The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-01-15

: are due the several counties on account
, of taxes remitted by the State on lands
belonging to the Canal Company, ex
, rept such sums as may be required tt
pay the current expenses of the canal
, and also the interest accruing upon tht
canal loans guaranteed by the State
1t is very desirable, as soon as possible
\ 10 reduce the tolls so az merely to b,
! sufficient to pay the current expenses
and keep the canal in repair. Til,
: was no doubt tie intention of Congress
. in making the grant of land for its con
, struction. Already nearly twenty mil
lions in value of property, pass through
this canal yearly, and the amount can
, not fail to increase rapidly for years tc
. come.
; The immense amount of mineral
ores, both of iron and copper, to be
found in the Upper Peninsula will con.
Time more and more to attract labo,
: and capital to that region, increasing
wonderfully IFS wealth and produc
lions. The canal is its most natural
and cheapest outlet.
The superintendent has submitted
in his annual report, n variety of facts
intended to show that the present rates
of toll operate unjustly upon steam yes
sells, and he argues that the tolls upon
such ought to be reduced. His prin-
cipal arguments are, first, that it is
much more expensive running steam
than sail vessels; and second, that sail
vessels carry tonnage much larger
in feet than at which they are rated,
while steamers carry, necessarily, very
much less. Whether there is any such
inequality as to require legislation t"
correct, / recommend you to inquire,
and, also, whether general reduction
of the tolls may not properly be made
at this time.
The Legislature of 1857 passed can
Act to provide for the Improvement of
Navigation on the sand flats of the
Muskegon River" and appropriated
for that purpose " fifty thousand dol.
lars, to he paid from the internal i'm
provement fund of this State" In
pursuance of this act, a contract was
made with Hon. John A. Brooks, and
the work completed and accepted by
my predecessor. The internal i'm
rrovement fund was exhausted at the
lime Of the passage of the law. There
was nothing to appropriate from it.
and therefore the contractor got moth
ing for his work. The contract was
assigned by Mr. Brooks TO one VIM.
Beard, WHO in good faith, it appears,
expended considerable sums of none,
in the completion of the work. Mr..
Beard came before the last Legislature
with his claim, and the action taken
upon it is contained In Joint Resulu-
lion. No. II, approved March 9ih, 81.
The joint resolution, after rrciiing III.
main facts affecting the claim, take.
he ground that the contract with Mr.
! Brooks was illegal and void, he hav
ing been at the time q member of tht
> Legislature that passed the act; but
. in consideration of the valne of the
work. and the good faith of Mr.. Beaid d
/ the claim was referred to the Board ot
State Auditors for adjustment, and the
amount found equitably due was di
, rected to he paid in swamp lands al
the minimum price per acre, upon the
| claimant filing with the Board his re
, cpipt in full. This settlement Mr.
, Beard has declined TO accept, and
! am advised that the claim will be agaii
presented at this session. 1t is very
| certain that the Legislature of lS5
never intended to pay for that improve
/ men. in cash They were led / think
to believe that there were some intern
: al Improvement lands still unsold
/, which might he made available for thi.
i purpose, to some extent, and capital
lists in that quarter would furnish tn,
t remainder necessary to do the work
j. They were willing to encourage tn.
> Improvement to the amount that nigh
e remain unexpended of the fund, but ne
e further. | can only counsel that thi,
claim, if presented, should be very
;, thoroughly examined. Strict justice
: shonld be done, and the rights of thu
i people, as well as OF the claimant
: carefully guarded.
$ The acts of successive Legislatures
d levotinC the swamp lands to their owl
reclamation and Improvement by
n of State roads and bitches, may now
% he considered rs having established ,
g definite policy upon that subject. Th,
:, settlement and improvement of the cen
l. trail and northern portions of the Stat,
II have been greatly accelerated by ii
l. The system has now only began t.
,l show the benefits which will be reape'
from the completion of some of tn
IF main lines of road. 1t would hav
e been more wise. I believe, if the legis
IT lature had confined the expenditure
J. mainly to these lines, instead Of allow
is ing so many roads of mere neighhoi
Is hood Importance; and ] hope that
l. therefore this error may be avoided
e Many roads have been authorized
4, which it is of no present importanc
1T to build and seeming with no vie'
le except 10 give TO each section its shar
IN of the lands. We need he in no hui
,r ry to be rid of these lands. They al
IS steadily growing in value, and thos
of that seem nearly worthless now vii
ne in few years, command fair price
ie 1t is one of the evils of new countr
that the people undervalue the low
b. wet land and the timber. The W.
of has retarded the work upon the roat
re this year very much, but a good de
MS has still been done and is now in pr