Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-01-06
upon mail contract ss,oos 24-ss, 1888 So
$85.000 O0

vas paid into the Treasury. Independent of
the expenditures from the earnings of the road,
there was paid for construction, in land war
rants, under an act of appropriation, the sum of
xSl,OO8 O9,and outstanding bonds fer iron, to
The amount of Sis, 500 Is, were discharged by
means received from the sale of the road.
The nett earnings of the Southern Railroad,
during the year, have been s32, l72 .35. OF this
sum sBl2, 1856 have been paid into the Treasury.
The expenditures for construction, not dschar-
ged from the earnings of the road, amount to
O., 1921 ,S8.
Under appropriations of SIS, and 1916. there
has been expended on the Clinton and Kalama-
ZOO Canal, in land warrants, the sum of S6, $780,
GO. The portion of the Canal between Mt.
Clemens and Utica, has been in use since the
first of November last. 1t is estimated that an
expenditure of B., 600 will be put in good navi-
gable order to Rochester.
There has also been expended during the year
in improving the navigation of st. Joseph river
the sum of $4,367,S6.
The sale of the two principal works of In
ternal Improvement, will produce an impor-
tant changein state affairs. Its effect is to re-
lieve the state government from the construc-
ton of rail roads, and the management of car
rying business upon them. 1t renders the bus
mess of the different departments less compli-
catod, and prevents most frightful source of
expensive legislation. 1t precludes the employ
ment and Supervision of numerous agents, ar
tizans, and workmen, and simplifas the whole
operations of government. 1t discharges state
Indebtedness, to the amount of two millions five
hundred thousand dollars, Yields large annu-
al revenue, and by heavy expenditures among
or citizens, in prosecuting the work to com
pletlon, secures the benefit of most important
chain of communication.
1t is not my purpose here to discuss the prop
rlety or expediency of the Legislation by which
these results are produced. Time must test
the wisdom of the measure. No important
change in public policy, has, however, been de-
rnanded with more urgency, or sanction
ed with more hearty approval by the people.
The more We contemplate the genius and de-
sign of republican government, the more,
think, We shall be led to deprecate the policy,
few years since SO rife, of bringing within its
care and supervision, subjects foreign to its
real design. The responsibilities, profits and
hazards of private business, should be left to in
divilual enterprise. To avoid being governed
too much, is one of the objects of a representa-
tive form of government, and to secure the good
Of community in this regard, all authority in
m,tters not Immediately connected with the
public veal, and indispensable to the welfare of
the body polite, should be withheld. 1t is a.
mong the encouraging signs of the present time
that the public mind is demanding a more def
mite limitation to the powers and duties of gov
eminent, and REIMBURSEMENT of all unneces-
sary interference with the free action of the in
diyidual citizen.
In closing up the business pertaining to the
works thus disposed oil, and in mainta'ng charge
of the canal and other works of improvement.
upon which appropriations have been made, it
will be necessary to retain the organization of
q board of internal improvement. With the ex-
piration of the term of the present Acting Com
missioner in April next, it is believed that Of
fit NAV be abolished, and the duties be devol-
we'd, without expense on some of the State Off
GERS.
The change contemplated by the sale of the
railroads, by no means implies REIMBURSEMENT
of the advantages OF this kind ofintercommun-
ication throughout the State. The develope-
ment of the resources of the commonwealth, its
abundant products, its mineral wealth, and the
business relations of an Industrious and increas-
ing population, will secure these advantages to
the different portions of our territory. Under
charters properly guarded in their provisions, a
y oftable Investment of capital will be found in
the construction of roads required for the bust
ness of the country. The total amount of money
distributed among the several townships during
the year, for the support of primary schools, is
S37,925 ~, being thirty one cents to every
child between the ages of four and eighteen
wears, and exceeding the amount of last years
distribution by the sum of $5,Sl2 u. The
number of scholars in the State, between the
ages last mentioned, is reported at 1885,
The whole number of children that have at
tended the common schools during the year, is
77,sO7. This number is greater by 7,O47 than
dufing the preceding year. The number of vol
ulnes In the township libraries in the State, are
according to the returns, 36,99S
The laws on the subject of common schools
il is believed, are such, when faithfully execu-
ted. as generally to secure. In manner highly
satisfactory, the great interests of education.
= The chief obstacles to the realization of AL
the benefits of our noble school system, are
found in the want OF punctual attendance on the
part o. scholars,and deficiency in the quaiica-
lions of teachers. To correct the former rests
principally with parents and guardians. The
litter is an evil deplorable in its consequences,
and difficult of correction. Voluntarily associ-
Htions of teachers for mutual instruction, have
given an earnest of much Improvement in this
respect. In several of the States, Normal
schools, havipg for their object the qualification
Of instructors for the great work of education,
have been fostered by by private munificencc,
and Legislative aid, and have been attended with
the most beneficial results.
Teaching, itself an art, is properly made the
subject of instruction. The mission of the
teacher demands high qualifications. As the
object of his profession is of the greatest impor-
sancc, so his employment should be considered
most honorable, and his efforts be seconded BY
every friend of the rising generation. 1t i;
difficult to say what method, if any, of public
character, should be adopted to raise the STAN
darJ Of excellence in this important department,
bui cannot refrain from recommending it TO
TO your consideration as a subject in which
the interests ofthe people are deeply involved.
The number of students in the University of
Michigan is 10. The Faculty consists of sew
en- Professors. BY the assiduous labors of all
connected with the several Departments of In