Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-01-31
LEGISLATIVE DOCUMENT.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITS.
SIONERS OFINTERNAL IMPROVE.

H -
SIONERS OFINTERNAL IMPROVE.
MENT.
Made to the Legislature, Jan. %. 1891
OFFICE OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT, }
Detroit, Jan. %, 1888.
To the Honorable the Legislature of the
State Of Michigan:
The undersigned, commissioners of the
board of Internal Improvement, in pursu.
ance OF the directions contained in the sixth
section OF the "Act for the regulation of in.
:ernal and for the appointment
of board Of commissioners" respectfully
report:
That the first meeting Of the board was
held at the city Of Detroit on the first day
of May last. and organized by appointing
Justus Burdick, President, David C. Nc.
Kinstry, Levi S. Humphrey and James B.
Hunt, Acting Commissioners. John NJ.
Barbour, Auditor, and Kintzing Pritchette,
Secretary.
The moneys belonging to the fund of in.
ternal improvement were loaned to the
michigan state bank, at the rate of six per
cent, being the best offer received by the
b ,ard.
The bank executed bond with sureties
for the money; which bond was approved
by the auditor general, and all the moneys
belonging TO the state were by the arrange.
ment TO remain on interest until actually
drawn from the bank.
The board shortly after its organization
purchased Of the late Detroit and st. Joseph
railroad company, all their chartered rights,
privileges and franchises, according 10 the
directions contained in the second sec.
ton of the "Act to provide for the con.
struction Of certain works Of internal i'm.
proyemont, and for other purposes" This
purchase included The located route Of said
road from the city of Detroit to the mouth
of Honey Creek in the county Of Washte.
nav.
The accounts and vouchers of the com.
pany, made out and presented. in the man.
ner required by law, were examined and
found to be correct, and the amount paid
to the president and directors of the compa.
ny, and they executed an assignment of all
their chartered rights and privileges by a
deed of conveyance drawn under the direc.
ton Of the attorney general.
The board also adopted certain rules and
regulations for their own government,
and assigned to the acting commissioners
their several duties in relation to the sur
veys to be made, and the work to be con-
structed during the season.
Tie survey of the southern railroad, the
Havre branch railroad and the st. Joseph
river, was assigned to Levi s. Humphrey.
The construction of the central railroad
from this city TO Ypsanti, and the survey
of the residue Of the central railroad, and
of the Kalamazoo aud Grand Rivers, to d.
G. McKinstry, and the survey of the canal
and railroad route from Mount Clemens to
the mouth of the Kalamazoo river, the sur
vey of the northern railroad, and of the
canal connecting the navigable waters of
the Saginaw and Maple rivers, to James B..
Hunt.
Each Of the acting commissioners gave
tail according to law, and directly after
the adjournment of the board, enter
ed upon the discharge of their respective
duties.
The board also appointed the following
chief engineers Joseph S. Dutton on the
southern road, Jarvis Hurd on the canal
and railroad route, and Tracy McCracken
on the northern road, each with salary
of So 900.
On the central road John M. Berrien
had been employed by the Detroit and
st. Soseph railroad company, at a salary
of So 900, and his term of service did not
expire until the eighth day Of November
last.
BY the act, the state was obliged to fulfill
all the contracts entered into by the compa.
ny, and Mr.. Berrien was retained and paid
accordingly. Assistant engineers were al
SO appointed on each of the routes, with
salaries Of 81 500 each, on the central rail.
road there were four such assistants, two
employed on the surveys, and two as resi-.
den; engineers on the work under construc.
ton.
In the organization of the department
of the auditor Of the board, much care has
been taken to establish such system as
should not only be simple in its operat on,
but secure the most perfect accountability
Of the officers of the board and the agents
employed.
Accounts are opened with the internal
improvement fund, with the acting commits.
sioners, with the several canal and railroad
routes, according the appropriations made
by the legislature, as well as with the seve-
raj branches Of expenditure upon each work
such as engineering. grading, superstructure
&c.