East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-01-13
The Governors Message.

The Governors Message,
Is fair and businesslike review of
State affairs, to which he of course tails
on his own peculiarly radical ideas in
regard to national matters. Not having
space for the whole, we give only
those portions of particular interest to
readers here:
SWAMP LANES AND ROADS.
The acts Of successive Legislatures
devoting the swamp lands to their own
reclamation and improvement by means
of State roads and bitches, NAV now be
considered as having established def.
mite policy upon that subject. There
can be no question that the settlement
and Improvement Of the central and
northern portions of the State have been
greatly accelerated by it. The system
has now only begun to show the bene.
fits which will be reapcd from the com
pletion Of some of the main lines of
road. 1t would have been more wise
l believe, if the Legislature had confn.
ed the expenditures mainly to these
lines, instead Of allowing so many roads
Of mere ncighborhood Importance, and
hope that hereafter this error NAV be
avoided. Many roads have been au.
thorized which it is of no present i'm.
portance to build, and seemingly with
no view except to give to each section
It's share of the lands. We need be in
no hurry to be rid of these lands. They
are steadily growing in value, and those
that seem nearly worthless now, will in
few years command a fair price. 1t
10 one Of the evils of new country that
the people undervalue the low, wet
lands and the timber. The war has re.
tardcd the work upon the roads this
year very much, but good deal has
still been done and is now in progress
The sales OF swamp lands for cash have
fallen Oft to small amount, being only
$5,ls3 80 for tho year, owing to the
large amount thrown upon the market
at lower rates by tho road contractors.
SALT MANUFACTURES.
The manufacture of salt has become
large, permanent, and rapidly incrcas-
ing business in this State. The saline
waters are abundant, and of excellent
strength aud quality, aud there is every
reason to believe that they will be found
throughout a very extended territory.
A large amount Of capital is already
employed in the manufacture, and large
quantities have been produced. For
the security of purchasers and the credit
of manufacturers alike, | think there
should be some system of inspection
adopted, and therefore recommend yon
TO consider tho question.
MILITARY.
The military department, which bc
fore the war was regarded as of a slight
importance, and was generally dismiss
cd in the messages of Governors with
paragraph, now demands the principal
place. To it nearly all of my time and
attention have been given for the past
two years, and 20 it they must still be
glvon. We are yet engaged as actively
as at the beginning, in raising troops.
ne total number raised, and organized
ia tho State since the beginning of the
war, is 1850. Of these, 24,2Sl were
sent to the field before July last 987
(the Lanccrs) were disbanded before
leaving the state. The quota of the
State under the calls of July last, was
1882,
OF which there have been raised as
follows:
Thirteen regiments and a battery,
shut to the field, 1879; recruits for
old regiments since July Cd, 2,lG2;
Provost Guard, at Detroit barracks,
l0l estimated strength of regiments
yet recruiting, 400; total, 20,402.--
Remaining TO be raised to fill the call,
2,o07.
The State has now in the field TWEEN.
ty six regiments of Infantry, one rcgi-
rncnt of Mechanics and Engineers, six
regiments of Cavalry, and eight Batter
les. There are recruiting in the State,
two regiments of Infantry, one regi.
mcnt of Sharp.shooters, three regiments
Of Cavalry, and two Batteries. The re-
turns Of the late Military Census show
an aggregate, subject to draft, of nine
ty-fve thousand, in round numbers
Many of the old regiments have become
greatly depleted in numbers, and their
efficiency correspondingly impaired. =
To reinforce these, aud bring them ur
again to the maximum standard of
strength, is at present the most lmpcra
tive demand OF the service. Ii is Ger.
tainly much easier to keep up the quo.
"a OF tl,e State by raising new regi
Jncnts, than ,,y filing the old ones, but
both justice and sound policy forbid
such = course. TO abandon the old
regiments, which have fought with
marked distinction through all the cam
paigns of the war, would be to diSre.
gard the fist principles of military sue.
.css, tho pride of the soldier in his corps.
1t would also DO in disregard Of the i'm.
portance Of military skill and discipline.
New recruits put into old organizations.
under trained and competent officers,
are of much greater value to the sery.
ice than II organized into new bodies,