The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-03-19

that are entirely overlooked by those who
favor us with news items from this place,
which might be of interest 10 large class
who. through circumstances, are not ermitted
10 view for themselves, the many interesting
things 10 be seen here. Naturally, our State
House first demands attention. III build
inc of which we, as citizens OF the state OF
Michigan, are Justly proud.
The corner stone was laid in 1872, but it
was not until Jan. 1st, 1879, that 1t was ded-
icated and thrown open 10 the Legislature
that convened at that time. The building Is
located on Capitol square, fronting on Capt.
toll avenue. The block has an area of eleven
and a quarter acres. The location Is very
fine, giving beautiful view of the city The
length of the building is APO feet, breadth
27O feet, height 267 feet, diamater OF rotunda
Az feet, height of rotunda from hoor To
diaphragm $50 feet Entering on the first
floor, we find, first, the department OF agri-
culture. The gentleman in charge explained
that as agriculture is the Keystone of
national prosperity, they placed 1t at the very
beginning of the department. was here
shown something that would be of interest
to our farmer friends. Among samples of
American WOOL there was a sample of Aus
tralian wool which, was told, could be laid
and be profitable to the grower. This de-
partment is under control of the secretary of
state There are, usually, twenty clerks en-
ployed, but now, owing to the compilation of
the census, there are fifty. Among these we
find ladies who have held their positions for
wears. The armory is on this door, and we
are indebted to the gentleman in charge for
much valuable information. We were here
shown the famous Calling gun, one of the
most wonderful inventions OF modern times.
1t will fire 100 half pound shots or 240O
musket balls per minute, and 1t can be kept
working IN that way as long as the ammuni-
ton holds out. 10 has an oscillating move
Inent, that will cover the whole front OF
regiment. We were shown two small field
pieces that were taken from the rebels, by
our boys, during the war, or rather one was
taken from a grave at Macon, Georgia,
marked "small box" The boys thought they
would see how mnch "small pox" there was
IA IL, and SO opened the grave. They con-
cluded that il was the right kind to take, and
took il. The other piece was taken from
Gen. Wheeler at Raleigh, N. g.
The elevator, which starts from the first
floor. is managed by Keeier boy, Frank
Thompson. Il is run by water which is kept
IN two Immense tanks, one up under the
roof. and the other in the basement 1t
takes fifteen barrels of water TO make one
trip. / was informed, in answer to my in
curry concerning the number Of trips, that
one trip per minute was the average. The
elevator runs to the 9th story. If you wish
to 90 higher, you must use the means pro-
yided 10y nature. We went up, one beautiful
clear morning, accompanied 10y the guide, to
the highest point in the dome, fifty steps
above the 9th floor. 4 balcony surrounds
the dome at this height, and, as We stepped
out upon it, the scene presented was grand
Ia the extreme. The city lay far beneath US,
while, in the distance, could be seen the
agricultural college, the reform school and our
institution for the blind. Four trains OF
cars could DC seen, on as many different
roads.
Lansing, in the summer, must be a beau .
tiius city. The streets are broad and straight,
with double rows Of shade trees extending
on each side. As we looked OUT 10 the north,
/ thought of the street in Damascus - called
straight" tbut this is a digressiou). From
tais point one can ascend a winding stair
case, more like step-ladGer, however, until
YOU reach the lantern. $50 feet from mother
earth. This ascent, which Is nearly perpen-
dicular, is not often undertaken. Returning
to the second floor, we find the auditor gem
erals Office, with its force of ~ clerks (;
among them is our former townsman, Mr. j..
j. sherman. Mr.. 5. has a good position and
is DONG well. There are number of ladies
IL this department On this floor We SEQ
also the Offices OF the superintendent of pub
iic instruction, the acjutaut general and the
quarter master general, board OF health,
land commissioner. railroad commissioner.
etc. And last, but not least, the museum,
where are TO be seen mainly relics of the late
war, consisting largely OF flags, revolvers,
canteens, etc. a number of confederate
flags are among them. A large share OF the
smaller articles, were taken from the dead
bodies of soldiers, on either side. 10 one is
in charge of the museum, and IL is only by
labels attached that one can gain any lnowl-
edge of the articles. NV attention was par
ticularlv drawn To "A case of ancient coins
This IS private property, and the coins are
labeled. l noticed among them the coin Of
Herod Agrippa, called the widow mite"
the tribute penny of Christs time, the first sill
yer coinage, 700 yrs. b. g., which is Of the size
and shape of a split pea. The most curious
is the old Roman coin, called the "peund of
brass" said TO have been ordered coined
about 2S0 years b. g., 10y Roman emperor
who wished TO check the ayarice of his sub
jects, and compel them to keep their pro-
perry mostly in slaves and real estate. It
weighs twelve ounces ayoirdupois, and must
have served TO check their desire TO accu-
muiate and hoard the coin OF the realm.
Possibly this may be similar TO the money
Mark Twain speaks of in his Innccents
Abroad when they exchanged a two dollar
bill and got FOR it two quarts OF coin.
On the third floor is the senate chamber.
a room 70x57 feet. The ceiling, AZ feet
above the floor, is composed of panels OK
hammered glass, thrse-fourths Of an inch IN
thickness. On these panels, are represented
the seals of the different states, in stained
glass the remaining panels are frosted and
represent fruits, flowers, etc. The senate is
composed of thrty-two members, and we
arc glad TO toe able TO say that we every
where hear our senator, Hon. G. J. Monroe,
spoken Of as painstaking, careful member,
one who is credit TO his constituency.
Representative hall is opposite the senate
chamber, and ~ 7Ox75 feet, with ceiling of
same height and of similar construction AS
the senate chamber. Both have galleries
extending around three sides Of the room,
with reporters gallery above the speakers
desS. This gallery is not used, on account
OF the difficulty OF hearing what is said in
the house. The reporters occupy the space
e. or re fl,oc