The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-01-12

395 12;. the whole amount raised
by tax upon property in the districts was
$3l6,558 26 the number Of volumes in
the township libraries was one hundred
and sixty-eight thousand nine hundred
and seventy. seven. These figures are the
evidence of great public spirit in the
right direction, in a good cause.
| refer you to the report of the Com
missioner of the Land Office for detail
ed account of the business of his depart
mont. The number of acres of Swamp
Land sold the past year has been ninety
seven thousand six hundred and twenty,
and brought 1922, 2,287-of which $67,-
511 73 have been received in cash. The
preference given TO the actual settler has
worked adyantageously aud satisfactorily,
and new settlers are constantly seeking
homes upon these lands, many of which
are valuable.
The reports of the State Prison In
spectors of the last as well as the pres
ent year, contain many valuable sugges-
tions, to which l invite your examination.
AS the State grows older, with the steady
increase Of population, the administration
Of justice has become more perfect, and
the punishment of crime much more GER
tain than formerly. The increase of con
victs his created a demand for increased
appropriations and expenditures to pro-
vide them with cells and shop room for
their labor.
The appropriations for that purpose
for the last two years were S32, 900, which
has been faithfully and judiciously ex-
pended.
1t will be perceived that the whole
number of convicts on the 30th of No
vember last was 473, and that the increase
during the last year has been 62. The
whole number confined since the estab-
lishment of the Prison is ,52l, Of which
567, or more than one-third of the whole,
were from the county of Wayne.
The jail of Detroit is the common re-
ceptacle Of those that arc convicted of
petty offences, those that are charged
with crime, as well as tho more hardened
criminal. Not unfrequently, seventy or
eighty of all ages and conditions, and
degrees of moral turpitude, are huddled
together, and it is thus made the prepar-
ot0ry school for the State Prison.
Society is much better employed in
preUenting crime than in furnishing it;
and respectfully suggest that the es-
tablishment of a penitcntiary, or work
house in Detroit, where its inmates would
find employment, and be preserved from
contamination, would do much TO prevent
the rapid increase of the inmates of the
State Prison, and save us the necessity of
building a new one in few years.
The general depression in business has
lessened to a considerable extent the earn
ings of the convicts; quite number hav-
ing been out of employ; but the price
obtained for the labor of those contract
ed, has been considerably enhanced with
in the last four years, and the discipline
of the Prison perceptibly improved
When the buildings are complete, with
proper management and economy, | think
it should cease to be a burden on the
Treasury.
Accompanying this message, in sep
arate document, is list of the pardons
l have granted the past year, with the
reason therefor annexed AS the num-
Der of prisoners increases, the application
for Executive clemency becomes more
frequent, and considerable portion of the
time of the Governor is now required in
the investigation of these appeals for
mercy.
/ have endeavored to give them all
patient and candid hearing, and although
l deemed it my duty 10 reject large por-
tion of the applications, yet you will per-
ceiye that the number of pardons grant
cd is much larger than in any former
year.
In most cases the pardon has been rec
commended by the Judge and prosecuting
officer who convicted them. In all cases
1 have required certificate of good con-
duct in prison, and where any habits of
intemperance had been acquired previous
to conviction, l have made it condition
of the pardon that the recipient shall to-
tally abstain from the use of intoxicating
drinks.
From information that has reached me,
have reason to believe that most OF
those in whose behalf / have interfered,
are engaged in an earnest endeayor to
prove themselves worthy Of the clemency
they have received.
The Legislature Of 1855, made proyis-
ion for the establishment Of House of
Correction for Juvenile Offenders, and on