Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1883-02-01

good markets, good government, an
pleasant social relations, which are AZ
sured by the general character an
traditions of Michigan society"
Acting upon these suggestions, tn
Legislature, at the same session, abol
ished the provisions of the Act of 80
referred TO in preceding paragraphs
and substituting therefor the existin.
law, which authorizes the Governor tc
appoint Commissioner of Innigra
tion. to act under his advice and direc
ton, at Il salary not to exceed 70. OO(
per annum, for the purpose of encour
aging immigration TO Michigan iron
the other States and from the conn
tries of Europe; nm assistant commits
sioner at n salary not to exceed 81. 500
and TO draw upon the general fund foI
such an amount, not exceeding &5, OCC
IN any one year, as he may consider
necessary TO defray the expense of said
commissioner and his assistant, exclu-
sive of salaries. 1t provides, in addi.
ton, that such printing, binding, or
map work as can be done under any
contract the State may have for such
work shall be SO executed
CHARACTER oFTHE WORK TO BE DONE.
This Act was approved June 10. 81
and, in accordance with rs provisions.
the undersigned received the appoint-
ment OF commissioner 1t became
necessary to adopt n policy of action
Tor the guidance of the Office, and. at
your request, early consultations were
had with that object ia view. The
employment OF a commissioner TO act
within the circuiuscribed scoDe of 4
residence in foreign countries had not
been satisfactory. 1t had been shown
by the experience of other States that
such agencies were not permanently
successful. Even Mr. Allardt, who
had represented Michiganin Germany.
had reported, after three wears resi-
dence, that Louisiana, Virginia, Min
nesota, Florida, Nebraska and Ala
bama. which had had agents there
since his arrival. had "all abandoned
the field" 1t is believed that all the
American agencies now employed in
Europe represent either private com
panies, corporate land interests, or lines
OF transportation. Tie plan of locat-
ing an officer at New York or other
seaports to intercept emigrants on land
ing and turn their footsteps towards
Michigan seemed equally defective and
narrow. As n general thing, the elni-
grant who will consent. after arrival.
20 be diverted from tie original dcstin.
alton 10y tie per- onal solicitation If
agents employed for the purpose does
not add to the thrifty elements of
community. 1t was not merely an in
crease OF population That was desired
Tie State had outgrown that ne.cssi-
ty, if it ever existed.
The termes Of the message to Which
the Legislature had responded in en-
acting the law, the lettor of the law
ITSELF and careful appreciation cf
the character and desires of the peorl,
OF the State, pointed clearly, it wss
thought to the adoption of system
which, disrcgarding the lines of coun-
try or race, should adress itself TO the
intelligence and sense of thrift Of every
man who desired to better his condi-
ton No state could better afford TO
rest its growth on its character and
The settler who comes
to Michigan because he is made TO rea
lie that he can buy cheap lands, raise
good crops, send bis children TO good
schools, and identify himself with an
industrious, intelligent, aud moral
community, is likely to become a good
citizen, and it is this class, wherever
they are to be found, that the work Of
the office has aimed to reach. Its gen
eral policy may be concisely stated as
an effort to stimulate inquiry concern
ing Michigan, and provide all possible
means to meet il.
ORGANIZATION.
1t was deemed advisable. on account |
OF the advantage it might afford in
facilitating personal intercourse with |
people from abroad as we'll as from |
the various sections of the State, that
the principal duties of the commission
should be performed at Detroit. and
On the first Of July, 1881, an office was
opened i'm that city The ni.t duty I'M.
posed was obviously the accumulation
Of material necessary to complete
knowledge of the State, and its classi
fcation and compilation in an accessi-
bic and convenient form. I'M this la
Dor deem myself fortunate iu sncur
ing the assistance OF Mr. Charles n.
Backus, whose previons pursuits has
given him especial fitness for its re-
Iuirements. 1t was not thought ex
pedient 10 appoint an Assistant Com.