state, that on taking charge of the public works in April last, I devoted considerable time in going through upon the several lines with a view to this object, made some removals where there appeared to be a want of faithfulness or an unnecessary number of persons employed; but finding my attention called in so many directions, I could not strictly devote my time to any point as was desirable, or perhaps necessary; and have, therefore, been compelled to intrust the management of the detail of the business on this road, to the several superintendents appointed by the board; who, I have every reason to believe, have discharged their various duties with a view to the best interests of the state. And though there may probably be some point where a present saving in expense can be effected, yet I am induced to believe that such instances will prove of rare occurrence. The quantity of iron on hand on the 6th of April last, was one thousand bars on the southern railroad, which was subsequently used on the La Plaisance bay branch of that road. There was also at that time on hand about five hundred pounds of spike, which were purchased for repairs on the central railroad. There has been received, since the 6th of April, 1841, from Messrs. Hicks & Co., of New York, 993 596-2000 tons of iron, of which 28 1-10 tons have been used upon the Southern railroad between La Plaisance bay and Adrian, and 715.669-2000 tons in completing the Central railroad from a point about two and a half miles east of Dexter, to the village of Jackson, and in the necessary repairs between Detroit and Ann Arbor. The quantity of iron remaining on hand at the present time, after deducting a quantity necessary to finish the turnout on the Central railroad between Dexter and Jackson, will not vary much from 250 tons, on 150 tons of which, Messrs. Lewis & Wright, of Oswego, New York, hold a lien for the transportation from New York to this city, of the above mentioned 993 569-2000 tons. In addition to the quantity of spike on hand, as above mentioned, there has been received of Messrs. E. Corning & Co., of Albany, New York, 114 casks of 6 inch-108 casks of 41 inch-49 casks of 6 inch cut, and 8 inch—weighing 66,074 lbs. And from Messrs. L. Benedict & Co., of Albany, New York, 115 casks of 4 inch-269 casks of 6 inch-weighing 59,700 lbs. The former of these quantities was sent on to the line of the Southern road, and the latter on the line of the Central road. In addition to the above quantities, there has been purchased in this city, 2,805 pounds, of which quantity 1,560 pounds have been used on the Southern, and 1,245 pounds on the Central road. A considerable portion of the latter quantity was used in the early part of the summer, and before the arrival of the quantity purchased of L. Benedict & Co., in the construction of the road from Ann Arbor to Dexter. The quantity of spike remaining on hand, applicable to the construction of the Central railroad, about 1,000 pounds, will not be sufficient to the full completion of that road to Jackson. The quantity applicable to the construction of the Southern railroad, on hand at Monroe, as reported by the superintendent on that road, is 20,000 pounds. The iron now on hand, as above stated, is of the poorest possible description; and being also very light in its fabric, will require soon to be replaced with a stronger and better article. The spike on hand at Monroe, are pronounced by the engineer on that road, to be a very indifferent article; so much so, that the undersigned has deemed it his duty to withhold payment for the same until a proper allowance is made for the same. These spike, as before stated, were received from Messrs. E. Corning & Co., and are intended for the completion of the Southern road between Monroe and Hillsdale. With regard to the authority for the specific applications of iron and spike before mentioned, the undersigned would respectfully state, that the joint resolution, approved April 6, 1838, authorizing the purchase of 100 miles of railroad iron, having heretofore been construed as an act of appropriation for that object, and warrants having been drawn for the payment for, and transportation of the same, distinct from the appropriation on any public work of the state, and subsequently the Auditor General having been directed by law, to charge to the appropriations on the several railroads the amount of iron used on the same, the undersigned, with a knowledge of these facts, has felt it his duty to apply this iron on the several railroads as rapidly as the superstructure of the same was in readiness to receive it. No specific appropriation has ever been made for spike to be used in the construction of any railroad; but the undersigned has felt himself fully authorized, under the existing laws for the regulation of internal improvement, and when so directed by the board, to enter into contract for all materials necessary to the construction of any work. With regard to any existing contracts for railroad iron, the undersigned would respectfully refer to page 11, of the annual report of this board, and would also state, (being omitted there,) that in the event of those persons furnishing the requisite quantity of iron, they were also to provide the spike necessary for laying down the same, at as low a rate as they could be purchased elsewhere. All which is respectfully submitted. SHUBAEL CONANT, Acting Commissioner. [No. 7.] Report from the Committee on Education. Mr. Crary, from the committee on education, made the following report. The committee on education, to which was referred so much of the annual message of the governor as relates to education, beg leave respectfully to report: That they have had under consideration that part of the message relating to the report of the regents of the university, made in obedience to a joint resolution of the legislature of 1840. This report recommends two changes in the organic law establishing the university. The first change proposes a repeal of title twelfth, chapter first, part first of the revised statutes. The law proposed to be repealed, gives to the superintendent of public instruction the care and disposition of the lands granted to the state for the support of a university, and of the moneys accruing from their sale. These moneys are to be deposited in the treasury, and then loaned by the superintendent. The accruing interest is paid into the treasury and passed to the credit of the university fund. As the law now stands, the regents have from year to year the avails of the interest of the fund, and the rents of the land. If these are not sufficient to furnish the necessary means for putting the university into operation, it seems to your committee that present embarrassments should be submitted to, rather than any change be made in the law. The change proposed will give to the regents the power to expend not only the interest and rents, but also the principal of the fund. The second change proposed, is a repeal of sections fifteen and sixteen, chapter two, title eleven, part first of the revised statutes. It is claimed that the machinery contemplated by these sections is too complicated and cumbrous, and the duties imposed upon the superintendent of public instruction, in connection with the university, unnecessary and onerous. Section fifteen gives the superintendent power to appoint, annually, five persons to make a personal examination into the state of the university, and report to him its condition and suggest improvements. This duty might be entirely dispensed with, or performed by the superintendent himself; but, as no evil can arise from the law as it now is, your committee propose no change in its provisions. By section sixteen, the regents make to the superintendent an exhibit of the affairs of the university every year, setting forth its condition; the amount of its expenditures; the number of officers and their salaries; the number of students; the books of instruction, and such other information as the superintendent may require. The regents propose such a change in this section, as to enable them to report directly to the legislature. Your committee can see no good reason for this change. The law, as it now stands, places the superintendent at the head of public instruction. He is as much the superintendent of the university and its branches, as of the primary schools. This was the design of the constitution, and, if carried out by legislation, will make our system of public instruction one of harmony in all its parts. With these views of our system of education, your committee do not deem it ad visable to concur in the recommendation of the regents, and therefore advise the adoption of the following resolution: Resolved, That the committee on education be discharged from the further consideration of that portion of the annual message of the executive, which invites attention to the report of the regents of the university, made in obedience to a joint resolution of the legislature of 1840. ISAAC E. CRARY, Chairman. [No. 8.] Report of the Commissioner of Internal Improvement, in reply to a certain resolution of inquiry. OFFICE OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT, Detroit, January 18, 1842. To the Honorable the House of Representatives: The undersigned, on behalf of the board of internal improvement, has the honor to transmit the accompanying statement, in answer to the resolution of your honorable body of the 12th instant. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, SHUBAEL CONANT, Statement of the several sums paid by the State of Michigan "for the right of way and use of ground for the location and construction of the several works of Internal Improvement." Paul D. Anderson, guardian of J. Chovin, Paul D. Anderson, administrator of estate of J. Cisney, Sarah B. Adams, Joseph Arnold, Sarah Arnold, Hiram Arnold, Amount. $42 64 15 00 60 00 40 50 79 50 300 00 Carried forward, |