Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-01-11
THE STATE DEBT.

| 1867, SS,Uoi 300.
| THE STATE DEBT.
The total bonded debt is $500, 149, of which
$500, 600 fell due January !, 1888.
The trust debt of the state (the proceeds OF
the sales of land granted for educational pur-
poses) and the rate OF interest paid is as FOL
| lows:
Primary school fund, 7pc........ s., 924,3 1926 II
Primary school fund, B pc........ 80, 996 "a
University fund, 7pc............ 4o5,6Ol 50
Agricultural college fund, 7pc... 4,S6S Is
Normal school fund, 6pc........ 6OO15 40
Total. ................ .S4,O5%,So' IL
FIRE RELIEF.
The disastrous forest fires in this state In the
fall of 1881 destroyed 5000 buildings, deprived
$1,000 persons OF their means OF support and
| swept away between 200 and 800 lives. The
public contributions for relief were munifcent
but fearing they might not be adequate the
legislature in February last appropriated $780,
00O The relief commission collected and dis
bursed from voluntary contributions S4l6 1856
in cash and $1,000 in merchandise, and from
the state appropriation SlIS,900. A good har-
vest has since placed the sufferers in an indie
pendent position and the relief agency has been
wound up.
IMMIGRATION.
The establishment Of the bureau of immigra-
ton two years ago has been a success. OF the
pamphlet michigan and its Resources" 1000
sides 1000 copies in the Dutch and German
languages. The entire expense of the bureau
is about Sl5,500. The sales of unoccupied
farming lands have exceeded in quantity those
of any former year. This, as well as the pro-
curing the appointment of the tax law commits
sion, by which the tax laws of the state were SO
revised that hereafter the taxes will probably
be all collected, and in cases where property Is
sold for non payment, the state will be able 10
give good title thereto, the governor modest
ly claims the credit for.
REVISION OF THE TAX LAWS.
| The tax laws of the state were very complex.
| They had been so added to and amended as TO
| leave little certainty as TO the construction 10
| be put upon their various provisions. A rec
ommendation was made for the appointment
| of a commission for the purpose OF general
| revision, which Communication was adopted,
and a commission appointed. The work OF
this commission has been well aud thoroughly
done, the bills reported by it being enacted into
| laws, with out material modification.
SWAMP LANDS.
I The amount Of swamp lands still belonging
| 10 the state in the lower peninsula is 3o,6So
| acres As some of these NAV be worthless, the
board of control has resolved TO make no more
| contracts for constructing roads and bitches
| payable In lands till the remaining lends can be
examined as TO value. There are l,1l4,5o7
acres due the state from the general govern
|
years labor has been given to preparing full
| statements of the claim, and 10 is expected as
soon as a settlement can he had that the pop
erty or its equivalent in cash will be made over.
THE INSANE AsYLUMs.
Legislation is recommended enabling Han
| nah, Law q Co. to transfer to the new asylum
% acres of adjacent land desirable for its use,
legal difficulty having arisen from Mr. Han
nah being one of the commissioners OF the
asylum.
The Kalamazoo asylum has been fitted with
! new heating apparatus at cost OF S4O,OOO,
whereby the consumption OF coal has been re-
| duced from 5000 tons TO 5000. Numerous
| other improvements have been made, making
| IL equal to the best 1t has $40 patients though
| intended only for $50. Its expenses for support
| of patients for two years have been $500 ITO.
A Sl20Qp contagious hospital building is
| needed.
The eastern asylum was originally designed
for 400 patients. During the past two years
two new wings have been added, increasing the
capacity to $50. The number at the close Of
November was 81 and the cost of care per
patient is 1894 per year.
| A separate asylum for incurably insane GRIM
| inals is suggested.
THE DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND.
The deaf and dumb institution is in good
condition. Its capacity is $50 pupils, but it
/ now has 260. For current expenses and i'm
| provements for 1888 and 1884, S95, $50 will be
required Enlargement of the institution is
| also recommended.
sing was $40, 900, and $4,000 has been added
| in improvements. The estimated current ex-
penses are $40, 600 for the coming two years. IL
accommodates 76 pupils-less than half the
number entitled to admission. Additional
wings increasing the capacity 145 pupils are
| recommended.
| THE STATE CHARITIES.
The state public school at Coldwater cost
$500, 500 embraces farm of ~ acres with
capacity for 300 children. An appropriation
OF SIS, 400 is required for the next two years.
| THE STATE LIBRARY.
The library has increased 4,0S2 volumes at a
cost of S5,019, and 5000 is recommended to be
| expended for books I'm the next two years.
-Four thousand copies of Michigan and the
War; have been applied for by the Michigan
soldiers
EDUCATIONAL.
There are still 357, 917 acres of school lands
] TO be sold at 81 per acre, and when sold the
state primary school fund will amount to S5,-
051 ,631.
The total university fund is S546, no; 1884
students are In attendance, OF whom 1S4 are
women. An eye and an infirmary and school
of political science have been added. Appro-
priations are recommended.
! The Agricultural College received 2a5,673
4 acres Of land from the government and ,202
acres have been sold. The college property
alone is valued at 1884 Appropriations Of
| S59, SD are asked. The total number Of grad
yates up to the present time are S72, of whom
| more than one-half are engaged in farming
| The addition to the State Normal School has
been completed. An appropriation OF s4S 100
| arc asked for the next two years.
STATE TROOPS.
The total number of state troops Is !, 900, or
ganized into three regiments and two batal-
Ions 5000 men have received drill and in
struction, and would be useful In case Of an
emergency.
GEOLOGICAL.
The geological survey has been confined to
the iron region, but the copper district is now
to be worked. The cost for two years has been
e9,465.
The salt region OF the State covers 10000
square miles, and the manufacturing capacity
Is $4,000 barrels.
REFoRMAToRIEs.
The state reform school is more than full and
cmbarrassmt mt is felt TO find employment Tor
the boys. The appropriations wanted are 500
600 for two years current expenses and 5000
for building improvements.
The reform school for girls, at Adrian, was
opened Aug. l, 1881. IL now has 50 inmates.
The board want the name changed TO the I'm
dustria Home" The institution has cost
Sill, $50 for permanent improvements and Sl2,-
$50 for current expenses. Appropriations OF
$50, 755 are asked.
THE PRISONS.
The management OF Ionia prison is now har-
monous, and the institution In first class sanl-
tary condition. The prison is over crowded,