Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-01-10

OF new hospital, ana as the campus - now
nearly all occupied, the plan is to locate IL out
side Of the University grounds. And for the
purchase OF these grounds aud the construction
% SUI sSisels S hospital + estimated THAT S
by some OF the citizens OF Ann Arbor that the
city will contribute $25,0O. have no means OF
estimating the necessary cost OF hospital, but
have no difficulty in arriving at a conclusion
that q new one 10 sOrely needed.
THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
But small amount OF money in addition to
current expenses Is now required by the Normal
School: An entire appropriation OF SS 500 Will
meet its wants.
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
This is in prosperous condition. The appro-
priation OF $15L0J per annum by the general
government 10 experimental purposes will en-
large its field OF usefulness and. 10 limited ex-
tent reduce expenses heretofore devoted to
experimental purposes and paid by the State
1t is now fairly we'll equipped in all OF its de-
partments with buildings and facilt'eI.
THE MINING SCHOOL AT HoUGHroN.
Last year an appropriation OF $500 was
made for the construction OF building, and
S37. 500 for current expenses. magnificent
structure has been erectei and finished. very
large appropriation is now asked to furnish and
equip IL.
This is yet In its infancy. One has TO see II to
appreciate the necessity for its establishment
and the work IL is doing. Like some OF our other
institutions, 1t is full and running over. It's ca
Iacity Is supposed to be about 400, and IL now
has $50 inmates. The bo ard will urge an ap-
preparation Of Sl2 010 to S1s 900 for the addition
OF hospital outside of the main building. IL
this plan Is adopted it will givS opportunity
to provide room for at least forty where the hos
ptal is now located on the fourth floor. The
erection OF such building Is commended to
your favorable consideration.
A bill has passed through Congress providing
for the payment of Sl0J per annum for each
veteran maintained In soldier5 Homes by
States. This will contribute toward the sup
port OF Michigans Soldiers Home nearly or
quite $50, ,0)1 for the years OF 1889 and 1897 This
will, OF course reduce the n 9cesBary approIrla-
tion to be mado by the State
GETTYSBURG MONUMENTS.
In 1857, $4,000 was appropriated for the cree
tion OF monuments on the Gettysburg battlefield
in honor OF the Michigan regiments and COM
panies that participated In that memorable bat
tle The appropr. ation will be exhausted when
the monums snts are completed, and small ap-
propriation to provide for their suitable dedica-
Lion Is suggested
PAYMENr OF MEMBERS OF STATE BOARDS.
To the end that clear an dehhite statement
OF the cost OF supporting each board and State
instit ltion shall appear I'm the appropriation
bill, recommend tina. the law be amended so
that the expenses OF the members OF the boards
shall be audited and paid by the respective
boards and institutions.
CHANGE IN APPROPRIATION YEAR
In his annual report for 1883 the Audi. or Gen.
eral recommends three appropriations for each
institution and object-one for the six months
,nding June 80, 1889, and then one for each Of
the twelve months ending June 30 1891.
! While this change might to some extent sim
pity bookkeeping yet this would not compen-
safe for the practical objections that present
themselves.
sound pubic policy requires th1t tnere
shall be ample funds in the treasury to meet
promptly any and all demands that may be
made upon it, but IL Ia not q wise economy to
maintain unnecessary surplus Money
should not be drawn from the people in advanc1
OF its nC eds. The proposed plan would place in
the treasury six months expenditures beyond
! the amount now required. Under the present
system balances in the treasury are sometimes
large, but are usually small the last OF Decem-
Der and the first OF January: Decemb ~ 1885,
| the balance was "a 33j. This amount Is not
likely to be ma erially reduced before the treas
ury will be roplenished from the taxes OF 1883.
The proposed change wolld add to t1e average
balance from 500, 0J to S1OO ,0OO. For these
reasons do not concur in the accommodation
! OF the Auditor General
LIVE STOCK COMMISSION.
The Commission has dischar5 Jed its duties
! with industry and fidelity.
SIGNAL SERVICE.
Sor seant Congcr and his aids are doing much
| TO disseminate useful knowledge.
