The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-02-15
An Act TO Provide for the Drainage and re-
elimination Of swamp Lands by means OF
State Roads aud Diich<k.

Whereas. The act of Congress, of September
2s.h. 1850 granting 10 this State certain lands
known as swamp lands, requires said lands or the
proceeds thereof 70 be applied, so tar a necessa-
nv, TO the purpose Of reclaiming sand lanes:
And uher,as In the opinion OF the Lesisla-
tnre, one Of the most ,tfci-n- means OF eii-ctihS
that end il the construction Of roads with prop
er bitches and drains through the mDre unset
tied parts OF the State, where snch lands are
chiefly situated; therefore,
section |. The Peoj lie Of the State Of Mich
;on,, enact. That there shall be laid out and es-
,ahlished be commits sioners In be appointed hy
I'll. Governor, By and with the advice aud con-
sent Of :he Senate, upon the most direct anu N
,ible routes between the places hereinafter des''
Ist.d, the following State road:
A road from or near Iona, in Iona county,
~ HougntOn Lake, ia. lie county oil ho'c0mDou,
~ oiI Tv.t Mauhnaw, on the Straits OF Mach
nav, known as the Iona, Houghicn Lake and
Mackiuaw State road.
.. i road from the south line of Newavgo
county through Sewaygo in the county OF New
ayCo to NorthpOrt. To- toe known as tie Neway
go and NOrthport State road.
3. A road from Port Huron, in the county of
ST. Clair, to Bay City, via Vassar; thence west
wardly 10 the meridian township line bet~
ranges two and three wes,; thence southerly by
wav of 81. Johns, Clinton county, 10 the Derl1-
an township line between ranges Two and three
west; thence sou,hery 20 Lansing, in lnghsm
county, TO be known Is the Port Huron, Bay
City and Lansing State road.
4. A road from Gas: Saginaw, ~ inc county
Of Saginaw, to lay City, in Bay county, aud
thence, via Ottawa Bay, TO the river Sable, 10 he
known as the East Saginaw and Sable State road
s. A road from Lexington, in Sanilac county
westwardy 10 the Flint rivcr, in the county Of
Lapeer.
6. A road from ST. Nary's Falls to the Straits
Of Mackinaw, 10 be known a. the ~. Mays nv
er and Mackinsw State road.
= road from the village of Ontonagon,
southery to the State line, to be known az the
Ontonagon and State Line road,
s. A road from Marquette, on Lake Superior,
to Little Bay De Noe, or Nocque,t, TO be
known ~ the Marquette and Bay De Noe State
road
.. \ road from HOughton village ~ way IL
Anse Bay, to the Wisconsin State line, To be
known "a the LAnse Bay and State line State
road
IL. A road from Alegan by way of Holland
Ferrysburg Muskegon and Cartoons Mills, and
thence north through the couaties of Oceans
Masou, Manistee and Grand Traverse Bay, 10 be
called the Alegan, Nu-keeon and Traverse Bay
State road.
Sec. ,. For the purpose of laying out and es
tab!ishing State roads, and occurring the right
on way for the same, the commissioners appoint
I'd in pursuance o. this act shal. have power 10
survey or cause Ia be surveyed The respective
routes Of said roads (which shall he not less than
four or more than six rods wide, across any OF
the public lands, the lands Of this State OF any
private person; aud for the location, LAYING out
take of the Gse 8ida e .a aGF H39n Wing ins
within the boundaries Of the road. and rot in any
incorporated city or village: Prori1eG, That
when it shall be necessary, in constructing such
roads to take TIE land ot auy private pc son or
owner, the commissioner. shall proc Ell a. FOL
lows: They shall proceed TO view the endS 80 to
be taken, and give the owner Or occupant such
notice as they NAY deem reasonable, Ia be pres
ent ut the view, and maze such showing a. he
may desire, touching title, and the amount OF
dana es 10 be sustained by such taking; and
having taken such view, the commissioners snail
thereupon estimate the amount OF such damages.
t any, and make and sign certificate OF their
finding. describing the lands in question, and
cause the same to be filed in the Office OF th,.
State Treasurer; and in case the same shall be
approved by the board mentioned in the third
section Of this act, such damages shall he PAD
out of any moneys in the State Treasury that
shall at any time after the passage OF this act,
accrue from the sales of the swamp lands; and
upon such payment or the tender thereof, or Of
the auditors warrant OF the State Treasurer for
the amount Of such damages 10 the owner, hs
agent or TO the occupant rhe land may be taken
entered upO. end used for the purposes OF such
road. Blu, in case said board shall dsapprove
such estimate or finding the commissioners shall
re-esrmate the damages in the manner ar1 TO
the effect aforesaid
Sec. 3. There shall be appointed in the man
ner hereIDpe!ore provided, three commissioners
for each of the aforesaid roads, and the commits
sioners at their first meeting, 10 he hs,i At
place ON the line of the respective roads 10 o.
designated bs the Governor shall be by lot to
be drawn by themselves, divided into three class
Is; those of the first class sha hold office for one
year, those of the second class twc yesrs. and
those of the thhd class three wears: and that
thereafter commissioner for each of said
roads shall be appointed in each yesr. whose
term OF office shall be three Years, unless such |
road shall sooner be completed, and until his sue
cessor shall he appointed and qualified. unless
sooner removed bv the Governor in which case 4
another shall be appointed IN his stead: and the /
Governor shall have the unconditional power OF
removal, and all Vacancies shall be .iled by sp-
pointment of the Governor. The Governor. the .
Secretary O. State :he Auditor General State
Treasurer, Attorney General and the Commi--
sioner of the State Land Otice shall. Is a board
have power, and it shall be their duty, whanev-
er in their judgment the public interests shall re-
luIre II, to suspend the SURVEYS or operations on
any Of said routes and To direct re SURVEYS with
view To the selection Of more AZ and ,cnv.n-
ent localities for the road; and to direct from
line TO time, what works snail be commenced.
or Discontinued, and This provision
hall be embodied in every contract under this
Ict i
Sec. 4. Immediately after being notified Of
heir appointment il shall be the duty of the
commissioners for each of said roads to meet al
he time and place designated. as provided in
ecton three of this act, and take and subscribe
he oath OF ofscs prescribed by the constitution
nd laws Of this State, which oath OF Office. TO-
ether with an Official bond ID the sum of FIVE
iousand dollars each, with good and 81 scien.
lreties. 10 be approved by the board, and con-
itiOned for the faithful performance OF their iu-
es respectively, shall be fled in the Office of
re Secretary of State, whereupon the said com :
issloners may enter upon their duties Is pre-
ribbed by this act.
Sec. 5. To secure the construction Of the
'ads Aforesaid, there shall be and is hereby ap-
ropristed of the money hereafter 20 accrue
ON the sale of the swamp lands, an average q
mount per nile on each of said roads not ey-
.eding the value OF six hundred and forty acres
said lands. at the minimum price fixed by the
ws OF this State: Proridei That not more than Y
ur hundred thousand acres of said swamp lands