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

YEARS 1SS1-'S2.
To the Hon. DaDid H. Jerome, Gore,7,
or Of UichiJdn.
SIR: In his inaugural message (,
the Legislature in 1859, Gov. Wisne
urged the appointment of State EN-
igrant agent, and joint resolution
was adopted III the same year author
izing him to designate commissionel
for the purpose of encouraging emi
grafton to Michigan, and to expend {
sum not to exceed 81, 500 in any on,
year in the betrayal of expenses. Will
this fund he placed an agent in New
York and another in Detroit. at totaI
cost to the State during the years '59
and go of 81, $40. 40, and in his retir.
ing message he estimated that through
this measure /, 500 German emigrant
had been induced TO settle here.
The breaking out of the war in the
following year terminated these efforts
and no movement was made ia the
same direction until the administra-
ton of Gov. Crapo, who, in three sep
arate messages, recommended further
attention to the subject, but without
results.
Gov. Baldwin in his opening mes
sage to the Legislature OF 1869, re
peated IL earnest terms the advice OF
his predecessor, and an act was passed
authorizing the Governor to appoint n
commissioner of emigration to reside
i'm Germany. at salary not TO exceed
=, 500 per aInum, and a local agent iu
this country at Il salary not to exceed
81, 500 per annum, for the purpose OF
encouraging immigration to Michigan
from the German states and other
countries in Europe, and appropria-
ting sum of s., 600 yearly for travel
ing, printing, and other expenses. Tn
der this act a commissioner was ap
pointed, who opened an Office first at
Frankfort and afterwards at Hamburg
from whence lie distributed pamph-
let descriptive of the character and re-
sources of the State, printed in the
German language, and also a small
monthly sheet designed for the promo
lion Of the same general purpose lie
carried on in ADDITION, as is shown in
his reports. an extensive correspond
ence, and made journeys to different
parts of Germany, Austria and Den.
mark. in the interests Of his work. An
agent to cooperate with the commits
sioner was appointed 10 reside in New
York, and made two trips TO Europe
on official business during his term OF
service. Tie period embraced in this
movement was between May ~. 1869.
and Dec 81. 1874, and the records of
the executive Office show that its en-
tire expense TO the State was %33SS0. 81.
GOV. Baldwin in his retiring message.
declared it to be doubtful whether
the results bad been sufficiently favor
able to render advisable the continu-
ance Of the commission, and Gov.
Bagley closed tie New York agency in
November, 1873, and discontinued the
foreign service at the end of 1874.
No further appointments were made
under the act of 1869, though it re-
manned in force until June, 1881.
The inaugural message of GOV. Bag
ley recommended the establishment.
in connection with the Office of the
Secretary of State, of bureau of sta
tistics which should procure and pub
lsh the statistics of the chief produc-
tions of the State. This information.
he added, would be of great value |
to ourselves, even if it never went be- |
yond our own borders; but | am of |
the opinion that it would be Of great |
benefit to us in attracting emigration
and capital to our State, not only from
other States but from foreign coun- |
tries. This recommendation was not |
by legislative action, but in
of the centennial ami
versary of the national independence,
Gov. Bagley directed the compilation,
Mt the expense of the immigration
fund, Of pamphlet dealing with the
resources, products, institutions, etc,
Of the State, and the greater part of
It's edition was circulated at the PhiIa-
1elphia exposition, while about 1000
copies were sent abroad.
1t is thought the concise statement
thus furnished OF the measures here
tofore adopted 10y tins State TO pro.
mote immigration may be useful both
to the Legislature and to the people
II large
HfE ENisTTSG Law 70 PROMOTE IMAI-
GRAFTON.
In your inaugural message to-the
Legislature OF 1881 attention was call
ed TO the fact that several millions of
lcres of good farming lands lying with
N the State yet remained unoccupied,
he settlement and improvement of
which would add largely to its produc
i've wealth and taxable resources. Ii
vas also urged that "to secure our
share of the emigrants now landing
ipon the shores OF the United States,