The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-01-17
s., HIIISDAIE MICH, TUESDAY JAN.

80
the ready passage OF vessels to and
from Lake Superior. oof $40 80 ydIrou
But as this whole subject is in the
hands of the Canal Board, of Control, ]
apprehend no Legislation win at present
be required thereon, 4o noiteu foig,
. SWAMP LANDS AND STATE ROADS. 9Dt
The policy of using Swamp Lands
for State Roads was inaugurated by an
act ofthe Legislature, approved Febru-
ary 18th, 1889; and by subsequent acts
and repeated appropriations this may
now be regarded as the settled policy
of the State. The purpose for which
these dands, amounting TO nearly six
million acres--were ceded to the State,
as expressed in the act of Congress ap-
proved September 2sth, 1850, was to
enable her "to construct the necessary
levees and drains to reclaim the same;"
and the act of cession expressly pro-
vides that "the proceeds Of said lands
whether for sale or direct approplia-
tons in kind, shall be applied exclusive
ly, as far as necessary, to the purpose
ofri claiming said lands by means of
the levees and drains aforesaid" By
an act of the Legislature approved June
2sth, 1851, the State accepted this
grant according TO the conditions con-
tained Therein, and she expressly de-
clares in. this act Of acceptance "that
all the money received from the sale of
said lands shall be and remain a fund
for the purpose ofreclaiming said lands,
in conformity to the provisions Of the
grant" ~ s.d vHm fr1 jaH
Without questioning the right of the
State so to construe the provisions of
these acts as to apply the swamp lands
to the purposes of constructing roads,
or the wisdom or utility of so applying
them, / am clearly of the opinion that
the practice which has latterly prevail
ed to great extent, eff making indis-
criminate and wholesale appropriations
of these lands for this object is, to say
the least, ofvery doubtful expediency ;
while the opening of many of these
roads, and especially those which con-
stitute "main routes" and will as such
connect important points, are OF gre 1t
value, not only to the particular sections
where located, but to the State at large.
by having opened up the country and
thereby invited settlements, others have
been and will continue to be for Years
to come, without the least practical util-
ity; and the appropriations made for
their; construction, if not wholly lost,
may be regarded as of very little real
worth.
This is certainly an important subject
and should receive careful considera-
ton. OF the six million acres of land
thus added to us, while large portions
of it may be regarded as worthless,
some of it was nevertheless very valua-
bic. Nearly or quite all Of this latter
class has been sold at minimum price
or taken upon contracts for roads
which have already been built, or has
been selected to meet the pay ment of
such as have not yet been built. Among
the evils which have resulted from too
nUcim approprlauon OF Unese lands IS
this; The large quantities offs Grip there
by thrown upon the market and in the
hands of parties unable to hold it, have
reduced their value to little more than
ffty cents on the dollar of their mini
mum price. This involves the necessi.
ty of making very large appropriations
for the construction OF the roads, 9TH
erwise they cannot be let, and of course
must remain unopened. Another evil
is, that in the scramble for appropria.
ton of these lands, combinations are
formed more with view, it is feared, of
securing private interests than ofpro.
noting the public good.
Without, therefore, recommending
any change in the policy, which now
seems to be q settled one, of appropri-
ting these lands for the building of roads
/ would most respectfully suggest that
a careful and thorough examination on
your part be devoted to an inyestiga-
ton of the claims of any and every
road hereafter asked fol, and that none
be- located excepting such only as are
manifestly; andI the more readily rec
oinmend this course from the fact that
many of the roads already located have
never been let, while many others have
been but partially constructed, and
that too in such a manner as to render
of little value the work already expend-
ed upon them. Statistics of the precise
condition, at the present time, OF all the
swamp land roads, would be valuable,
and should be obtained in such form as
to show at q single glance the date OF
their respective locations-their termini
and general route--whe.her completed
or otherwise-if let, to whom and on
terms-what amount of work has been
expended upon each how much has
been paid upon each--abandoned, or
are still in force. ...Hr u-i
The cash sales of swamps lands for
the past year amount only to the sum
of $50, ,s04 40. The very small amout
thus disposed offs owing to the fact
that large quantities Of these lands are
offered for sale at very low rates by
road contractors or other persons hold
ing scrib, issued in payment for the
b .ilding of roads. These lands, al
though now nearly worthless, will, as
soon as ..he State becomes settled and
improved, be Of much value; for which
reason they certainly should not be
squandered at the present time; nor in
deed be disposed ofin any manner with
out the State receiving fair equivalent.
STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
The Safe Reform School now num-
bers twoIhundred and fourteen inmates,
being twentyseven more than at the