The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-01-15

of tho bounty, lndlVluuals ana companies eiu
barked in the enterprise, and over one hund
red thousand dollars have been already in
vested at Saginaw and Grand Rapids, in this
business. Eight wells have been sunk upor
the Saginaw River, and five at Grand Rapids
and quality Of water has been found which
for strength and purity is unsurpassed in the
United States. Whether the quantity will
hold out sufficient to insure ultimate success
time alone can determine, but from present
indications it is inexhaustible. -Four thou
sand fivo hundred barrels of salt, ofthe pures'
quality, have already been manufactured by
ono company at East Saginaw, aud two hun.
dred and thirty barrels at Grand Rapids, and
it is confidently believed that at no distant day
the salt manufactured from the saline waters
of Michigan will be sufficient to supply not
only our own State, but also the States OF IL
linois. Wisconsin and Iowa.
Salt is an article that enters into the gen.
eral consumption Of all classes, and cannot be
dipsenscd with. 1t is estimated that twenty.
six millions Of bushels were consumed in the
| United States in 1859, twelve millions oi
which were imported from foreign countries.
| One bushe Of salt per annum to person is
fair estimate of the quantity consumed by
our people, aud this quantity at thirty cents
per bushel, (which is below the average price,
amounted during the past year to two hun
dred and twenty-five thousand dollars, every
cent of which was draft upon the material
wealth of Mich isan and went to enrich other
States. In my judgement it is far better for
our people to encourage the Eome manufac-
ture of salt, than to annually pay to other
States quarter of million Of dollars for this
article alone and allow our saline springs to
remain undevelopcd. The Legislature of 80
took broad aud comprehensive view of the
sui ject, and the result has shown the wisdom
of their policy. In my opinion this law
ought not to lie rpeaed, at least for a series
OF years, and not then without first making
ample provisions for those who may have
made investments in good faith under the
law. Our citizens have invested their capi.
tai in an uncertain enterprise, relying upon
the good faith and honor Of the State for the
payment Of the bounty, and now to repeal
the law as success is about to crown their eff
forts, would be both impoltic and unjust
If these citizens had failed in their antcipa.
tions, they should have had no just claims on
The treasury, and their success ought not to
lessen the obligation of tho State to make
good the law.
EMIGRATION.
The Legislature of 1859, by Joint rcsolu-
ton, authorized me to appoint Commission
er for tho purpose Of encouraging emigration
to our State and placed at my disposal a sum
Of money not excee1ing twenty-five hundred
dollars in any one year, towards defsaying the
expenses of such commission. This sum was
not sufficient to warrant the sending Of an
agent to Europe. For the purpose of making
the fund most available for the accomplish
mcnt Of the object Of the resolution, | con.
cIudcd it was better to appoint two Commits
sioners; one TO reside in the City of Now
York, and the otter in Detroit; for it was an
Object to induce the cmigran! into our State,
it was equally an object to see that he re.
mained, which could best be accomplished
by having one Of the mmissioners located
at Detroit l therefore appointed Rudolph
Dicpenbeck, Esq, Commissioner to reside
in the City of New York, at salary Of fif-
teen hundred dollars per annum, and George
F. Vcen Fliet, Esq, Commissioner to re-
side in the City of Detroit, at n salary Of sew.
en- hundred dollars per annum, both of whom
are gentlemen of the highest character, and
are equally familiar with the German, French
and English languages; and take pleasure in
bearing testimony to the fidelity with which
they have discharged tho duties of their
office.
Mr.. Diepenbeck was directed to forward
tho cmigrants to Mr.. Veen Feit, at Detroit,
but in no case to send one who was not ap.
pareutly industrious, and Of temperate habits;
and to keep record showing the names, age,
nativity and value Of property of each emf
grant, that we might tho better be prepared
to jud. Of the policy Of continuing the sys.
TEN. From Mr.. Diepenbock's report to mo,
it appears that fifteen hundred German emf.
grants have been induced, through the agen
cy Of this commission, to settle in our State,
and that the aggregate amount Of cash cap.
tai brought with them, was one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars. The expense attend.
ing the commission of emigration, in the pay.
ment of salaries printing DC, for tie year
1859, amounted to two thousand and twenty.
five dollars; and during the year 1850, to
two thousand seven hundred and ninety five
dollars and forty cents. have filed in the
office Of the Secretary Of State, my vouchers
for the above expenditure.
The policy Of continuing the office of Com
missioner OF Emigration" is well worthy your
consideration; but 10 make it thoroughly ef
ftctua, larger sum should be placed at the
disposal of the Governor. than that provided
for by the resolution of 1859.
Many Of the Western States have long since
adopted the policy of sending Commissioner
directly to Europe, and one thus located wo'd
have very great advantage over one in the
city Of New York, from the fact that the en-.
igrant particularly the Germany makes up
his mind as to his future place Of residence
before leaving home. In my judgment the
Office should be continued, and a sum should
be appropriated sufficiently largo to warrant
the sending Of an agent directly to Europe.
We have vast tracts Of uncultivated land now
open to the cmigrant and inviting settle ncn,,
fully equal in fertility Of soil TO tho cultivated
portions Of our State, and all that is wanting
TO bring it into settlement, is a knowledge on
the part Of the emigrant, of our grea. natural
resources, and the advantage that Michigan
posses over her sister States farther West.
GRATIoT RELIEF FUND.
At the opening Of the Legislature of 1850