JL sdiedule of lands selected and approved under the act of Con-
gress approved June 23, 1636, for the use of salt springs, in
Michigan.
PirtoofMciion.
Sec.
Township.
No. of
BtHl f^riflf , No. 1.
On
Retenredier th« aboYe, vii : sec.,
<In Delraii kad diMactO
6dlf|t««|H^2.
SeUMiswUofieolkM
end n e 1-4 and w Moi sectioo
Reserved for the above, vix : sees.,
(In Detroit bnddistnot.)
Mt spring, No- 3.
Mlpprii«,No.4.
Sdt
:,No.5.
Ob sectioo.
Reserved for the above, viz : sees.,
(laPeiroklAoddistrioL)
(In the Saginaw Ind districU
On section
Reserved for above, vfe: ehalfoT
nhalfef
seMof
e frac of s w M of
neMof
n half of
n half of
w half of
n 1-8 and s e M of
w frac of n w frao*l M of
In the Grand river land district.)
Jo section
Reserved for the above, viz : entire
entire
entire
entire
n 1-2 dc e 1-8 s e M & w l^s w M
w 1.2of n w M and w 1.2 of s w 1-4
9
2
n
4
5
»
2
U
8
9
10
15
17
34
11
14
21
22
25
2S
24
24
24
26
35
36
4
28
33
34
33
34
35
26
27
28
32
IS 8 E
7n| 14
15 N
15
15
15
15
15
14
15
15
15
ION
10
10
10
10
10
10
14
14
12
14
IW
1
1
1
1
1
1 E
1
1
1
640
622 97
626 85
621 51
614 54
040
3S0
640
64*
640
640
640
640
640
640
640
640
640
622 39
320
588 61
640
160
320
275 63
268 56
467 44
90 36
acres • 3753 11
3W
640
3
640
3
640
2
640
3
640
3
480
3
160
acres
3840
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HOnSB DOOUMBNTB.
M»
Pkrtoof Mctioa
See.
Tawsdiip.
No, of
(In Gmid rhm Imd diitrksC.)
8ahfpriiig,No.6.
On MCtion, entire
4
9N
8W
618 59
Reserved for aboye, vi* : entire
3
9
3
680 06
entire
5
9
9
617 39
w fractional half of
2
9
3
310 14
entire
10
9
3
640
• half of
9
9
3
320
entire
8
9
3
640
3766 iM>
SCHEDULE B.
ji Schedule (glands seleded and approved under the act qf Conr
gresSf approved June 23, 1836, for the ereetien ef PuibUc
Buildings^ in Michigan.
FmtaQf99ctkKL
Sec.
Tow»p
UMDge
Quantitf
of acres.
(In the Kakmaioo land dittrtot)
do feetMO.
Eaathalfof
I^aotiaoal north-weit quarter,
15
23
27
35
8
8
7
7
17
17
17
17
acres
885 88
216
280 95
89 96
812 18
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HOUSE DOCUBIENTS.
SCHEDULE C.
Lands selected under the promsions of an act of Congress^ ap^
proved June 3, 1836, by C. C. Douoi^ass, for State BuUdtrm
and Salt SpringSf as appears by his leUer^ dated Detroit^ De-
cember 19, 1837.
Sec rro«w*p
Range
For Slate Bnildiiigi.
BWire,
Entire,
Eatthelfol
North eart quarter of
Froctioiial
Fractkmal
Eaithalfof
24
25
96
35
20
28
23
8
24
4
33
V
7
7
8
10
7
12 W
12
12
12
16
17
12
For Sdt Spring.
Salt iprinff. entire,
IU»eiTeidi%r4MBei«Miia,
North half of
Entire^
6N
r
6
7
12 W
IS
12
12
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HOUSE DOCUMENTS. an
(No. 16.)
Memorial and resolutions relative to improvements^
&/C. by the General Government in the State of
Michigan*
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States^ in Congress assembled.
