The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-01-10

quence of injuries to the workshops by
fire, which recommend you to provide
for the payment of. -.
There were confined in the School,
on the 10Th of November last, one hum
dred and thirty-seven persons. The
ordinary expenses of the School for the
past year have been SIG, 6,445.60; and
the whole amount appropriated by law
for building, since and including 1853;
when the first appropriation was made
is $52. 900. fs..af. evoa 80
THE AGRiCULTURAL CoLLRGE. r5
Tie Agricultural College has been 4
source of great anxiety to the State
government, and a serious burden to
the Treasury, ever since the commence
ment Of its construction in 1857. The
Salt Spring Lands, or their proceeds;
had been previously devoted to its es-
tablishment, and in that year an appro:;
priation was made from the general
fund, of SAC, 900, and in 1859, further
appropriation was made of $37, 500, In
all S77,500. It. was founded, as de-
clared by the law, to furnish instruc-
tion in agriculture, and the natural sci,
ences connected therewith," and was
put under the control of the Board of
Education. 1t has never seemed to be
entirely free from embarrassments, id
one way or another Perhaps we
ought not to be surprised at this. tits
an experiment, to a great extent, ard
safe precedents for its conduct are want;
ing. -
1t onght to be confined strictly to
the object of its organization, and must
not be a rival to the State University id
any respect; but it should teach far
more thoroughly and extensively the
sciences that relate to agriculture than
any ordinary College. Men who have
given their lives to these sciences ought
to be employed in it. In accordance
with the opinion of the Board of Ed
ucation, recommend you to Commit
the future care of this College to d
State Board of Agriculture, FIVE in mum:
ber, to be appointed as may seem I'd
your judgment best. The expenses for
the year 1860 have been $l3,l3 rs.
The Board ask an appropriation of
S25 ,000-$l5,0 900 to pay salaries for
two years, and the remainder for build
ings, tools and the like. Most of it
seems indispensable if the institution ID
to go on, and / therefore recommend
that the appropriation be made, or sd
much of it as you think essential. 81,
STATE PRISON.
l refer you to the reports OF the
Board of Inspectors and Agent. fof
particulars concerning the condition
and finances of the State Prison. at
Jackson. 1t will give you pleasure to
learn that, for the past year, that insti-
tuition has shown its ability to support
itself; and there seems no reason TO
doubt that it will continue to do so in
the future. The expenses for the past
year have been S47,6s4.5O; the earn
ings for the same time $5l ,53s 26=
showing balance of earnings over ex-
penses of $3,854 rs. The number Of
convicts now in the Prison is 62if
being an increase over last year Of s6.
How long this ratio of increase will
continue it is impossible to say. but II
is greatly to be hoped that we have
reached nearly the eliminating point. !,
The rapid increase in the number Of
convicts since 1852 has compelled the
State to be constantly increasing the
capacity of the Prison, to contain ahd
work them. The Inspectors state that
the present capacity of the prison, will
give them brt about sixty-two vacant
cells, as a provision for future increase
Of convicts, and there is lack of shop
room. They ask in consequence, an
appropriation of $4,000, for the pur.
pose of building "L I" and two tsefS Of
cells, and for expense of moving east
wall, and building workshops. The
moving Of the east wall, and the builds
ing of workshops, is no doubt indispen-
sable; but / have great hopes that the
building of the 81" and two tiers of
cells, may be safely left for some other
occasion. l think building commits.
sioner is no longer needed, and the of
fee had better be abolished: aB6e
DETROIT HOUSE OF c8kkEcr1oN.
call your attention to.the 6Ist sub.
division of section 21 of the Act to re-
wise the Charter of the city of Detroit,
being Act No. SIS, of the laws of 1851,
by which it is provided, "that any
Court of competent jurisdiction of the
State of Michigan, may in its discre-
tiou, commit any male under sixtsentor
female under fourteen years of age, to
any workhouse or house of correction
in that city, instead of the State Prison,
who shall be convicted Of any crime,
now or hereafter punishable by impriss
onment in the State Prison." 1t is
also provided, that all expenses attend
ing the confinement of such convicts,
shall be paid by the State Treasurer
quarter yearly, on the certificate Of the
City Controller that sticf expenses hare
been actually incurred. You will oh.
serve that the State, while it is to pay
these expenses; has no voice Whatever
in determining what they shall be.
Perhaps this statue might be advan.
tageously amended, 30 As 10 allow per.
sonsSof any age, convicted in the soun.
ty of Wayne, and sentenced for short
terms, to be confined in the Work
IIo,oo--xr H. N.xv or noxx1.k ,.v>..