The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-01-14


trea siry and placed TO the credit of the general
fund.
sT MAIY's FALLS SHIP CANAL
The largest amount of business ever accom-
pshed by the st. Marys Falls ship
canal has been done the present
year. A tonnage aggregaing l,734, $50
tons passed. through 1t, from which gross rev.
enue Was received amounting to e4i, 5527 ~.
The operating expenses for the year were S23.-
1874. Tho revenues have not increased In
proportion 70 the business on account of n re-
duction in the rate OF tolls. The State indebt-
edness incurred on account OF the canal has
be- paid, and there is now standing on the
books of the Rtlte Treasurer 10 the credit OF
the canal fund the sum of SAC, ga rs. In July
last was Officially advised that Congress had
passed an act authorizing the Secretary OF War
10 accept transfer OF the canal from the State
TO the General Government. laid the COM
munication before the Board of Control, which,
upon mature consideration, determined that
in view OF the then nearness OF your session,
and OF the importance Of the proposed act. 1t
was best that the Legislature consummate the
transfer. At the time the board received
notice OF this action of the General Gov
ernment il had arranged for the constructor
of guard gate at the lower entrance TO the
canal and for certsin other necessary repairs.
and had purchased therefor a large amount OF
stone and other material. which have been de-
livered ready for use. 1t j. important that the
question of transfer be de, ii,d at once. that
the repairs may ne made without delay, and
the cantl fitted for operation before the OPEN
ing of navigation. A considerable amount OF
personal property Is owned by the State and
used IN connection with the canal, IN inventory
of which has been made that you may judge
whether all or only pori N should pass by
the act of transfer. The increasing business
of this canal and its great importance to the
commercial interests Of Michigan as part OF
the highway from the greatest OF lakes to the
Of Ia
it should be untrammeled by tolls. therefore
recommend that il be Immediately transferred
to TIE United States on condition that II remain
forever free
MILITARY.
We have three Regiments OF State military,
now con tutng n brigade. under command 81
Gen. w. IL. Wilmington. numbering 1899 Off
GERS and men. Authority was given for tho
organization of an additional regiment, but I
De, med it unnecessary, and the force has not
been increased. The fret encampment OF the
brigade was held AT IL tlamaZCo in August last.
1t was we'll attended, and the troops showed
proficiency III the school of the soldier. 1t
lasted five DAYS, and cost T2i 1879. The mil
iary authorities recommend that herei fter en-
campme nts be held for a term of ten DAYS and
ONLY once IN two years, III which suggestion
concur. The H. cestity for an effective
force OF State troops l. increased by the ac-
ton of the General Government prohibit
ing the use OF Federal soldiers in the States
n posse comitltus 10 preserve order. Ii il.
therefore, Of importance that the military
branch OF tbs State Government be made eff
fectve, and reas onable measures 20 that emf
should meet with favor.
Under joint resolution Of the last Legis-
liture, appointed a COMMISSION OF five per-
sons to inspect the Michigan Nil tary Ac deny
at Orchard Lake. They have performed
that duty, and their report will be PIE sented To
you.
INSURANCE.
The business of rdl.ce is large. and af-
fects directly or indirectly the int rests of 4.
great number OF our people 1t has been care
luily supervised by the present Insura nee Com
missioner. nd through his efficiency the COM
munity has III q great degree been protected
from losses by reason Of mismanaged
or fraudulent COMPARES which have
been excluded from doing business in the
State. l deeui 1t OF especial importance that
life-insurance companies dong business in our
midst DO established on a substantial basis, and
managed honestly. They bold savings de-
signed for the benefit of widows and orphans,
and should be required by law 10 keep from ex-
travagance and out of transactions of n specu-
lative character, as well as to have their invest
ments made III reliable securities, which Will
enable them on reasonable notice to make pay
ment of any losses for which they may become
liable. In my last message referred to an act
of the Legislature intended to regulate plate
glass insurance l suggested therepen OF that
act because It's provisions were indefinite end Of
doubtful consttutionaliiy and advised the
passage Of more specific law re uating this
kind of insurance. / now renew the recon-
IN, ndation, and further suggest that law be 90
framed as u inc ude. beside pl-te-g glass that Of
accident and steam-boiler insurance. This recon-
mendation il made to protect the Legitimate
comp MES, and to increase the revenue to the
| State from specific tax on such business.
RAILROADS.
Raj roads form one OF the most important
factors in the business of the State. Some Of
the principal trunk lines running between the
East and the West cross our territory, and
others traverse it from the south boundary of
the state to its most northern limit The
| amount of goods ira spocted by means Of
these agencies Is immense, ana vet with all the
facilities they af ri. during the past season
they have not been equa! To the requirements
of traffic. Recently freight has been DELAYED
for want of n sufficient supply of cara 10 con-
vey ii to market, and railroad managers have
h"en active to meet the increased demands Of
this character.
We have 40 distinct corporations in the
State representing the ownership end opera
ton Of our railroads the total number of miles
being at this time 9lS At the eni of 1873
there were III the State 1861 miles, and at the
end of 1879, 1861 II lies. showing an increase
for the two years of 35i miles, OF which 90 were
built in 1879, and 26l in 1880.
The revt nue for 1879 for the companies doing
business In the State was SAB o42, S6O %, al in
crease of little more than ~ per cent. over
the sum for the previous year. This amount
Of earnings was equal TO i7.450 per mile of
road and for the miles i'll NJ chigan :l9, 4r4, 33S.
The business OF the railroads fer 1890 will
not lie accurately reported TO the Commissioner
until the iir.t of May next but he has sufficient
datain his possession to warrant the estimate
that the gross earnings for the wear will
exceed the amount for 1879 by atout 19 per
cent. The effect of the pane and the recovery
there rom il well illustrated hv the results upon
our railroad int r-sts. In 1873 Their gross re-
&C pts were 94S. 15s, 363 6S. This amount was
gradually reduced until in 1877 il reached the
minimum sum of 49,, 545, 80 100. from which
point rapid increase Of income is shown. be-
ing. in 1879, 2,7i6 1895 in 1879. s45, 942,-
500 % and In 1880, p rtially estimated, s5i,-
2l2, 54.O0. That this result has nor been Iro-
duced bv an increase of the rates OF tr ffic in
Plainly shown bv the reports of the Commits
sioner for III lS77-'he vear Of smallest re-
cepts--'he average rate If freight rece we'd by
the roads was 80 ] 900 cents per ton for each
mile. and in 1879 8 2-l0 mills. The rates for
1880 hive not vet been rpor cd. hut they Will
not exceed those of the previous year 10 that
h,s -