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

from 100, 800 tons in 1855, to 1,439,2l5 tons ii
, 1877, and ,d67. 80 tons in 1878
It's gross yearly revenues during the sam,
| time have multiplied by ten, being 81, 81. 4
| in 1877, and $4y,4 AT in 1873 More thar
| 5000 vessels, many Of them of large tonnage
| have passed It's locks In the two seasons
referred TO, making an average passage OF
one boat every two hours and ten minutes
during the time of navigation. The
General Government is now building additional
| locks for the purpose of enlarging and increas-
ing the capacity OF the canal, and such progress
| is being made that the work promises TO be
| fully completed within the next two years.
The Legislature Of 1869 by joint resolution, au-
thorized the Board Of Control 70 transfer the
canal to the United States on the payment of
all outstanding Indebtedness incurred by the
State in the construction or management there
Of The Indebtedness OF the canal, which the
State treasury is pledged to pay, is 5000,
and the amount standing to its credit
on the books of the Treasurer il ga,
5Sa.l2. The canal debt is thus fully provided
for, and win be extinguished as rapidly as II
falls due, and before, If the bonds can be pur-
chased. Its financial condition, therefore, Is
such that il may be at any time transferred to
the United States. A number OF necessary re-
pairs and excellent improvements have been
made by the present Superintendent, John
Spalding and an additional new set OF gates
have been purchased and placed by direction Of
the board. Further needed repairs are now
being made and the probabilities are that ow-
lug to decayed stills and damaged piers, the ex-
penditure for this purpose will somewhat in
crease during the next two years.
On coming into Office found the clerk of the
canal had absconded charged with the embezzle-
ment of Sl,ll4.77 of the canal funds. Since
then he has been arrested, tried and acquitted
further found the accounts in al unsatisfactory
condition, and the Superintendent from his own
- t.sfC
10 recover which sum, proceedings are
now pending against him and his ball
This condition of affairs led the Leg
islature TO relieve the Superintendent of
the canal from the control and man
agement of its finances, and to create for that
purpose an officer known as Collector OF Tolls
The change has proved desirable one, as the
duties of the Superintendent in the immediate
supervision of the canal demand his whole at
tention, while the accounts III the respective
Offices prove check uron each other In con-
necton with his annual report for 1877, the
Collector, William Chandler has prepared and
published all interesting and valuable history
of the canal.
The projection and construction of this canal
is eminently due 10 the sagacity and exertions
of the early settlers of Michigan. They knew
that the extensive coast of Lake Superior pos
sessed mineral and other treasures of great
value, and, with almost prophetic vision, they
seemed TO realize the importance of the i'm
mense commerce and trade which has since
been developed i'll this region. Through de-
feats, delays and discouragements they steadily
persevered in urging the enterprise until
they we're effective III securing its COM
mencement and completion. 1t would most
fittingly crown their achievement If this i'm
portant channel, opening complete water COM
municaton between the greatest of inland lakes
and the ocean, were made forever free to the
passage of all vessels navigating these waters.
II this were accomplished, and reciprocal ia
cilities afforded us by the Dominion of Canada
for transportation through the Welland canal,
the entire passage from the great lake to the
ocean would be untramneled by tolls, and the
commercial and social relations of prosperous
communities, speaking the same language and
having interests in common, improved and
strengthened.
THE LICENSE LAW.
The whole amount of taxes assessed through
out the State under the Liquor Tax law for the
year 1877 was s420, l60.lS OF this amount
S3S7 1893 50 was collected and So, S9i. 20 re-
mains uncollected
Complete returns have not yet been made to
the Auditor General for the past year, and con-
sequently am not able to present the showing
therefor. 1t will be seen that quite a large per-
centage of the tax is unpaid and lost This is
in some respects due 10 officers neglecting to
promptly press collection, as well as to the fact
that some parties have been enabled to escape
payment through the local courts by reason of
some technical defects III the assessments. If
this law is to remain il should be so amended
as to provide that payment of the tax shall
be condition precedent TO the right to sell at
all, with penalty imposed for any sale in VIC
lation of such provision. IL IL unequal and un-
just, among the parties selling, to permit one
TO escape tax that the other Is obliged to pay.
am advised that the law has had the effect to
somewhat reduce the number of places where
liquor is sold.
EXECUTIVE MANSION
NY experience as Executive of the State salts
fies me that the Governor ought to reside at the
capital. His presence upon many occasions
would facilitate business. Now that the State
Offices, civil and military, removed here, the
necessity is greater than ever.
With the small salary affixed to the Office the
Governor should not he expected to come here
and provide himself with home. The State
should furnish residence COMFORTING with
the character of the Capitol in which the Ex-
ecutive should live during his term of Office.
that the block of lots upon which
the old Capitol stands be subdivided, and with
the buildings thereon be sold by the Commits
soner of the Land Office, upon terms to be fixed
by the Governor, State Treasurer and himself,
and that portion of the proceeds sufficient for
the purpose be applied to the erection of n resi-
dence for the Governor. bespeak this not for
myself but for my successors.
CONCLUSION.
In concluding this communication, let me say
Iut Responsiveness IcStiHB uDoH you dIt Vi HO
light character. For limited time, subject
only to the restrictions of the Federal and State
with you rests the sole power of
legslating for the people of this commonwealth.
The rights of person and property, the most inn
portant interests affecting society, as we'll az
the honor and welfare of the State, are in
great measure committed TO You. While the
State has had remarkable growth, and il
strong in population and productions, it
is yet but in the early periods
of its development We have forests
mines undisturbed, aud thousands
upon thousands of acres waiting only for the
tiller to transform them into harvest bearing
fields. If your legislation shall contribute to
foster and further unfold these interests; if it
shall promote morality, cherish virtue, encour-
age education, check disorganizing tendencies,
and maintain the blessings of peace and union,
you win have accomplished the work delegated
TO you in manner worthy of the gratitude of
your constituents. CHAs M. CRoswELL