Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-03-29
VERMONT PHOENIX.
sPuBLrsHED EVERY FRIDAY MORNING, by
WIN. Il. RYTHER.
LETTERS FROM TIE WEST.
HOWELL, LIv. Co. MIcmoAs, !

lgnn, more Wltn fPGtTu 10 nef in-
habitants her system of education, of internal
improvements and other subjects connected
Herewith. Ard in the first place, that you
may realize sbmething of the rapidity with
81 which the settlement of the garden of Ameri-
ca--the great west, is progressing, will give
you the population Of this state at different Pc
4 RODS. The first settlement Of Michigan, was
commenced about the year 1920, by the French
at Detroit, but il was nothing more than sort
of Military trading post for number of years,
and no census of the population was taken un-
Ill 1910. The number Of inhabitants at that
period was 4,52S of which only l,5i7, were
females. In 1920, il had increased TO 9,04S.-
3 In 1890, TO 3253S. In 1884, 10 S7,27S, and in
&ls37, to $4,000. At the present time there
Meannot be less than 100000 inhabitants in the
state. Whether, within few years past, The
population of Michigan has increased more
rapidly than that Of the other western states,
/ have not at hand the means of determining.
j notice however, from statistics OF the public
~ land sales 10 49, that there was nearly l,000,-
POGO acres more taken in this state than any
other in the Union the amount being 1885,
1923 acres
As is the case with all the western states,
the people are of different nations. II was first
settled by the French, and there are probably
M IL 900 Of that nation in the state, mostly in and
" about Detroit and Monroe. The other foreign
ers are nearly all German, Scotch, and lrish.-
q But the greater portion estimated by good
"A judges at two-thirds Of the entire white popu-
n lation-are from New England and western
New York-a large share from the latter, so
you will observe, that. iBasmuch as the enter
prisng and hardy sons Of New England were
the pioneers in the settlement of the eastern
part of the state of New York, we may safely
claim, that a majority ofthe people even Of this
state, are justly entitled to the proud and hon
orabie name of Yankees. That they are 10
IL .l..t 81 81
Ofthis fact, find The people of the state are
Justly proud. aud there can be no doubt,
think, that in this particular, as in many Others
Michigan is much TO be preferred to any of the
other western states true, the state Of society
is yet far different from that at the east. The
social and friendly ties growing out OF long ac
quaintance, aud the exercise of the kinder feel
ings of our natures, which there so strongly
unites communities together, and exerts such
an influence upon society, Is YET, as it were,
unfelt here. Ii must be, however soon, aud il
can hardly fail of producing desirable result,
society must be moulded agreeable 10 the
tastes of the majority, and that majority you
may rest assured, are too proud oil their dnces-
try TO admit of any material innovations. Not
so with some of the other states. A much
greater proportion of the population being for
eign, frequently-the refuse oil Europern cities (;
they bring with them habits and vices that are
any thing but desirable (; and besides. the ma
tive population has emanated more from the
scion which was planted at Jamestown, than
from that which was planted upon the seabea-
ten rock of Plymouth. The ccarasr | need
not pont out. To prove that the people Of
Michigan are what have represented them,
and that they not surpassed by any people
in public spirit, need bul to refer you To the
noble plan of public instruction, and the stu
pendous project OF internal improvements: both
brought forth during the very first year OF their
political existence as a sovereign state, Tor II
must be admitted, that, although the state has
been. thus far, under the control Of the Lucofo-
cos-and Notwithstanding some very serious
blunders have been committed, yet, many ex-
celenl laws have been passed, The outlines
of the plan of education are as follows
In the first place, Uicie Sam gave TO the
state 70 sections of land, (each OF GAO acres)
for the support of Stale University the
lands were selected, and are worth upon an
average $40 per acre, which is the minimum
price at which they are sold. AT this price they
will establish permanent fund Of 1921 900
the annual interest of which is TO be appropr
ated for the support Of the University. Ten
branches of the institution have already been
established The parent institution is located
at Ann Arbor, aud will probably go into opera
ton the present year; il is to consist OF
departments, viz: Of Literature, science and
the arts; Of Law; of Medicine, and o.
Agriculture, and il is TO be open toall resident:
of the state without charge of tuition.
The primary school fund however, and the
law regulating the same, is Of far the most con
sequence--for this affects The great mass o
community. The same liberal Uncle before
spoken Of, (,rho you know has plenty Of lana
and lrh0 seems to be quite partial to ms young
heirs has given one section of land In each
township TO the state, 70 the support ofschools
This amounts to more than 100000 of acres
and will probably establish fund of 70,
100000. The interest of which together will
an equal amount raised by tax, is 10 go for the
support of common schools This will carry thS
means of education TO every child within thu
state.
The University and school lands are unde
the supervision Of the superintendent OF pub
lie Instruction. who is appointed by the Gov
by and with the advice and consent Off leg
islature for two years, and who is required I,
report annually, TO the legislature. Each towI
chooses, annually, three school Inspectors,
t, whose duty il is 10 examine teachers, dehn
the boundaries Of school districts, &c. Eacl
district is required TO report annually, the tim
a school has been kept, and the number 0
scholars in the district, and 10 have schoo
at least months or forfeit its amount Of mo
ney arising from the interest OF the school iund
With regard TO our system OF internal I'M
provements, perceive that have only room
10 notice briefly, few Of its most importan
features; suffice il therefore TO say, that IN
state has commenced The construction OF IRON
GOO 10 800 miles Of Railroad and Canal
rhraa n silroadc and 1 ia al fhrouO oh the state