THE STATE MILITIA
We have thirty-six military companies formed
into four resiments no % sustain y. tnem mem ,ahh tx
! liant Is levied The 70 CO Is IN splendid condi-
! tion. During the last biennial period two sue
! cessful and profitable tncalnpm nts have been
held. II tho force is to be ma n ain ID, as
! think IL ought to be- these annual encdmpmtnts
are nece sary to st mul to the members OF the
companies and render them proficient in DIR IL
on the field.
TOTAL TAXATION.
Thu ag ,regate appropriation required ut your
hands for the main .enance OF all existing State
L
next two yea 8 will be 5000 0)Jless than amounts
appropria ed In 1881 II the direcs tax is refunded
It will enable you to make still further reduc-
This information will be gratefully received
| by the pc pie. The total amount OF taxation
| for all purposes, assessed and spe:ihc, in the
! State, exclusive OF any contribution TO the
| General Government, Is about S2J,OOlOO The
| total eaualized valuation of the taxable properly
OF the State is s9i5,OOO,OJO. And 1t will be seen
that taxation amounts to more than
per cent. upon this valuation The
legal rate OF interest is established at
| per cent and IL is fair to presume that aver
| age investments do not earn greater amount.
And when we consider that taxation calls for 81
por cent. OF the net earnings OF property, IL
| must be conce led that the loud protest against
| an increase is something more than what is
sometimes termed the chronic erumbling OF the
taxpayer. The burden is not felt by men OF
wealth nor by prosperous business men, Dut IT
bears heavily upon agriculture.
SWAMP LANDS.
| Questions connected with the swamp land
grants have recently attracted unusual atten-
| tion. Under an act OF Congress of Sept %, 10 0,
more han 7,0O00J0 acres were j patted and ten-
dored TO the State OF Michigan under the condi-
lature accepted the grant with the conditions.
About 1,5OO,UO1 acres OF the grant have since
been claimed by the Government because Of
alleged Irregularities in the survey These lands
that tho Government refused to patent to ths
State have I'll been sold by the General Govern
ment homesteaded under the laws OF Congress,
and granted TO railroads.
It has been from the beginning the policy of
tho State TO offer none OF its swamp lands for
sale until patents wer5 received from the Gener
| al Government; and further, the general law
provides: THAT mono OF these lands shall be
subject to private entry until the same shall
have been offered for sale at public auction"
But in 1888 the Legislature made an absolute
and unconditional appropriation OF l00JJ acres
ofswamp land TO the county of Living 'ton for
the purpose OF straightoning the channel OF
Cedar River and In 1881 another like uncondi-
tional appropriation OF 1850 acres of swamp
land was made TO the counties OF Shiawassee
and Clinton for the purpose OF improving
| Looking Glass River. Contracts for perform
ing the work under both appropriations were
made with T.. w. Sparrow. The jobs were
completed accepted, and selection of land
tions were made from these lands in dispute be-
tween the General and state Governments. The
land had been disposed Of through sale and
grant, some OF them many years ago, by the
Land ONCE were I'm the usual FORM and patents
were signed to more than 6,O00 acres appropri-
ated by the acts referred 70 before was in-
formed of the existing conditions. The Deputy
Commissioners, confid. mt that dec sion OF the
| Supreme Court required him to do so, had issued
the certificates without full and free confer
once with the Commissioner OF the Land
ONCE, the Attorney General or the Governor
When IL was ascertained that we were patenting
lands to which we had patent, and, as be-
lieve, In violation Of the general policy OF the
State, i refused TO sign patents TO the balance
OF the appropriation, believing that the whole
course that had been pursued In reference "
these particular appropriations was mistake.
After full consultation with the Attorney Gem
eral and the Commits sioner OF the Land Office
suits were commenced in the Cirsuit Court to
set aside the patents and the selections made
and those casea are still pending
II the State owns those lands and is going to
dispose of them, it ought to receive their value.
Rut there are great many questions involved
In this controversy yet TO bo adjusted. Moro
under pa .ents issued by the General Govern
ment largely to citizens OF our own State.