Ionia
Mitchell,
Antrim
Noble Centre,
Branch
Maple City,
Leelanaw !
Moline,
Allegan
Nonesuch,
Maple Grove,
, Barry Montcalm
Maple Range,
Oceana
Monroe Centre,
North Batavia,
Branch
Maple Rapids, # Clinton
North Bradley,
Miliard
Maple Ridge,
Bay Montague,* G.,
Muskegon
North Branch, North Barns,
La: eer
Mapleton, Grand Traverse
Monteith,
Allegan --
North Byron,
Kert
Marcellus, Cass
Montgomery,
Hillsdale
North Dorr, Allecan
Marengo,
Calhoun !
Montrose,
Genesee
North Eagle, Clinton
Marilla,
Manistee
Moon,
Muskegon
North Farmington,
Marine City,# St. Clair
Moore Park,
St. Joseph
North Irving,
Marlette, Sanilac
Morenci," Lenawee
Morgan,
Marquette
Northport, c. h .*
Icela"in
Marshall.# B. C. G., Calhoun
Morley,
North Raisinville,
Marshville,
Oceana
Moscow,
Hillsdale
North Star, Gratic:
Martin,
Allegan
Mosherville,
North Unity,
Leelar :"
Martinez,
Mecosta
Mossville,
Northville,*
Martinsville,
Wayne |
Mottville,
St. Joseph
Nortell. Jack - a
Marysville,
Mt. Clemens, c. h. B.
Norwalk, Mani've
Mason, c. h.,*
Macomb
Norway Hall,
Masonville,
Delta
Mt. Morris,*
Cioneser
Char'c
Matherton,
Ionia
211. Pleasant. c. h.,* B.,
St Worse: h
Mattawan,
Van Buren Branch .
Maxwell,
Bay |
Muir,
May,
Tuscola
Mullett Lake,
Cheboygan
O. k.
Maybee,
Monroe
Mundy,
Genesce
Oantichi, Oak Grove,
Livineso
May field,
Grand Traverse
Munger,
Mead,
Macomb| Mungerville,
Shiawassee | Oak Hill,
Nirvana, Lake
Manton,
Wexford
Minong, Isle Royale
Monroe, c. h., * B. C. G.,
Norris,
Ontor :s : Wayne
Maple Hill,
Monroe
North Adams,*
Hills .xlè
Maple Valley,
Monteahn
Monterey, Allegan
North Newburgh, Shiawassee North Plains, Ionia
Marquette, c. h.,# B. C. G. S., Marquette
Morgan Station,
Newaygo Mecosta
Hillsdale Emmett
Norwood, Nottawa, Novesta, Novi, Nunci.,*
Mattison,
Mt. Vernon,
Labella Macomb lonia
Negaunee,* B. C. G., Marccorte
Long Lake, Grand Traverse
Menominee
Nero, Isabella
Merrillsville,
St. Clair .
Newaygo, c. h., . B., Newav. New Baltimore,*
Michigamme,
Marquette 1 New Boston,
Midland, c. k.,* B. C.,
New Era, Occhi
Medina, Lenawee Sanilac
Napoleon, Jackson
Little Lake,
Monroe
Meadville,
St. Clair Ingham
Grand Traverse
55
AND BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
To istoffice.
County.
Postoffice.
Postoffice.
County. Cass
O.kley,
Kent
Peutwater,* B,
Redford,
Wayne
laville,
Monroe
Pere Cheney,
Reed City,*
Osceola
Oakwood,
Oakland
Perrinsville,
Keeder, p. o. of LakeCity c. h. Missaukee
Eccola Centre,
Livingston
Perry,
Ogdeu,
Lenawee
Petersburg .*
Reese,
Tuscola
Ogden Centre,
Lenawee
Petoskey,
Emmet
Renoe, Lake
gemraw Springs,
Ogemaw
Pettysville,
Livingston
Republic,
Marquette
okemos,
Ingham
Pewamo,*
Ionia
Keweenaw
Richland .*
Kalamazoo
Olive Centre,
Ottawa
Pierport,
Manistee
Richmond, "
Macomb
(livet *
Eaton
Pierson,
Montcalm
Richmondville,
Sınilac
Omard,
Sanilac
Pinckney,
Livingston Bay
Ridgeway,
Lenawee
Omier,
Day
Manistee
Pine Grove Mills, Van Buren !
