Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-09-07

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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
III. .~~-~~---~~~~~>-
The acting-ihpd commissioner &C w ash-
ington has mailed to the land once in
Michigan Circular prescribing rules for
the government Of oil pe/P6ns concerned
in proceedings arising on reports or spe-
cial agents affecting the validity Of
claims to public lands. The object Of
the changes outlined in the circular Is to
provide for the serving Of notice upon
entrymen by which they will be given an
opportunity to be heard in a case IL 30
desired. Hereafter when there Is filed
In the general land Office report of q
special agent alleging that certain en-
try, filing, location or claim for q speci-
fed tract Of land Is fraudulent Or illegal,
or that the claimant has failed to comply
with the requirements Of law, and the
facts presented are sufficient to warrant
a cancellation of an entry or claim, the
local land officers will be authorized to
serve notice upon said claimant or entry
man. The notice must specify and define
the charges adverse to the entryman or
claimant contained in the special agent's
report. They will be advised that thirty
days will be allowed in which to apply,
the prescribed time will be taken as an
admission of the truth Of the charges.
The notice must be served personally
whenever possible. Heretofore the prac-
tice has been that upon the report Of a
special agent Of the abandonment Of a
claim or that an entry had been made in
violation Of law the entry has been held
for cancellation. The new departure is
expected to result in the expedition Of
the class of cases affected.
Labor Commissioner Cox has gathered
interesting statistics with reference to
the fire departments of Michigan cities.
There are 76 cities in the State, of which
81 have paid chiefs Of the fire depart
ment. The aggregate salaries of the "
chiefs amount to So, 935, the average be-
ing SIT. Forty-eight cities employ 100
full-time men, an average of IL men to
each city, who are paid an average
monthly wage Of $39.97. Sixty-two cities
have part-paid men and IA volunteer fire.
men. Part-paid men receive an average
Of SIT per year each, and 1,362 are given
employment. Six cities pay wages month
ly at the average rate of $15, and 10
cities pay men by the day at the rate OF
$151. Fourteen cities pay fremen by
the hour for actual service at fires at
the rate Of 70 cents on an average. The
number of runs made by all the fire de-
partments Of the State during the year
was 4,192, the average number for each
city being 80. There were 800 false
alarms in 60 cities Of the State. Sixty
cities report the aggregate value Of prop
erty destroyed by fire in 1898 at 81, $751;
O57, an average Of $3O,577 for each city.
Fifty-fve cities estimate the total value
Of property saved by fire departments at
$27,S71, 100. Two hundred and ninety
four villages were also canvassed, 164
having organized fire departments and
100 having no organization for fire pro-
lection. Twelve villages have paid de-
partments and 16I villages employ chiefs
Of the departments.
Labor Commissioner Cox has obtained
figures relative to the value of the prop
erty Of Michigan villages which is being
compiled for his annual report. There
Are 29S villages in the State, of which
four have no village officers, so that the
returns are from 294 vSages. OF these
1T2 own village halls and 122 are with
out such accessories. The value Of these
halls is given by III villages at $410,-
100, or an average of $2,396 each. For
public improvements in 1893 % villages
report no expenditures, while 253 are ex-
pending $572, 45S, an average Of $2,245
each. One hundred and fifty-three vii
lagos report no public Indebtedness, the
other 141 having an aggregate debt Of
81, T32, ia, an average Of SLIPS to each
village. There are no police officers in
nine villages, while 2S5 villages report
AS. Night watchmen are employed in
Is villages, while 1S9 villages have no
such officer. The expense Of police in
263 villages Is given at $61,771. Accord
ing to the reports from 221 villages times
are better than one year ago, while IS
report times no better. The average
wages paid for day labor is $1.33 per day,
and for man and team S2.64.
-
The aggregate amount of money paid
chiefs of police and marshals in the rs
cities of the State is SOL $50, an average
of $674 for each city. Sixty-four cities
have regular men on the police force, the
aggregate number of policemen being
936, or an average of 10 for each city.
The average daily pay for members Of
the police force is 1922. In twelve cities
there are no regular men employed on
the police force. In addition to the reg
ular police force in 20 of the cities there
are 172 sheriff's deputies and 245 con-
stables actively serving. or an average Of
six for every city. Only twelve cities in
the State report having a regular police
matron.
Owing to the rapid growth Of the cleo
trio railway system, the State railroad
crossing board has decided to require a
separation of grades at all crossings Of
steam tracks hereafter made. This is
a measure of safety to the public and is
necessary for the making of time, the
law requiring full stop to be made at
all grade crossings.
State Items of Interest.
Jerry White Of Port Huron was killed
by thugs in Cleveland, Ohio.
More than three miles of water mains
will be laid in Jackson this summer,
Bees are said to be playing havoc with
the grape crop in central Michigan.