The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-03-03
SPECIAL MESSAGE
GOV. DAVID h. JEROME
TO THE LEGISLATURE.
Extra Session. February RI, 1852.

The constitution OF the State provides that
"the Governor may convene the Legislature
on extraordinary occasions" Such an occasion
has been reached. An emergency of pressing
character has caused me to exercise the power
at an earlier day than would otherwise have
been necessary.
A district covering portions of Huron, SAM
lac, Tuscola, st. Clair and Lapeer counties was
widely devastated in September last by forest
fires, the property OF 1921 families destroyed,
and IA, 43S persons made dependent upon pub
10 aid. In this calamity 1921 dwellings, were
consumed, together with 1,4S0 barns, hun
dreds of miles OF fences, domestic animals in
great numbers, and vast quantities Of house
hold furniture clothing and agricultural i'm
plements, with accumulated stores Of food.
The losses Of those who have asked and re-
amounted to $2,3l6,9i3, or an average
OF over $726 for each family. To
add 10 the terrible aspects Of these
dreadful msfortunes, nearly 800 human beings
persisted in consequence by suffocation and by
burning. No reference is made in this estimate
to the losses OF those who have neither asked
nor required ASST 4tance, which isknown to have
been OF great magnitude nor to those OF
public nature, among which were tifty-one
school houses and large number OF churches
and highway bridges.
The destruction thus wrought left mon, woui-
en- and children destitute of either clothing,
food or shelter-all that was combustible had
been swept away. 1t covered a territory of over
1880 square miles, and in the progress uf ia
ravages sweeps the entire district within from
two TO four hours after it began. No time was
given to save even household treasures With
furious wind came smoke and intense darkness,
followed quickly by fervent heat that nothing
could withstand The wonder is not that SO
many persisted, but that so many escaped.
The urgent necessities created by tins calam-
ity demanded Instant relief. Before the fires
were exhausted food and clothing were beng
administered from neiGhborng communities.
The people or this State and of other States
responded to appeals to their humanity with a
broad and kindly generosity that can never DO
forgotten. Seldom within the memory OF this
generation has the kinship OF mankind boon
demonstrated by more marked and tangible
manifestations. The thanks of the State are
due To every individual who came to the help
of our suffering fellow-ctlzens at this terrible
juncture, and they especially belong 10 the men
and women OF our slsscr commemorative and
the neishborng British provinces. In addition
to large amounts contributed for this relief 10y
churches, societies and individuals directly to
the sufferers, of which there is no attainable
record, but which rs known TO aggregate many
thousands of dollars there has been re-
ceived by the State FIRE Relief Commits
sion, the Detroit and Port Huron committees,
and committees OF othsr localities, rs reported
to me, the sum of 1923. SO in cash. together
with donations in kind which when added to
the cash contribution would equal the sum of
$1,000.000
The country where the fires ragged is purely
agricultural, without other local industries to
furnish employment, consequently after the
first distresses were relieved, the unfortunate
people whose wants we are now considering,
beng lett with nothing bul bare land, were
compelled TO elect between seeking new homes
elsewhere or to depend upon beiDg sustained
by other than their own resources until they
could reach self-support from the product OF
their own farms. They chose the latter course,
with the most encouraging results thus far, and
have devoted their energies and LABOR To- re-
building houses and fences and 10 sowing fall
grain, the returns from which can only be re-
alIZed ut the coming harvest.
In order to succeed III the course adopted
and to continue III the occupancy OF their lands
as their homes, these people must DO sustained
until their crops mature. They must have food
until harvest, and food for their ANIMALS until
the grass grows They also require seed for
their spring crops. The contributed funds will
soon be spent and the harvest Is months III tho
future.
The exigencies OF the case demand action,
and to afford relief is no longer question OF
poicy--t il an imperative duty The State
cannot permit its people TO want for food. In
1852 under similar circumstances TO a limited
extent, citizens were aided from the treasury
oil the State, ana tho act was IN harmony with
the Judgment and sentiment Of the people.
For more specific information you are re-
spectfully referred to the report of the State
Fire Relief Commission, which covers the
transactions OF committees at Detroit, East
Saginaw, Bay City and Flint, and to the state
ment of the Port Huron Committee, both of
oh are hereto appended. L commend the
wants of these unfortunate citizens to your
generous consideration.
The tax rolls for the townships of Forester
and Evergreen, in the county OF Sanilac wero
DESTROYED IN the general conhagration, and log
islation is now asked to legahze the action Of
their authorities i'll making subsequent pro-
vision for the collection OF the taxes In those
townships. / recommend that the necessary
action be taken.
TAX COMMISSION.
During the last SESSION You made provision
for the appointment of q commission to pre-
pare bill for the assessment, levy and collec-
ton of taxes. The commission appointed has
performed its work with much labor and intell-
igence. The bills 30 prepared are herewith
submitted for your consideration. have con-
fidence that upon examination the work OF the
commission will commend itself in its compre-
hensiveness as great Improvement over the
present system, and will receive at your hands
such careful consideration as the Importance
of the subject demands.
CONGRESSIONAL APPoRTIoNMENr.
A bill for the reapporttonment or the popular
representation in Congress. on tho basis OF the
tenth census, only awaits the signature OF the
President TO become law, and 1t will devolve
upon you to ad just tho Congressional districts
OF the State in accordance Herewith.
Two members have been added to the repre-
sentation of Michigan, and the relative progress
which this fact exhibits will be a subject of gen.
eral congratuation among our citizens.
AroRY AT IONA.
The number OF inmates In this institution, on
the first OF the present month, had increased TO
800 The contracts for their labor cover hut
one-half this number, or 800, leaving 800 unern-
ployed, save those necessary to do the domestic
work OF the prison For the latter purpose
sixty are sufficient. What can be done 10 en-
ploy the 240 idle prisoners? One hundred OF
them are now constantly locked in their cells,
and the remainder kept at unremunerstive and
substantially unnecessary work. Thus II ia ev-
dcnt that the number Of prisoners has in
cress d ost of proportion to the preparation
for their proper employment This Is not for
lack OF opportunities TO contract for their la
Dor. The managers report applications for
labor, at fair prices, for manufacturing pur-
poses, to be carried on within the prison walls.