Clinton
(inondaga,
Ingham
Pine Hill,
Sanilac
Riley Centre,
St.Clair
Onola, c. l.,
Schoolcraft
Pine Road,
Midland |
Kiver Bend,
Clinton
Ontonagon, c. k.,
Ontonagon
Pine Run,
Genesee
Riverdale, Gratiot
(Hange,
Ionia
: Pioneer,
Missaukee ; River Raisin,
Washtenaw
Orangeville,
Branch | Pipestone,
Berrien
| Riverside, Berrien
Orangeville Mills,
Barry
Pittsburgh,
Shiawassee
Riverton,
Mason
Orchard Lake,
Oakland
Pittsford,
Hillsdale
Rives Janction,
Tack.on
Oregon,
Lapeer
Plainfield,
Livingston
Roberts' Landing, St. Clair
Orion,
Oakland
Plainwell,
Allegau
Robinson,
Ottawa
plans,
lonia
Plank Road,
Wayne
Rochester,
Oakland
17 :00,
Osceola
Platie,
Benzie
Rock Elm.
Charlevoix
OMonville,
Oakland
Pleasant,
Kent
Rockford,*
Kent
Iosco
Pleasanton,
Manistee
Rockland,
Ontonagon
O-biemo,
Kalamazoo
Plymouth, «
Wayne
Rockwood,
Wayne
Chien.
Hillsdale
Osin. ke,
Alpena
Pompeii,
Fentiac, c. h .* B. C., Oakland
Rollin,
Lenawee
Desville,
Genesee
Poplar Grove,
Huron
Rome,
Lenawee
Otsego,*
Allegan
Pool,
Lapeer
Romeo,* B.
Macomb
Portage,
Kalamazoo
Romulus,
Wayne
Otsego
Port Austin,*
Huron
Rootville,
Antrim
Ottawa Lake,
Monroe
Purt Crescent,
ITuron
Roscomnion,
Roscommon
Ottawa Station,
Ottawa
Porter,
Midland
Rose,
Oakland
Otter Creek,
Jackson
Port Hope,
Huron
Roseville,
Macomb
Ofer Lake,
Lapeer
Port Huron, c. h." B. G. C.
Ross,
Kent
Overisel,
Allegan
St. Clair
Rowland.
Isabelia
Portland,>
Ionia
Roxand,
Eaton
0). Bow,
Oakland
Portsmouth,
Bay
Royalton,
Berrien
" xford,
Oakland
Posen, Presque Isle
Ruby.
St.Clair
I anesville.
Saginaw
Potterville,
Eaton
Rural Vale,
Lapeer
Fant Creek,
Washtenaw
Truirieviile,
Barry
Rustford, Mecosta
l'almer.
Marquette , Prattville,
Hillsdale
Saganing,
Bay
i alınyra,
Lenawee | Prospect Lake,
Van Buren
Saginaw c. h .* B. C. G.
Ionia
Provemont,
l.celanow
Saginaw
I ur vlisc,
Grand Traverse
Palaski,
Jackson
St. Charles,
Saginaw
Mecosta
(Quincy,*
Branch
St. Clair, *
St.Clair
Por ville,
Huron ! Raisin Centre,
Lenawee
St. Helen,
Roscommon
laik ville,
St. Joseph
Randail,
Saginaw
St. Ignace, Mackinic
Jackson
Rann's Mill,
Shiawas-ce
St. James . .. Monitor
Twing.on
Ransom.
Battle Knu,
St.Clur
St. Joseph* C. G.
/ 11/10/1,
Kalamazoo
Ravenna,
Muskegon
St. Louis, *
··· Pam, c. h.# B,
Rawsonville,
Wayne
Salem, Washtenaw
Van Buren
Ray Centre.
Maconih
Saline,*
Sanile Reading, *
Hillsdale | Salt River,
Isabella
Saginaw
Penn,
County. Cass
Redfield,
Oilfield Centre,
-------
1
Shiawassee
Port Sinilac,"
Sanilac
Royal Oak,
Oakland
Cisco,
Ionia
Pokagon, Cass Gratiot
Rogers City c. h. Presque Isle Rogersville, Genesee
Chinena,
Leclanaw
Pinconning, Pine Creek,
Calhoun
Richville,
Tuscola
Riga. Riley,
Lenawee
Onckami,
Richfield. Genesee
Old Mission, Grand Traverse
Phoenix,
Oceana Crawford Wayne Shiawassee Monroe
Clinton
Calhoun
1:ck,
Olejo Lake, c. h. temporary,
Clinton
56
MICHIGAN STATE GAZETTEER
Postoffice.
