Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-01-13


Houses, held in Representative Hall, on
Thursday of last week. The Governor
was called east by the death ofhis brother,
Geo. F. Bagley, and in his absence the
message was read by his private secre-
tary. 1t is document of considerable
length. and treats the varied interests Of
the state in an able manner. He opens
by remarking that Michigan will have
attained her fortieth birthday on the Doth
inst, and speaks with pride of the pro-
gress she has made since being received
into the grand union of states.
The charitable, educational and penal
institutions of the state are valued at 3d.
010.50O.
The bonded debt of the state has been
reduced $751;, 142 within the past four
years.
He recommends an amendment to the
constitution permitting the balance of
specific taxes, after the payment of the
bonded debt, to be used for ordinary state
purposes, whereby general taxation may
be reduced, instead of being applied to
the primary school fund, as is now pro-
rided by the constitution.
He also recommends some safeguards
in regard to delinquent taxes, and states
that the state is now obliged to advance
to the several counties all delinquent
taxes as soon as the time for redemption
expires, and in consequence there exists
a great temptation to assess worthless
lards at a high valuation, and the taxes
not being collected, the state is compelled
to pay them, and that the amount of
such lands unsold has been steadily in
creasing each year.
The sales of state lands for the past
two years has been 191 ,354 acres for the
sum of $2S3,92S-a large decrease from
the sales of the previous two years. At
the close of the fiscal year there remained
unsold 3,073.239 acres, The appointment
of an agent TO prevent trespass on state
lands has resulted in the recovery in
three years of S29,39O over and above the
expenses of the agent. Provision for
such agent by law is recommended.
The educational, BENEVOLENT and penal
institutions of the state receive considera-
BILE attention from the retiring Governor,
and important measures are recommend
ed whereby their interests and useful
ness, he thinks, would be greatly in
creased. The different institutions are in
excellent condition, and are under eff
cient management. The state prison is
largely over-crowded, but it has proved
profitable institution to the state. the
net earnings for the past two years ex-
ceeding $4,000. This, when compared
with the result in other states of similar
institutions, speaks well for the manage
ment, the paying OF expenses being the
exception.
The state House of Correction, at Ionia,
will be ready for occupancy next May.
The cost of the building has not exceed
ed $4,000. The overcrowded condition
of the state prison and Detroit House of
Correction demands that it be furnished
and put i'm operation Immediately. This
will require $29,45s. The prison cont aims
312 cells. and shop room for $50 prison
ers. To complete the full number of 5S2
cells, as contemplated by the plans, Will
require further appropriation OF $685.
.35a. 1t is desirable that this extension
be made at once. The appropriation is,
therefore, recommended. with the prOvisc
that the Governor may discontinue work
ii, in his judgment, a decrease of convicts
should warrant it.
The Governor suggests the placing OF
the state prison, The state House OF Cor
rection and the reform school under the
control of one board, with an executive
head who shall give his full time to the
duties of the position and be paid for
his services, and with this change of
management thorough classification of
prisoners should be instituted.
Owing to alterations ordered b. the
last Legislature, the new capitol is not
so far advanced as it was hoped that it
would have been. The amount paid on
its construction to Sept. 80, 1875, was
Ss19,S52. The appropriations thus far
being $l,2OO,OO0. He recommends addi-
tional appropriations, amounting tol
$4,000. for electric work, fixtures and
furniture, portion of which could be
reimbursed by the sale of the present
state house and lot, and other real estate
i'm Lansing, which, he suggests, should
be plated and sold.
There are SO railroad companies in op-
Grafton i'm the state, and of this number
for the year 1875 only one company paid
n cash dividend. The entire gross re-
ceipts of all the roads were not sufficient
TO nav expenses, rents and interest. tie
recommends that the companies be COM
PEELED TO raise all bridges to height OF
Is feet, to prevent accidents to their en-
Moves. He charges the Lake shore &
Michigan Southern railroad with shirk-
ing the payment of their just portion OF
taxes, it paying only S2O5 per mile, while
the Michigan Central, OF about equal
valuation. pays S597 per mile, and esti-
mates that in the past ten years they
should have paid 100000 more than has
been paid, and suggests that steps be
taken to collect it.
In regard to the Marquette 6 Maclsi-
nav railroad. he regrets that the liberal
land grant made by the state has not Sc