Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-06-24
FIFTY YEARS.
We Celebrate Our Semi Center
NAL.
Michigan's Red Letter Day.

Michigan's Red Letter Day.
The exercises of Michigan's semi-centen-
NAL celebration were opened at the east
front of the capitol at 10 o'clock on the
morning of the 18th by selections OF ma
tional airs by the Cassopolis band. Rev.
Geo. Taylor of Lansing, an old army chap.
lain, offered prayer, and Gov Alger deliv-
cred the address of welcome.
Gov. Alger expressed his pleasure at
bidding welcome to those who were
present He reviewed the prosperity OF
Michigan, her unrivaled growth, her edu-
cational and benevolent institutions, and
paid tribute to the pioneers who had
done so much to build up these. In 1886
the total vote cast for governor was
e,322; in 1884 it was 4OO,34s. In 1897 the
total population was l74,461, while to-day
it is nearly two millions This population
has ever been patriotic. In the time of
trial, when the civil war broke out 9O,747
men went to the front, nearly one in eight
of the population. The governor eulogized
those who fought and died, and continued
as follows;
Hearts there are here to-day that ache
! for loved ones so early lost, and indigna-
| tlOn nedtS tne DlOOu anu qulckeuS tne
pulse of those who made these great sacri-
fees as they read of the recent triumph
ant march Of the head of the rebellion
through the south, uttering the same old
reasonable sentiments that carried the
frebrand of war through the south in 1861,
and whose pathway was strewn with flow
ers by the school children en- masse."
This was no appeal TO sectional prejudice.
he said, but that which made The future OF
the country safe. The children must be
I'M oh hat hare 10
secession, or nihilism, or socialism, or the
commune. There is only one flag to bow
to here-the stars and stripes.
The governor was frequently applauded,
especially in his reference to JEFF Davis
recent triumphant journey.
On the steps were delegation from the
state pioneer society, and after the COVER
nor had concluded Witter j. Baxter spoke
briefly for the society. 1t was so intensely
warm that further outdoor exercises were
adjourned to the shade at the west front
of the capitol, where Hon. r.. .. Grosve-
nor delivered his address on the financial
| history of the state.
A pretty feature of the opening exer-
cises was the singing of the school child
rem, who were dressed in white, and their
rendition of THE red, white and blue"
accompanied by the waving OF small flags,
was unanimously received. At the con-
clusion of the opening exercises two other
meetings were Immediately convened in
Representative hall and the Senate cham
ber The former was presided over by
Hon. Henry Chamberlain of Three Oaks,
and the latter by Hon. Henry Fralick OF
Grand Rapids.
Hon. Henry Fralick of Grand Rapids
presided at the meeting in the Senate
Chamber, and the Arion quartette furnish
| ed the music
Hon. Alpheus Felch, the oldest governor
in the state, and one of Michigan's most
honored citizens gave very complete and
interesting history of the government Of
the state from its requirement by France
until the present time.
Hon. Henry Chamberlain presided in
Representative Hall. Judge Cooley was
the principal speaker. His address was
one of the most able efforts of that able
man, and will be one OF the most valuable
historical documents on our state records.
The history of the state and its education
al institutions, was followed by an interest
ing biographical sketch of its public men,
emitting those now living.
Judge j. V. Campbell gave very enter
ing history of our Judiciary from the
territorial day until the present. The adj
dress, aside from its historical value, was
| replete with timely suggestions.
Elk Senator L. II. Hinchman presided at
the grand stand. Hon. w. l.. Weber pre-
pared a very able address on "Agricul-
ture,n which was read by Daniel l.. Cross
man, clerk of the House of Representa-
tives.
G. W. Garfield delivered an address on
horticulture" and gave many valuable
facts and suggestions on fruit-growing in
Michigan.
Adjt. Gen. Robertson delivered an ad-
dress on military" the chief part of
which was devoted to the services render
ed the country by Michigan during the
civil war, and the gallantry, heroism and
to the lateness of the hour Gen. Robertson
did not read all his paper, which will APP
pear in full in the record of the occasion.
John II. Bissell of Detroit read the
opening paper at the meeting in the grove.
His subject was Fish and Fish
culture.n Mr. Bissell gave detailed az
count of the early fisheries in the lakes of
Michigan, fish culture, and the work Of the
fish commission.
President Willis of the agricultural col
lege followed with an able address on
agricultural Colleges" and of our own
institution in particular.
Hon. Levi l.. Barbour of Detroit, read a
very able paper on "Reformatories and
Charities" Astounding in timely sugges-
tons, which it is hoped, may be presented
TO our legislative solons at the next ses-
sion of the legislature.
Prof. J. NJ. b. Sill of Detroit, read a
paper prepared by James w. Bartlett on
Mechanics" The paper was rare COM
bination of fun, statistics, and general in
formation.
Maj. Ransom, deputy railroad commits
of the history of railroads in Michigan,
and Prof. Sill of Detroit followed with an
able historical sketch of the schools of the
state, normal and common.
AT the evening meeting in Representa-
tive Hail. President Angel spoke Of the
history of the University from its earliest
days to the present and traced the various
departments, the professorships, the
courses of the institutions, the different
executive heads all being mentioned.
| Ex-Congressman Horn, treated the con-
| gressional history OF the state in very
mastery manner.
While this feast of reason and flow of
soul" was so amply provided for, the
Inner man" was not forgotten. Many Of
the visitors brought their own food. vet
some thousands awaited themselves Of the
| gigantic free lunch. The result of DAYS
of preparation was seventy minutes of
! very speedy carving. Two and a half
/ hours after the tocsin sounded for lunch
there was not even bone left. A large
quantity of bread already buttered, was
served to all corners. Three large caldrons
were kept over open fires. In two of these
were potatoes. In the third caldron was
coffee. A couple of barrels of the beverage
was made at one time and as soon as ready
was ladled into tall tin cans, holding about
n barrel each, the cans being kept on hot
stove From the faucet of these cans the
hot liquor poured in constant stream into
the procession of tin coffee pots and from
them the coffee went into the cups of the
consumers Every one had to bxing his
| receptacles notice having been given be-
forehand TO this effect. Can after can of
milk also disappeared and was much
sought after as the coffee.
The exercises of our first semi-centennial
celebration closed with vote of thanks
to the committee, the speakers the sing
/ ers the MIA yars nd all others forstheir az