County
Postoffice.
County.
Postoffice.
County
Salzburg,
Bay
Spring Arbor,
Jackson
! Tuscola,
Tusco :-
Sand Beach,
Huron
Spring Brook,
Gratiot
Twin Lake,
Muskegon
Sand Lake,
Kent
Spring Dale,
Wexford
Tustin,
OSCAR-
Sandsione,
Jackson
Springfield,
Oakland
Tyre,
Sanilac
Sanford,
Midland
Spring Lake, #
Ottawa
Tyrone,
Livingstor
Saranac, *
Ionia
Springport,
Jackson
Umatilla,
Wexford
Saugatuck,“
Allegan
Springville.
Lenawee ;
Unadilla,
Livingston Cats
Soult - de Ste
Marie, c. h.ª
Springwells,
Wayne
Union,
Chippewa
Spurr Mountain,
Baraga : Union City.# Bay ! Union Home,
Clinton
Schoolcraft,#
Kalamazoo
Stanton, c. h. B. - - Montcalm | Union Pier,
Berrien
Scio,
Washtenaw
Stanwood,
Mecosta
Unionville,
Tuscol :
Scott's
Kalamazoo
Stella,
Gratiot |
Utica,
Macomb
Scofield,
Monroe
Stephens,
Lapeer ;
Vandalia,
Cas.
Sears,
O ccola
Stephenson,
Menominee
Vassar, * B. C.
Tuscola
Sebewa,
Ionia
Sterling,
Bay
Ventura,
Ottawa
Sebewaing:
Huron
Stevensville,
Berrien
Vermontvi'le,* Vernon,
Shiawasse
Seville,
Gratiot
Stoneville,
Marquette !
Verona Mills,
Hur ..
Shelby,
Oceana
Stony Creek,
Washtenaw
Vestaburgh,
Monical
Shelbyville,
Allegan
Stony Point,
Jackson
Vickeryville,
Montcalm
Shepardsville,
Clinton
Stony Kan,
Oakland
Vicksburgh,*
Kalamazoo
Sleridan,
Montcalm
Strickland,
Isabella !
Victor,
Clinton
Sherman c. h.
Wexford
Stronach,
Manistee
Victory,
Sherman City,
Isabella
Sturgis,*
St. Joseph
Volinia,
C .:
Sidney,
Montcalm
Sugar Grove,
Mason
Wacousta,
Clinton
Silver Creek.
Allegan
Summerville,
Cass ! Wahjamega,
Tuscol :
Sitka,
Newaygo
Summit,
Washtenaw
Wakelee,
Macomb
Skanee,
Baraga Bay
Sumner,
Gratiot
Wallaceville,
Wayne
Slocum's Grove,
Muskegon
Sunfield,
Eaton
Walled Lake,
Oaklandi
Smith's Corners,
Oceana
Sutton's Bay.
Leelanaw
Walton, Grand Traver-e
Smith's Creek,
St. Clair
Swartz's Creek,
Genesee
Waltz,
Wayne
Smyrna,
Berrien
Sylvester.
Mecosta
Wasepi,
St. Joseph
Solon,
Leelanaw
Tallmadge,
Ottawa,
Washington,
Macomb
Somerset,
Hillsdale
Tawas City, c. k.# B. C. G. Waterford,
Oakland
Somerset Center,
Hillsdale
Iosco
Waterloo,
Jackson
South Arm,
Charlevoix
Taylor Centre,
Wayne
Watertown,
Tu-col
South Blendou,
Ottawa
Taymouth,
Saginaw
Watervliet,*
Berrien
South Boardman,
Kalkaska
Tecumseh,%
Lenawee
Watrousville,
Tusco !!
South Butler,
Branch
Tekonsha*
Calhoun
Watson Corners,
South Camden,
Hillsdale
Thomas,
Oakland
Waverly.