The memorial of the Senate and House of Representatives of
the Stale of Michigan, convened at the city of DetrcHt, at their
regular session for the jear 1839, respectfully represents :
That the state of Michigan has an extended line of lake coa^
of nearly one thousand miles, almost entirely unprotected from a
dangerous navipration by harbors, piers or other public works, for
safetv of vessels navigating the waters of Liakes St Clair, Huron
and Michigan, and the Straits of Michilimackinac, and that the
mouth of the River St. Joseph is the only harbor that has receiv-
ed, by appropriations of public mone^, any aid from the general
government in the construction of piers or other works, except
nght-houses, from Monroe, on Lake Erie, to New Buffiilo, on
L^ke Michigan } that while the coast of Lake Erie, throudi the
states of Ohio and New York, has received liberal appropriations
for the improvement of the mouths of the numerous rivers which
empty into it, the navigation of Lake Michigan and the Straits
of Afackinac has been attended the past season with a great de-
struction of property and loss of life for want of properly pro-
tected harbors. From these facts, and the very rapid increase of
business on the upper lakes, your menK)riaIist8 think the state of
Michigan is now entitled to a liberal portion of expenditures for
public works to meet the growing wants of a prosperous and
thriving community, and for the safety of public and private pro-
perty. Your memorialists wouM, therefore, respectfully ask that
suitable appropriations be made for the following purposes :
For the construction of a harbor at New Buffalo, at the mouth
of North Black, Kalamazoo and Grand rivers, and for compJeting
the harbor at St Joseph on Lake Michigan ;
For the construction of {Hers and a b^con-Hgbt at Michilimac-
kinac, and for the construction of a pier and harixMr at or near
Point Au Barque, near the entrance oi Saginaw bar ;
For the construction of the road from Detroit to MichiMmacki*'
nac and also the Grand river road ;
For the removal of the bar at the mouth of the Clinton river,
and for the completion of the pier commenced by private indivi-
duals at the harbor of Brest ;
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aw HOUSE DOCUMENTS;
And respectfully ask of your honorable body to order a special
examination of the accounts of the superintendent and assistant
superintendent of the harbor at St Joseph; and of the manner in
which the funds entrusted to their care have been managed and
expended, and whether they have manifested a due regard to the
public interest.
Resolved, That (if the Senate concur) oaf senators in con-
and our representative requested, to urge the
to the above appropriations, and to use theit
:ain immediate action thereon*
I copy of this memorial and resolution Uf
Secretary of State to each of oar senators
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HOUSB DOCUMfiNTS. ili
(No. 17.)
Annual report of the Board of Internal iroprovemeni
of the State of Michigan.
OfFICB iX^ IlVTERNAt luPBOVEMIUfT, )
Detroit, Jan. 16, 1839. )
Hon. K. S. BmoHAM, Speaker of the House (^Representatives i
Sir — I herewith transmit to the honorable the Legislatare the
annual report of the Board of Internal Improvement, together
with the accompanying documents. By order of the boards
EDWIN H. LOTHROP,
President of the Board of Internal Inqnwemeta*
RfiPCHtT, 6ui.
To the BonoriMe the L^idature of the State of Michigan i
The undersigned, the Commissioners of the Board of Internal
Improvement dl the State of Michigan, in pursuance of the re-
quisitions of the act entitled "An act for the regulation of inter*
nal improvements, and for the appointment of a Board of Com^
missioners,'' respectfully report {
That the Commrissioners appointed at the close of the last ses*
«ion of the legislatare, met at the city of Detroit, on the first
Monday of May last, and organized by electing Edwin H. Lo-
dirop, president; Hiram Alden, auditor; Levi S. Humphrey^
acting commissioner on the southern railroad ; Lansing B. Miz-
ner, acting conunissioner on the central railroad ; James B. Hunt^
acting commissioner on the Clinton and Kalamazoo canal ; Wil*
Kam A. Burt, acting commissioner on the northern railroad, and
the Saginaw and Mapie river canal ; Rix Robinson, acting com*
missioner on the improvement of the Grand and Kalamazoo rivers,,
and the SaoH Ste. Marie canal ; and they severally entered upon
the discharge of the duties of their respective offices. The boardf
also appointed Amos T. Hall, as collector on the central railroad
at Detroit ; Thomas B. Clark, collector at Ypsilanti ; Alexander
H. Adams, secretary and general book-keeper; and Charlea
Hoffinan, way collector and captain of the train of cars ; and the
other appomtments on the said road were made by the acting
Commissioner, under a resolution of the board. The board also
appointed the foUowing chief engineers, Joseph S. Dutton, on the
southern road ; John M. Berrien, on the central road ; Jarvier
Hurd, on the Clinton and Kalamazoo canal ; Traoy McCracken^
34
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a?4L HOUSE DOCUMBNTa
on the Bonbern road and Saginaw canal ; John Almy^ on the
improvements of the rivers and Sault Ste Marie canal* each at a
salary of eighteen hundred dollars per annum.
