Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-09-28
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Labor Commissioner Cox has been maxi
ing special canvass OF the soft coal in
dustry in Michigan, which has been grow
Ing rapidly during the past few years. As
result Of his investigation it is found
that there are seventeen soft coal shafts
In operation in the State. With the ex-
'ception of the shafts at Jackson and
Corunna they are all in the Saginaw val
ley. During the month of August 1856
men We're at work in the mines of the
State, and IL skilled miners could be en-
ployed 5000 men could easily be kept at
work in the industry and produce 1900
tons of coal per day. AS 1t is over one
million tons will be produced in 1890. The
Michigan schedule Of wages enables the
operators to mine the coal and place 1t
on the cars at the mine for $1.16 to $1.2S
per ton. Skilled miners are paid from
$3.50 TO $3.50 per day and helpers $1.75.
Labor Commissioner Cox says that the
Michigan operators have to contend with
two serious difficulties. One is the in
ability to secure skilled miners and the
other the tendency on the part of the
railroads to discriminate against them In
the matter Of freights. 1t is also impos-
sible to get sufficient cars for the trans
portation of the product of the mines.
There Is now over two million acres
of land controlled by the coal operators,
and owners are paid from four to seven
cents per ton royalty on all coal mined
on their property. There is said to be no
way Of determining how much coal has
been located. In many parts Of Saginaw
valley the ground Is full of holes where
prospectors have been at work, and there
Is no doubt that the industry in Michi-
gan Is comparatively in its infancy. The
coal is as good as that mined in Ohio,
and it exists in veins from three to five
feet in thickness, invariably at depth Of
from 100 to 200 feet.
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The total sales of swamp lands during
the fiscal year which closed June 30,
1899, have amounted to S,269.40 acres,
for which there was paid in cash $12,-
S74.41, and part paid certificates issued
for balance due the State for SOIL 81.
As compared with sales for the year end
ing June 30 1898, this shows an increase
of cash receipts to the amount Of &c.
617.72, with an increase in the number
Of acres sold Of 5,414.66. During the year
there have been sold 12,567.70 acres Of
agricultural lands, for which So, 519.76
has been received and part paid certifi-
Gates for $2,9O3.3Q have been issued. This.
is an increase in the number of acres sold
of 2,6O4.96 over the year ending June 30,
1898, and the amount of money received
for the same exceeds that OF the previ-
Gus year by $33,321.25. The amount Of
primary school hnd sold was 17,653.8S
acres, aid $69,3S2. Is was received in pay
xx,ith rt m
amount Of $1,353.36 issued This shows
an increase in the sale of this class of
lands as compared with the sales Of 1898,
of S,61S.5G acres. and the sum of $780,
O30.94 greater than for 1893 has been re-
ceived.
The Secretary of State recently rceiv-
ed franchise fee Of $4,000 from the
American Car and Foundry Company, a
recently organized trust for the manufac-
ture of cars which desires to do business
in this State, and of which the Detroit
car works is member The trust offer
ed its articles for filing some time ago,
but demurred to the payment of fran
chise fee upon its entire capital stock, ex-
pressing a willingness to pay upon the
capitalization Of the Detroit works. Sec
rotary Stearns insisted upon the payment
of the fee upon the entire capital Of the
trust and the money has been received.
The fee is the second largest ever receiv-
ed by the Secretary of State, the trust
having a capital stock of sec, 100000.
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State Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton Jason E. Hammond has prepared
new compilation of the school laws of the
State with an entirely new set Of refer
ences, having referred to the new COM
piled laws of the State instead Of How
ellis statutes. The book will be ready
for distribution in a few weeks.
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Railroad Commissioner Osborn is now
sending out fine new railroad map Of
the State Of Michigan to the people of
the State who are sufficiently interested
to ask for copy. The map is a good
one and shows all the new lines Of rail-
road which have been constructed up to
within very short time.
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The attendance at the State Agricul-
tural College is so large that accommoda-
tions for all the students cannot be pro-
vided. A number Of young men have
erected tent and are sleeping there I'M
til more suitable quarters can be secured.
49,
The aggregate Of the State tax levied
this year is So, 725, S35O1.
.fh
Brief State Happenings.
There were 1856 deaths in Michigan
in August
Me- Ward Dart;ns 30 r ooou. -. -