Van Buren
South Cass,
Tonia
Texas,
Kalamazoo
Wayland, «
Allez2
Thornton,
St. Clair
Wayne,*
Wayre
Oakland
Thornville,
Lapeer
Weare,
Oceara
South Fairfield,
Lenawee
Three Oaks,$ B. G. Berrien !
Webberville, Inghim
South Frankfort,
Benzie | T. ree Rivers,“ B. C.
St. Joseph
Mason
South Grand Blanc. Genesee South Haven,# Van Buren
Tilden,
Marquette
Wellsville,
Lenauce
South Jackson,
Jackson | Tipton,
Lenawee
Wenona,& C. G.
Tompkins,
Jackson Antrim
West Finnish, r. h. West Campbell,
Ibau
South Saginaw.
Saginaw Ilill dah
Grand Traverse West Have 1,
Sparta Centre,
Kent Trent.
Muskegon West Leroy. Wayne
Shirtalsace Calhoun Monnos
Spaul ling, Speaker,
Menominee ; Trenton, Saanilac : Trostville, Antiını | Troy,
Sagimw West Ogden,
Lcnnwice
Spencer Crack,
O.k.L.ml West Olive,
Spencer's Mill,
Kent | Trufant,
Montcalm
Weston,
I.châu ¢
Sherwood,
Branch
Benzie
Vriesland,
Ottaw .:
Six Corners,
Ottawa
Summit City, Grand Traverse
Lakę
Wales,
St.Chas
Skimmer.
Ionia
Sylvan,
Washtenaw
Warren,
Macomo
Sodus,
Lenawee
Stockbridge,
Ingham
Branch
Sawyer,
Berrien
Standish,
West Milan,
Ogemu
South lyon, Oakland South Riley, Clinton
Torch Lake,
Traverse City. c. R.& B. C. West Caico.
south Wright,
Webster, Weldon Creek,
Washtenen
South Climax, Southfield,
Kalamazoo
Summitville,
Waldenburgh,
Eaton
Seneca,
57
AND BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
: unfire.
County.
P staffce.
County.
Postoffice.
County.
Westphalia,
Clinton
White Oak,
Ingham ! Woodbull,
Shiawassee
West Sebewa,
Ionia White Pigeon,"
St.Joseph
Wood Lake,.
Montcalm
West's Mills,
Saginaw White River,
Muskegon
Woodland,
Barry
West Sumpter,
Wayne White Rock,
Haron
Wood's Corners, Woodville,
Newaygo
West Windsor,
Eaton
White Swan,
Kent
Wright's Bridge,
Midland
Westwood,
Kalkaska
Whitewood,
Wayne
Wyandotte,“
Wayne
Wexford,
Wexford
Whitmore Lake, Washtenaw
Yankee Springs,
Barry Wayne
Wheatland Centre,
Hillsdale
Gratiot Williamston,
Ingham
Yorkville, -
Kalamazoo
White,
Hillsdale
Williamsville,
Cass
Ypsilanti,* Washtenaw
White Feather,
Bay
Winfield,
Ingham
Yuba,
Grand Traverse
Whiteford Centre,
Monroe
Winn,
Isabella
Zeeland.
Ottawa
Whitehall,
Muskegon
Wisner,
Tuscola
Zilwaukee,
Saginaw
White Lake,
Oakland
Wixom,
Oakland
EXCHANGE HOTEL
OPPOSITE DEPOT.
A. CALKINS, Proprietor,
HOLLY,
MICHIGAN.
This House is thoroughly refitted, and offers every accommodation to the traveling public, it is the most convenient to the Depots and business houses. Good Sample Rooms. Rates reasonable.
EDWARD STANGE'S Pure Cider Vinegar Works,
No. 106 Gratiot Avenue,
DETROIT,
MICHIGAN.
Manufacturer of Pure Cider, Double and White Wine Vinegar. QUALITY UNEXCELLED.
Detroit Steam Laundry,
J. W. FERNALD, Propr., No. 14 Congress Street East, DETROIT, - - -
MICHIGAN.
Ionia
Westville,
Montcalm
White's Station,
Calhoun
Wheatland,
Wexford
Williamsburgh,
Grand Traverse
Yew, York,
Washtenaw
Wheeler,
8
---
-----------
RETIRING MESSAGE
OF
GOV. JOHN J. BAGLEY,
DELIVERED TO THE LEGISLATURE, JANUARY, 1877.
SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES-On the 26th of the present inonth Michigan will have reached her fortieth birthday. Neither pen nor pencil can fitly describe the trans- forming miracles that each succeeding year has witnessed; forest to field-marsh to meadow - opening to orchard -hut to home, have followed one another in quick succession.
Standing to-day in the midst of this abundant prosperity, with pardonable pride we repeat the prophetic motto which our fathers gave us -. "Si queris peninsulam amanam circumspice." An empire in extent, with natural resources that seem almost inexhaustible, with means of transportation by land and water unequaled on the globe ; a soil that, "tickled with a hoe, laughs with a harvest; dotted all over with happy homes ; schools and institutions of learning with open doors for all; the ills that afilict humanity liberally and kindly cared for; with a history that tells of no gallows ever having been erected in our borders; no slave having ever trod our soil; no treason attainted any citizen; all this is our inher- itance, ours to preserve and to increase.
The charitable, educational and penal institutions of the State are valued at $3,910,500, divided as follows :
University. $ 483.500
Agricultural college 252,300 Normal school 03.700
State public school 15.3.3 0 Institution for deaf, dumb and blind 438.cco Michig in insane asylum 1,405.250 Eastern insane asylum 220,000 Reform school .. 245.340 House of correction at Ionia . 111,000 State Prison 59,000
There are 105 chartered banks in the State with a capital of $16,573,300, and in- dividual deposits of $15,357,875.
The State salt inspector reports 2, 544,- 594 barrels of salt inspected for the years '75 and '76, an increase of 694,269 barrels over the two preceding years.
The production of iron ore for 1876 was 967,000 tons; of ingot copper, 15,000 tons; representing an aggregate value of ȘII,COO,OCO
FINANCES.
The balance in the treasury
September 30, 1874, was ..... $1,070,274 32 Receipts for year ending Sep- tember 30, IS75 .2,20$,929 55
$3,279,203 $7 Disbursements for the same
time 2,050,097 37
Balance in the treasury Septem-
ber 30, 1875 $1,229.106 50 Receipts for year ending Sep- tember 30, 1876. 1,744,406,20
$2.973.512 79 Disbursements for same time ... 1,909.507 49
Balance in the treasury Sep- temher 30, 1876 $1,064,005 30 Of this balance there belongs to the Sinking furd $415 407 47
27.111 :5
Primary School Interest fund ... 80.457 31
Canal fund.
54.011 54
$557.568 10
The bonded debt of the State has been reduced during the year erling September
--
1
f
59
MICHIGAN STATE GAZETTEER
(., 1576, $53,000, and during the four years ri. ling September 30, 1576, ... .. 5851, 142 81. Of this amount: $389,142 SI were ma- tarel bonds, and $462,000 were unmatured and paid in advance. A premium of $6,043 45 was paid for $151,000 of these bonds, an average of about 4 per cent, The disbursements over and above receipts for interest in 1873 were $$2,706 52, and in 1876 $21,885 98. The bonded debt of the State September 30, 1876, was $1,392, 149 97, divided as follows :
Sault Canal bonds, 6's, due July 1, 1879 $ 46,000 00 Kenewal loan bonds, 6's, due
July 1, 1878. 101,000 00
Two million loan bonds, 6's, due January 1, 1878 244,000 00 Two million loan bonds, 6's, due January 1, IS83 629,000 00 War bounty loan bonds, 7's, due May 1, 1890 .. 357,000 00 Adjusted bonds, due January 1, 1863 .. 3,000 00
$21,000 part paid five million loan bonds, adjustable .at $578 57 per 1,000. 12,149 97
The cash in the treasury set apart for the payment of the bonded debt is as follows : Sinking fund. $415.407 47 Canal fund. 54,611 54
Balance from sale of two mill-
ion loan bonds to pay adjus- ted and five million loan bonds 15.149 97
$485,168 9S
Which leaves the total bonded debt of the State, Jess cash in treasury, applicable to its payment, $906,980.99.
In addition to this there was remaining unpaid of specific taxes September 30, 1876, 01. call, $290,499.33, which when collected will add that amount to the Sinking fund, and leave the State debt, less fund applicable to its payment, only $616,000.
