The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-01-12

rel is sufficient to pay the expenses of in
spection, and the Inspector suggests that
the law be modified so as TO reduce the fee
to that amount AS the State does not seek
to derive revenue from this source, / re-
commend that the inspection fee be reduced
TO IL cents
FISH CULTURE
The Board of Commissioners In charge Of
this work has become involved in difficulty
Some months since IL dismissed James G..
Portman from the position of Superintend-
emit The legal right to dismiss this officer In
denied by the latter, and considerable en-
barrassment has followed in the conduct of
the business The board reports the books
in the custody of the deposed Superintend-
emit, and in consequence the regular report
cannot be made He is also in possession of
the hatchery at Paris and refuses TO relin-
quish it The law governing the department
is defective and should be amended In many
ways The board is now acting under the
direction of the Attorney General in this
complication. A new Superintendent has
been employed, and is in charge of the
hatchery at Detroit, where whitefish fry are
being Matched with success Some %, 100000
are on hand there and 500, 900 trout at the
Paris hatchery
The board has confidence in the beneficial
results of its work, and urges its continu-
ance Since its organization 100, 900 100
young fry have been planted in the waters
OF the State. 1t asks for an appropriation
vi So,OOO lOT Uue year 1000 anu 3l,OVO
1884. l commend their wants TO your care
full consideration.
INSURANCE.
The business of this department isincreas-
ing with the growth of the State
The character and condition of the com
panies doing business under the provisions
of the law are good, and their obligations to
the State have been fairly discharged.
Some companies that have no lawful right
TO take risks in the State have sought to
evade the law. Their agents have been
prosecuted by the Commissioner with sue
cess SO far There are yet several suits
pending All will doubtless be disposed OF
under decision of the Supreme Court of q
case taken up from the Kent circuit, III
which the States position was sustained
Your attention is further called TO the
recommendation of the Commissioner as TO
reducing the reserves to be held by life com
panies, fixed on the net premiums, with in
terest compounded at per cent, in place of
~ per cent, as now Also, as to the de-
fective statute under which associations are
doing life insurance on the cooperative or
assessment plan For particulars, reference
is made TO memoranda submitted by the
Commissioner OF Insurance, hereto ap-
pended.
INSURANCE POLICY COMMISSION.
Act 149, Laws of 1881, provided for the ere
alton OF commission to adopt and put in
force a standard form of fire insurance policy
for use by all companies taking fire risks in
this State The commission has performed
its work and prepared draft of a policy.
The law was found defective to give force
TO the work in the opinion of the Attorney
General, and further Legislation is asked
For particulars, reference is made to the re-
port of the commission, hereto appended
RAILROADS.
The report of the Commissioner of Rail
roads discloses some interesting facts.
The present length Of road within the State
il 4, oh. 90 miles-mal<ing an increase for the
past ten years of ] To-. 80 miles, and for the
past two years of al. 80 miles
The roads are generally in good condition
and well managed. The traffic is increasing,
aud with the increase comes a gradual re
duction in the charges for hauling freight
Eight years since there were ,sS2, 40, 1B
tons carried one mile at an average charge
of .Ol31 per ton In 1881 there were 3, 147,-
Si7 ,62l tons carried one mile at charge of
81 mills, and with some corrections made by
the Commissioner the latter rate is reduced
to Z. 62 mills per ton per mile. He also cites
the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern that
only receives for its entire freight traffic,
local and through, 6.l7 mills for the same
service.
This reduction is largely due TO the better
construction of roads by the use of steel
rails and the improved rolling stock used
Both OF these add to the economy of
operation, and, what is of vastly more inn
portance, decrease the liability of accidents
30 the travelling public.
ST Mays FALLS SHIP CANAL.
At the last session of the Legislature
authority was given for the transfer of the
St Mary's Falls ship canal TO the United
States Government The transfer was duly
consummated by the execution Of a deed of
conveyance on the part of the State The
property belonging to the canal not included
In the transfer has been sold, and on the 30th
day of September last there was SOS, 024. ~ in
the State treasury which, under the above
law authorizing the conveyance, will be
transferred TO the United States Government
whenever the latter will undertake to con
struct dry-dock to be operated in con
nection with said canal for the use of dis
abled vessels
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The $1,000 appropriated at the last regular
session of the Legislature has been used with
success In conducting series of sanitary
conventions, in collecting, printing and dis
tributing information literally among the
people; also in gathering data from meteo-
TolOgical observations and determining the
relations of climatic conditions to disease.
The introduction of diseases by i'm
migrants is engaging the attention of
health officers, and its prevention is of inn.
portance / call your attention TO the dis
cussion of this subject by the State Board of
Health in its annual report, for such action
as may be deemed eXpedient.
The board has rendered valuable services
and has the confidence of the public. 4
continuance of your fostering care is recon-
mended
PREVENTION OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AMONG
CATTLE
The laws heretofore enacted sought to
provide against the introduction and spread
of disease among cattle, horses and swine
Authority was given for the appointment of
a commission TO execute the law Under
its provisions the introduction into or trans
portation through the State of Texas cattle,
during certain periods of the year, was pro-
hibited and various other methods devised
for carrying into effect the objects of the
law. Commissioners have been appointed
who have been fairly active and partially
successful The law is defective in so many
particulars that nothing but thorough re
vision will accomplish the object desired
CONCLUSION.
In closing my official connection with the
Government of the State, l renew my con-
gratulations on its prosperity and the condi-
ton of its public business It's treasury CON
tains the means to redeem every dollar of
its bonded Indebtedness, and is ready TO pay
a premium for the surrender of it's unma-
tured obligations It's charitable, reforna-
tory and penal institutions are abreast Of the
intelligence and wisdom of the age, are
faithfully administered, and are in happy
accord with the temper and spirit
of its people. It's educational sys-
TEN il broad in it's scope and exalted In
ifs inns hafttipfr no cf,,