In pursuance of a joint resolution of the legislature, the Com-
missioners were directed to cause a correct and accurate survey
and estimate of a railroad route, on the best and most eligible
ground^ fixHH Centerviile, via Lockport, Geneva and Cass >polis,
to Niles, to be made, and to report said survey and estimate to
the legislature at their next annual session. Tlie charge of this
duty was assigned to Dr. Alden ; on his being subsequently ap-
Sointed acting Commissioner on the central road, on the 12th of
tiue last, in the place of Mr. Mizner, who bad resigned, it was
transferred to Mr. Lothrop, who appointed Erastus Hurd as the^
engineer to main said survey and estimate ; and said engineer
will submit to your honorable body his report, with a map of the
couittry and an estimate of the expense.
By a like resolution of the legislature, the Commissioners were
directed to curve the southern raih*oad between the village of Pe-
tersburgh and the city of Monroe, continuing the same on the
south side of the River Raisin, if such curve could be made as
cheap as a branch could be made from sakl aouihera railrotd ^ if
not, that they make a brangh road to the village of Dundee^ with
a proviso in relation to a cession of lands and water power (pr the
use of the state.
The acting Commissioner on said road having reported that the
persons interested at that point had complied with the resolutioa
in relation to tlie grant of sufficient land, and the necQssavy water
power, was directed by a resolution of the board to make %
Dfanch road to the village of Dundee, it appearing from the state*
ment of the Commissioner and engineer that a branch road would
be less expensive and equally beneficiah
By another resolution of the legislature, the Commissioners
were authorized, with the consent ot the'coramon council of the
city of Detroit, to extend the track of the central railroad from
its present termination, down Woodward avenue, to its intefseqi-
tion with Atwater street, and thence each way along Atwater
street as far as the Commissioners might deem best for^ public
good, provided the expense should not exceed five thoiTsaod dot*
mrs.
The consent of the corporation was obtained, and the aotii^
Commissioner on said road was directed U> let the same to con-
tract, and part of the work has been done — the particulars of
which will appear in the report of the acting Commissioner on
that work. By another resolution, the Commissioners were ich
structed to contract for one hundred miles of railroad iron* By
a resolution of the late board of Commissioners, this duty wa&
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nmigd^ to G^eml Hamphrey, and his report on that subject k
herewith submitted*
At said meetTD^ of the board, the Clinton and Kalamazoo ca-
nal was located from Mt. Clemens, in the county of Macomb, to
the outlet of Crooked lake, in the county of Livingston ; its far*
tber location was postponed until a further survey should be made
west of that point, for the purpose of ascertaining if a better and
lesa expensive route could not be found. Such further survey
has been ordered by the board, and the acting Commissioner on
that work has stated the situation of the same in his report, here**
with submitted : and also to cause a survey and estimate fit)m
Mt. Clemens to Belvidere to be made, which is not yet done.
And the acting Commissioner on said work was directed by a re^
solution of the board, to expend the amount of money appropri-
ated tasaid improvement on the eastern section thereof, comment
cing at Mt. Clemens, and thence west as far as the appropriation
would construct the same ; and he was directed to have the same
prepeLTeA and let to contract.
The board also passed a resolntion directing the northern rail-
road to be so located through the county of Shiawassee as to pasi
through both the villages of Corunna and Owasso, in such a man-
ner as the acting Commissioner on the northern railroad should
deem advisable for the best interest of the state. The location
has been made by said acting Commissioner^ in pm^uance of said
xesoIuticHi.
The board also located the northern railroad on the south^srde
of Black river, in St Clair county, on the line reported by* the
engineer on his first survey; the resolution locoting said road
not detettnining on which side of said river it should commencer
stating only that it should be located at or near the mouth of
Black river, &c. The acting Commissioner on said road, by
different resolutions, has bebn directed to let to contract fbr grub-
bing and clearing all that part of said road from the commence-
ment, at the mouth of Black river, in the county of St Clair, to
the village of Lyons, kt the county of Ionia, and to contract for
the gra<nf^ of fourteen n^iles, between the village of Flint, in
Genesee county, and the viHage of Lyons, which has been done,
as win appear by his report, as submitted herewith.
The acting Commissioner on the central road has been directed
by resolutions, to prepare and let to contract, that part of said
road between the villages of Ann Arbor and Jacksonburgh, for
grubbing, clearing, and grading, and the same has been let to
contract, as appears by his report
The acting Conrnmissioner on the southern road has been al^
directed to prepare and let to contract that part of said road be-
tween the village of Adria!i, in the county of Lenaweo) ahd the
t^age of Hillsdale, in the county of Hillsdale, for grubbing.
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9W
HOUSE DOCDMENTa
cleeriog, and grading, and the same bafl( been clooe, as more fiiUy
appears fromliis report, hereto annexed.