The State treasurer has been diligent in his endeavors to purchase the bonds of the State, having personally visited many hold- ers, and offered premiums to the full amount of the interest received by the State from its depositories, but with limited success.
The trust debt of the State is composed of the following funds and amounts :
Primary School fund ...... $2, 259,282.01 Five per cent. Primary School fund.
299,6;6.59
Umversity fund. 341.855-7S
Agucultural College fund ..
118,827.08
Normal School fand $53-301.32 Railroad and other deposits ... 3,493.33
Total $3.079,346.71 An increase in two years of $135,584.34.
SINKING FUND.
This fund is created by the constitution, section 1, article 14, as follows : " All spe- cific taxes, except those received by the min- ing companies of the Upper Peninsula, shall be applied in paying the interest upon the primary school, University, and other educa- tional funds, and the interest and principal- of the State debt in the order herein recited, until the extinguishment of the State debt, other than the amounts due to the educa- tional funds, when such specific taxes sho !! be added to, and constitute a part of the prim- ary school interest fund."
The increase in specific taxes, and the rapid extinguishment of the bonded debt will soon leave, under this provision, a large balance of specific taxes that can only be used in the support of the primary schools. I can sce no reason why specific taxes should go to the support of schools, that would not apply to any other tax, and I believe our schools would soon be ruined if they were supported by State taxation alone. The people need to watch the schools and their management-if they pay for them they will, if they do not they will soon lose their interest in them. I would not advise the discontinuance of the Sinking fund, as we should put beyond the control of any power whatever the question of the faithful pay- ment of the public debt, and the interest on the Educational Trust funds in the hands of the State ; but I recommend the submission of an amendment to the constitution striking out the clause directing that the balance of specific taxes shall be placed in the School fund, and insert in its stead that it may be used for the ordinary expenses of the State. Should this proposition meet your approval and that of the people, it will soon reduce general taxation quite largely and equalize the burden of Governmental expenses. Practically out of debt-in all new undertak- ings paying as we go -- meeting every demand of duty and charity cheertaily and promptly -this exhibit of our financial affairs can not be other than gratifying to every citizen.
The repeal of section 124, Compiled Laws, commonly known as the " live your-law." will work seriously to the disallvantage of the State.
The State is obliged to advance to th counties all the taxes of every nature re- turned to the auditor general's voice as de. linquent, as soon as the period of redeniption expires. The result is that a county may
60
MICHIGAN STATE GAZETTEER
make any sort of assessment as to value, or neglect to collect its taxes with impunity.
Worthless lands can be assessed at high prices-taxed for township, school, or high- way purposes, and the State is bound to pay it.
The amount that the State will be ob- liged to advance as the law now stands, without recourse upon the county for any part of the loss, in case of failure to collect, will be from $70,000 to $So,000 per annum, with a probable continual increase.
The amount of unsold State tax lands (i. e. lands struck to State at tax sales on which no money has been collected, but for which the counties have been paid by the State for the taxes returned thereon), for the past five years is as follows :
October, 1872, $618, 167.87. October, 1873, $683,414.62. Increase of $65,246.75 over 1872.
October, 1874, $790,112 97. Increase of $6,698.35 over 1873. October, 1875, $1, 146,879.11. Increase of $356,766.14 over IS74.
October, 1876, $1,462,977.61. Increase of $316,098.50 over 1875.
The extraordinary increase in the last two years proves very clearly that it will be ne- cessary at an early day to re-enact something similar to the old law, with some additional safeguards which that did not contain. If the system is to remain as it now is it will deplete the treasury rapidly.
Of the appropriation made in 1873 for " corner-stone" celebration, $2,478.67 re- mains undrawn. The appropriation made in 1867 of $2,500 for " history of campaigns" has not been used. The State Treasurer should be authorized to transfer these ap- propriations to the general fund.
STATE LANDS AND ROADS.
For the two years ending September 30' 1876, the sales of State lands have been 191, 354.89 acres for the sum of $283,928.56, be- ing a decrease, as compared with the two previous years, of 359.433.66 acres, and $412,232 54 in receipts, showing a large re- duction in the revenues of the State from this source.
