The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-01-10


Tecumseh, those greatest of savage chieftains;
the struggle between France and England fer
the control Of our territory; the war of 1912,
with the surrender OF Hull; the massacre at
the river Raisin, and the successful campaigns
Of Gen Harrison, as we'll a. the struggles and
triumphs Of our later pioneers, furnish
frequent instances Of marked endurance.
bravery and patriotism, worthy of study and
remembrance.
INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB
The institution for educating the deaf and
dumb and the blind contained on the 30th day
of September last - pupils, of whom -
were blind and the remainder mutes. / am
gratified TO inform you that, while the gen.
eral tone and condition of the institution
has improved its financial showing indicates
that its resources have been carefully hus-
banded. Ii comes before You with no delin-
quency, but for the first time in its history with
an overplus, to be covered back into the treas
ury. The Trustees seek an appropriation of
sSl $50 for current expenses for the two years
to come, $500 for certain necessary repairs
and improvements, the total of which is not less
than the amount appropriated two years ago. L
think the sum desired is not above the wants of
the institution and should be granted
The Trustees likewise recommend an appro-
priation of $4,000 for constructing on the
premises separate building for the use of the
blind
MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
The University is the oldest and foremost
educational institution in Michigan 1t has
history long and intimately identified with the
progress of the State. Not few of its pro-
fessors have been eminent as authors and
scholars. 1t has enrolled and educated great
number of men of influence and mark. 1t has
been progressive in its tendencies, and Justly
holds high rank throughout the land Like all
educational institutions, il has had its struggles
and its trials but still it has been to us a source
of growth, largely drawing to our midst persons
nj elIl N anAx No t>,n
ments, and have deep interest in all that con-
Germs its welfare. While its endowment is con-
siderable, 1t Is not sufficient to carry its work
without aid from the Legislature. trust, there
fore, that 1t may receive appropriations, not
lavish, but adequate to its actual needs.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
The Agricultural College grows in favor. 1t
has become more thoroughly identified with the
farming interests of the State, and stands on a
better footing than ever before The whole
number of students in attendance during the last
year was S.}!, and the graduates thrty-three. The
managers ask an appropriation for current ex-
penses of S6,21l. ~ for each of the two years
1879 and 1880, and special appropriation of
Sl5, for each of the said two years for
buildings, improvements and extraordinary eX-
penses; a full statement of which will be found
III their report. They further solicit an appro-
priation of Sl3,6OO for the construction of a
new hall, with view to the admission of fe-
males and the co-educatiOn of the sexes at the
college, the reasons for which will be found
duly assigned
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
The State Normal School continues its useful
work OF training teachers for the common
schools. The whole number of students in at
tendance in 1877 was 64S and in 1873, Cos. The
number graduated in both years, 1S4. The
estimated current expenses for the payment of
eight professors and four teachers, with jani-
tor, for each of the years 1879 and 1880, is
and fAs ,...s 81 q
The interest on the endowment fund Is esti-
mated at $4,000, and the receipts from tuition
and for diplomas at 81, 800, leaving an appro-
priation of SlS 800 for each of said years neces-
sary to meet the running expenses oil the school.
The amount asked is about the same as has
heretofore been allowed.
The last Legislature appropriated $50, 900 for
the construction of an additional building.
This has been put up at cost, including arch-
tects' charges and building supervision, of 3d.
115.29 In addition to this, steam heating appa-
ratus has been purchased to the amount of So
$50, the old building remodeled, and a tower
partly built in connection Herewith at a cost of
1924. 80, making a total expenditure of SAB
34I1S Of this sum, $780, 900 was paid by the
appropriation, 81, lO5 80 by contributions of cid
zens of Ypslanti toward the construction of
the tower, and the remainder, Sll pa 81, from
savings in the current-expense fund of the
school accumulated during the last fifteen years,
leaving no deficiency to be made mp by appro-
priation from the Legislature The board ask
u special appropriation of sl5,55 to be ex-
pended in furnishing the tower, providing steam
heating apparatus for the old building grading
grounds, purchasing new furniture, and various
other items which will be laid before you for
your consideration and scrutiny.
RAILROADS.
We have forty corporations owning or operat-
ing railroads. They represent a railroad mile
age of 1861 miles, of which ), $50 miles are now
State. This line of railway has been construct
ed almost wholly in the last forty years At the
close of the year 1888 we had of completed
road, 63 miles; in 1913 we had :}26 miles; in
1853 we had 7U3 miles; in 1868 we had ,l24
miles; while now we have stated J, $50 miles.
There was constructed in the first five years of
the last decade, from 1868 to 1874, 2, Is miles,
or nearly two-thirds of our entire railroad mile
age. During the past five years there have been
built and put in operation only 2S7 miles, of
which A were built in 1877, and 81 in 1878.
The companies that reported officially for
the year 1877 show an aggregate liability of
funded and unfunded debt of sl67 ,21l ,i2l G2,
with an aggregate capital stock of sl45, 527,
66l.1 as, or total of stock and debt of S3l2 100
OS3.4l. Ihave no accurate data from which TO
determine the precise amount of this capital
invested within this State If it could be as
sumed that it would bear its relative Poportion
TO the whole, it would then be about $751;, 900,
600,
This Immense amount of capital engaged in
the transportation of passengers and mer-
chandise adds greatly to the wealth of the State
and to the convenience of its citizens, and is
entitled to your fostering care and protection.
IL has been invested under rights and priv
ileges granted by your predecessors and should
not be unjustly or unnecessarily interfered with.
But in the exercise of your control it is alike
your duty to that the interests Of the public are
protected and that such capital is restrained
from any abuse of its franchises or infringe
ment on the rights of others. The stakeholder
and the bondholder, the producer and the ship
per, are equally entitled to your protection. We
have no cause of complaint in regard to the cost
of transporting passengers or freight Local
rates have been az low if not lower than i'm our
neighboring States. But as one of the States
over whose lines of railroad the immense pro-
auctions Of the West are transported to the sea-
board, in the obtaining of which there has been
and still continues to be very active competition
by railroad companies, there is danger that
through freight may be carried at a loss, and
that such loss will be added TO the local rates
and thus increase the burdens of our own pro-
ducers. l recommend this subject for your
thoughtful consideration, trusting if YOU take
action thereon it will only be after mature con-
sderation and with careful regard for the
rights of all.
The railroad corporations in the State have
been organized as common carriers with view
of providing equal facilities to ALL without dis
elimination in favor of any. This right can only
be maintained by the corporations themselves,
and their agents and servants at all times avoid