The acting Commissioner appointed to take chai^ of the river
improvements and the construction of the canal at the Sank Ste»
Marie, has let contracts for the improvement of the navigation of
the Grand and Kalamazoo rivers, and for the clearing, grubbing^
and excavation of the canal ; his report to the board, together
with the report of the chief engineer on these works, contains a
ptatement of the contracts and amount of labor done, and are
herewith submitted.
Resolutions have been passed by the board, directing the acting
Commissioner on the southern road to prepare for lettmg to con-
tract that part of said road between the villages of Hillsdale and
Branch, and the work is now in progress, as appears by his re*
port ; and also directing the acting Commissioner on the central
road, to prepare for letting to contract for grubbing, clearing, ond
Jrading, that part of the central road between the villages of
acksonburgh and Kalamazoo : and to the acting Commissioner
on the Clinton and Kalamazoo canal, to prepare to let to contract
that part of said canal between, the villages of Rochester and
Pontiac But no contracts are to be let on said works, until ap-
propriations shall be made towards the same.
The reports of the several acting Commissioners contain full
and detailed statements on tlie several works, and they are re-
spectfully submitted with, and making part of this report :
The amount expended on the southern road, and
the several works under the charge of L. S.
Humphrey, during the present year, or to the
first instant, is
The amount of work let to contract, it is estima*
ted, will cost
The amount expended on the central road the past
year, is
The estimated amount of contracts.
The amount expended on the Clinton and Kala-
mazoo canal, is
The whole amount of contracts let, will amount, as
estimated, to
The amount expended on the northern railroad is
The amount let to contract on said road, is esti-
mated at the sum of
The amount expended on the Saginaw canal, du-
ring the last year, is
The amount let to contract is estimated at
. i:)eing the amount appropriated on said wcH'ks.
There has been eippepded on the Grand river,
the sum of 13,096 $9
$230,105 51
407,250 00
200,470 74
454^08 85
21,081 57
202,762 29
12,772 44
85,204 31
8,155 05
62»000 00
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HOUSE DOCUMENTS. #n
Oil Uie Kalanmzoo* tbe-sam of td,OSIS W
On the Sault Ste. Marie canal, 794 48
And it is estimated that the appropriatioQ made for
the rivers, will cover the expense of the con-
templated improvements.
The amount Jet to contract on the canal around
the falls on the St. JVf ary's, is estimated at about 4250Q0 00
The expense of the survey of the St. Joseph river,
with the maps and estimates made during the
year 1887, but not audited and entered into the ,
bookst until 1838, is 5,812 23
And there has been paid for instruments^ the past
year, the sum of 408 79
There has also been drawn from the internal im-
provement fund, by the warranto of the auditor
of the late board, and the warrant of the Audi-
tor General, the sum of 927 00
expenses on account of negotiating state loan, in
the years 1837 and 1838.
And by the warrant of the Auditor Genera], for
the improvement of the stale salt springs, under
the act of March 24th, 1838, the sum of 3,000 00
For the pay of members of the board, stationery^
printing, clerk hire, &o., the sum of 3^636 80
of which amount, 92,232 46, was paid by the late
board, and 91,404 34, by the present board.
And by the Auditor Greneral> for clerk hire, in his
office, the sum of 200 00
The sum of $5,812 22 above mentioned, as havii^^ been ex-
pended on the St Joseph river, and also the sum €? 8403 70,
expended in the purchase of instruments, is to be paid out of the
sum of 820,000 appropriated in 1837, to the survey of the route
of the Clinton and Kalamazoo canal, the survey of the Saginaw
canalf and of the Grand, Kalamazoo and St Joseph rivers, and
fqr the purchase of instruments* The expenses tnive exceeded
the appropriation about the sum of five thousand dollars^ as stated
in the report of last year to Uie legislature. No appropriation
was made to pay this excess, and it has been pfeiid out of the
general fond.
A loan was made by the late board to the Bank of Gibraltar,
<if twenty thousand dollars, fifteen thousand dollars of which was
the notes of chartered banks, and the reridue waft in notes of
baidcB established under the general bankiiu^ law ; being someoC
the money which had been paid in by the State Treasurer, of the
moneys received by him for taxes* under a jdnt resolution of the
J^nslature.