The lands belonging to the State at the close of the fiscal year are 3,073,239.91 acres, classified as follows :
Primary school 369,919.13
Primary school indemnity. 40.175.20
Primary school forfeited. 25,099 []
Agricultural College. 162,400.84
Agricultural College forfeited ... 2,398.40
Salt Spring land .. 1,315.63
Salt Spring forfeited 280.00
Asylum.
650.00
Asylum forfeited.
University
University forfeited
Normal School forfeited.
Internal improvement.
Asset. 3.550 20
Swamp land. 2,405,017 03
Swamp indemnity 46.713.13
Swamp forfeited.
3,865.00
The large amount of forfeited lands in this list, amounting to over 33,000 acres, are mostly lands that have been bought on me, stripped of their timber, and then forfeit i, resulting in great loss to the State and id the counties. This, with the losses accruing in the same way, on licensed homestead I .:= " .. induced the commissioner and myself to ez- denvor in some way to put a stop to it, and to recover for the State some of the moneys lost by it.
For this purpose we appointed D. J. Evias as trespass agent, and authorized bim :> make proper investigation and settlem= .: s. subject to the approval of the commissione: of the Land Office. He lias collected ani paid into the treasury in three years the net sum of $29, 390 94 over and above expenses. The legislation of 1873 and 1875, if aide .: " care on the part of the Land Office, c:D: to prevent future frauds on the school lizis of the State --- but the system of licensed homesteads, leaves an open door for sie: :: frauds on homestead lands-and there w :. i undoubtedly be a demand for the services of a trespass agent for some time to cizre. The appointment heretofore made was sc: in compliance with any express law, but the results show its importance and necess :v. I fully concur in the recommendation of the commissioner, that a law be enacted -: o- viding for such appointment, to be contin ei at the discretion of the Governor. 1 desire to call your especial attention to the resort of the commissioner and trespass agent and to the recommendations contained thea -.
Under joint resolution No. 15. Laws of IS;3, I have received from the General Government $IS,257 59, collected at an ex- pense of $1,056 67.
The amount of swamp land roads and ditches constructed during the past two rer. has been 8415 miles, at a cost of $109.352 30 --- being a decrease over the preceding :wo years of 213 miles and of $311, coo in etics. ditares. After an experience with the sis road and ditch system of four years It ref.ain from expressing my convictiona it is a wasteful and extravagant evrenelse of our swamp lands, and that some be : e plan should be devised to take its place.
The school lands on the copper andra mege have been examined, and the en : :
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apper ruige have been appraised, and are now subject to entry and purchase.
The plats of all State lands are now on file in the office of the Secretary of State, in ac- cordance with law. During the administra- ton of the retiring commissioner, the plats have been copied and the records of the office written up, the lands of the State have been carefully husbanded, and much important legislation suggested, protecting the interests of the State.
EDUCATION.
The school census of 1876 reports 457,785 children of school age, of whom 343,947 were enrolled; an increase in two years of 21,6So in the whole number, and of 17,805 in the enrolled number.
There are 5,917 school-houses in the State, with 419,662 sittings; being 75,715 more than the enrollment. The value of school buildings and grounds is $9,382, 270; total expemliture for the year, $4, 128.707. In- debtedness of school districts, $1,674,175 ; an increase in two years of $499,045. Num- ber of teachers, 12,900. Primary School fund held in trust by the State September 30, 1876, $3, 147,917.73, producing an annu- al income of $214.360.83.
The statistics given herewith denote an annual public expenditure of $5,000,000 for education by the people of the State. We have provided schools not only for our own families, but for the unfortunate and crimi- nal children. The log school-house and the stately University share equally our solici- tude and care. We have special colleges for the farmer, schools in which to fit teachers, schools for the professional student, and for one or two technical pursuits. We seem to recognize in all its fulness the truth of the old proverb, " The breath of the school-chil- dren is the saving of the world."
Vet with all this there are many thought- ful citizens who ask themselves the question ; " Are we doing our educational work in the hest way, are our schools all they ought to be, do they help our children as much as they should in the practical things of life and fit them to be productive, self-helping citizens ?" In times of financial depression like the present, when we fully realize that the only way up and out is through the pro- ductive industry of the people, the question is a pertinent one. The army of children who yearly come out from our schools are to recruit the ranks of the industrious or the rile. That the natural tendency is toward the former we do know, and our system of education ought therefore to be an efficient help. in that direction.
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