The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-01-15

uidriy nviu III 40 :, uuvo pctn Icstorcu 10 the
State, either voluntarily by the purchasers,
or 10y order Of the court, with the exception
of $50 acres purch ased by VIM. Harris, this
sale, upon Investigation, having been found
to be in accordance with law. The question
of the validity of the sale Of the lands OF the
Chicago and Northwestern railway has not
yet been decided by the courts.
During the wear / have caused the Swamp
and Primary School lands in the miner 1
range of the Upper Peninsula, heretofore
reserved, to be carefully examined and ap-
praised. preparatory to Offering them for
sale. The minimum price to be placed on
them by the State Treasurer and Governor
has not yet been fixed. but will be soon, SO
that by another season they may be placed
in market.
Now, while the business of the Land Office
is 80 slight, would be a good time Of il ever
is to be done) to cause an examination and
appraisement OF the lands belonging to the
State in the Lower Peninsula. cannot sec
why the State should not deal with Its lands
as an individual would. instead of holding
them at an arbitrary price, fixed years ago.
beg TO repeat the recommendations of my
first message on this subject.
Tho State and the counties lose large
amount annually by the non-payment OF
taxes on what are known as 'part-paid >
lands. 1t is estimated by the Commissioner
of the Land Office that the amount already
charged up as uncollectable is nearly $40, 900,
and the amount due and unpaid is about
$4,000. Some measures should be devised
whereby this loss can be prevented.
Under Joiat Resolution No. Is, laws of
1878, the Governor was authorized to APP
point an agent to prosecute to final decis-
ion, claims for the five per cent. due the
State from the general government from
lands disposed of as Indian reservations, and
by the location of military warrants, and &c
fix the compensation of such agent.
L became satisfied upon investigation of the
subject, that under the law no claim for the
fund arising from military warrants would be-
allowed, and that it would be waste of time
and money to present 1t.
/ appointed Mr. Joseph II. Cook, of Wash
ington, ID. c., to prepare and present GU
claim for the fund accruing from the Indial
reservations, and have received through hin
from the general government SIP, 75f 81 OF
this account, which sum was deposited will
the State Treasurer Nov. II, 1874. TIL,
agent reports that he expects still more from
this source, as the accounts are not yet finall,
adjusted and closed
The compensation agreed upon was 10 pc
cent. on the first $4,000 collected, per cent
on the second $4,000, and % per cent. on tin
balance. The amount paid him to date TO
services is $818.86.
EDUCATION.
The schools of the state have kept in ad
vance of its progress in other directions. Tn
primary school, graded school, normal schoo
and university are alike the objects OF thu
earnest soluitude and Jealous care Of all tn,
people. Founded by the wise foresight of on
fathers, perpetuated and improved 10y com
mon experience of their benefits, every citizel
feels that they are his own. The door o
every educational institution Of the State from
the log school-house to the university swing
wide and free for all
The census of 1874 reports 1876. 105 children
of school age OF whom 1876, l42 attended
school, an increase in two years Of 81, 600
When we reflect that nearly one-quarter o
our population are in school, we cannot bu
be impressed with the great duty resting upol
us to hold up the standard of a thorough
practical sensible education.
There are $685. schoel-houses in the State
with 405, $50 sittings. The total coat OF thes
houses is 80, 8S9, $685. and the total expendi
ture for school purposes in 1874 was SO 408.
$50; number of teachers, 14,026 indebted
ness of school districts, S1175 1870. Tn
Primary School fund at tho close of the fisca
year was 49, 1875, 9lS.79 producing an an
nual income Of S213,0l6.
The report of the Superintendent of Publi
Instruction is not yet printed, many of the re
ports from the school officers OF the State no
having been received.
THE UNIVERSITY.
In spite OF tho depression of business an(
the multiplication Of medical and law school
throughout the land, the university still retaini
its pre-eminence, not only in the number OF its
students, but in it's work aud accomplishment,
for higher education. The number Of stu.
dents in 1878 was LIP; in 1874. 11S3. The
graduating class of 1872 numbered 500; thai
of 1873. 313. The act of 1878, increasing the
annual State appropriation TO S3l, 500, though
- tata hoa al . L.
University on sound financial basis, the es.
timated deficit for the year ending June 80
1875, being S23, 800. an amount sufficient tC
absorb the reserve fund. In addition tC
this, $12, 900 of Understanding time warrant,
have been issued for enlarging the laboratory
and other purposes. These Improvement,
were of paramount necessity and could not
longer be delayed. The Board OF Regent,
rely upon an increase in the amount of State
aid, by tho new equalization OF 1875, from
which to pay the deficit and warrants. There
Is 20 certainty however, that the valuation
will be largely increased, il at all. and an
OF the opinion that an appropriation OF Sl2
600, to be used in the payment OF the inter
est-bearing warrants, ought to be made. Tn,
Regents have. not suggested or asked this
but this creation OF debt, in the present con
dition of the State Treasury, il not necessary
or wise. The State, through any. of its insti
tutions, ought not to borrow MONEY! The
Regents are intrueted by law with the gov
ernment and control Of the University the,
are chosen by ballot, but they have no power
20 pay debts, unless the means be provided
by the Legislature, and they ought not t
create them, except in great emergencies
This conviction being 30 firmly impressed
upon my mind l am impelled to aek your APP
prevail Of this appropriation.
The University Ia the peoples; they founded
Ii, have maintained it, are proud Of it, and
will support it.
The resources of the University are as fol
lows: Trust fund in the hands Of the State
at per cent. interest. s435, 2S7. 80. Due
from purchasers Of land, at per cent. inter.
est. S107, 480.s5.
While our system of public education pro-
vides elementary instruction for all, the Nor.
NAL School is fitting our youth for teachers
the Agricultural College offers practical in.
strucuon to tillers Of the soil. the Universal;
graduates small army of physicians and
lawyers annually but the great field of edu.
cation in practical mechanics and technical
pursuits is yet unoccupIed.
There is no real reason why the State should
furnish education III any one speciality and
not another. The man whose child desires in
struction IN practical mechanics has the same
right to expect it at the hands of the State. az
the one who wishes his son TO be an attorney
or physician. The State fails in it's duty when
1t neglects to provide for this department of
education. Tue natural resources of the
State require the services Of skilled and edu-
Gated labor TO develop and improve them.
Ought we longer to delay action in this re-
gard3 A beginning may be made now. and.
with small additions from time to time. by
the year 1882, the public debt having been
paid, portion of the receipts from specific