Xoanahave also been made by James B. Hunt* one of the
* Digitized by Google
STB HOUSE DCKnaMENTO.
noting CommissioDeni of the late board, without any Msolotion of
ttie board, but as he represents, with the knowled^ and assent
of a majorhy of the late board And by a resolution of the late
board, passed on the first day of March last, fi^ thousand dol-
lars was placed to his credit* and two thousand two hundred and
twenty-four dollars and eighty- four cents, to the credit of General
Humphrey. And the reraution states the> above sums ^ being
for money received by the State Treasurer, and placed in the
bonk as a special deposited'
The repon of said Commiasioner on the subject of these loans,
and also the amount of moneys paid by hitn, as acting Commis-
sioner, for the expenses of running the central railroad, and for
the purchase of wood, which the Auditor General refused to al-
low, or to issue a warrant (or the amount, after having been
requested to do so by a resolution of the board, is herewith sub-
mitted*
The amount remaining to the credit of the internal
improvement fund, on the fat day of January,
1838, being the unexpended balance of the pre-
ceding year, was $902,825 75
To which is added five per cent on sale of publie
lands, 4,994 96
State loan, 965,682 70
Slate fund, loaned by H. Howard, Treasurer, by
authority of a joint resototioo, 7,224 84
$1,206,138 25
And the payments out of the same are aa follows :
Southern raihmd, 2S(^105 51
Havre branch ritiln»d« 235 99
Surveys on St Joseph, 5,783 15
improvemeutaon Grand Riv^r, 1^996 58
do Kalaanaaoo^ S,023 07
Sault Ste. Marie canal, 794 48
Central railroad, 200,479 74
Clinton acid Kalamazoo canal, 21,981 57
Saginaw canai, 8,155 95
Northern railfoadv 12,772 44
Improvement of sah springs, 3,000 00
Expenses paid for negotiatmg the state k)an# io 1837
and '88, 927 00
For clerk hire for Auditor Generod, 200 Of
Surveyors' instruments, 403 79
Loan to the Bank of Gibraltar, $0,000 09
Contingent expenses of the board, 3^686 80
$530^4»6 07
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Leavii^ an onaxpended bahnce of tdTi^GK 18
To which may be added,
LoaD to the Bank of Gibraltar, now due, •20,000 00
Interest on the same.
Due from the Detroit and Pontiac railroad company,
on sale of iron by the late board, 0,955 46
For a full and detailed statement of the receipts of tolls,, and
the expenditures &r running the central railroad, you are refer-
red to the report of the acting Commissioner on that road. The
Statement shows a high degree of prosperity, yet, in the opioion
of the Commissioners, the profits of this road for the ensuing year
will be much greater. ,
In the prosecution oif the several works, the actiog Commis-
sioners hav^ met with jgreat difficulty and embarrassments, on
account of the heavy cbims for damages constantly interposed
for lands through which the roads and canals are laid. It is re<-
spectfully suggested that comnoissioners be appointed on each of
tnese works, to assess the damages upon a view of the premi*
ses.
By the present law» the claimant has the right of appointing
one of the referees, the Commissioners one, and these twa choose
the third, and they must be residents of the county. The per^
sons thus chosen very naturally take sides wilhHhe party or iute*-
rest appointing them, a di&rence of opinion is thus generated, to
be settled by the third person, and in these differences betweea
the interests of individuals and the public treasury, the latter ie
always the sufferer. But when three individuals of high charac-
ter are selected by the state to assess these damages, no improper
feelings will exists as they will most probably bestraagers to the
claimants, and without any local interests to afiect them,an impar<-
tial judgment mny be given of the true value of the pt'operty taken
by the state ; a sense of justice in an honorable mind, on a sub*
ject In which no interests are involved, would be a sufficient pro-
tection to the claimant. This course was adopted in the state of
New York, on the construction of the Erie and Champlain canals,
and so well satisfied were the public with this system that k but
been again adopted by that state on the recent enlargement erf* the
Erie canal. It if le.^s expensive than the course heretofore par*
sued, and the Commissioners would not be liable to be influenced
by the local excitements that are perpetually ffot up by int^rest-
ed persons, on these real or pretended claims for damages.
In pursuance of a resolution of the late board, a survey was
ordered to be made from the direct Hue of the Clinton and Kala*
inazoo canal, down tlie Red Cedar river, to intersect the Ghrand
river. The survey has been made as far down as Io«ua, in the
county of Ionia. The report of the engineer was made to the
boardi and the same is herewith submitted.
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The maps, profiles and estimates of the sarvey of the St Jo-
seph river, have been completed sinoe the last annual report ; no
appropriation was made by the last legislature towards the im-
provement of that beautiful river. The great advantages of
water communication, over every other, lo an agricultural dis-
trict, makes the improvement of this river an object well worthy
of the favorable attention of the legislature, and it is hoped that
the state of Indiana, will improve that portion of the river within
its boundaries.
NcMnerous applications have been made to the board, during