INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Board of Commissioners.

O. C. Comstock, Jr. of Marshall, Acting Commissioner, salary, $1,000. The Secretary of State and State Treasurer are ex officio members. The Central Railroad, which was in operation during 1842 and 1843, from Detroit to Jackson, 80 miles, has been extended to Marshall, 112 miles from Detroit. Under the appropriation of 150,000 acres of State lands, for continuing the road beyond Marshall to the village of Kalamazoo, a distance of 32 miles further towards Lake Michigan, the grading has been mostly completed, and a large portion of the timber for the superstructure got out. An additional appropriation of 64,000 acres of land was made by the Legislature of 1844, which, it was estimated, would be sufficient to get that part of the road ready for iron by the summer or fall of 1845; and there was also appropriated $75,000 of the unpledged proceeds of the road for the purchase of the necessary iron. The Southern Railroad, which has been in operation from Monroe to Adrian, 36 miles, since 1841, was completed to Hillsdale, 68 miles from Monroe, in October, 1843. The proceeds of the Central and Southern Railroads, for the fiscal year ending November 30, 1843, and for the first seven months of that year, and of the year ending Nov. 30, 1844, have been as follows:

As the Central Railroad will extend to Marshall, 32 miles further than last year, for the last four or five months of the year ending Nov. 30, 1844, the proceeds of that road for 1844 are estimated at about $225,000; and the proceeds of the Southern Railroad for the year at $75,000, or upwards; or for both roads at $300,000.

The Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad is constructed by a private company, and is in operation from Toledo to Adrian, 30 miles. The Detroit and Pontiac Railroad, also constructed by a private company, is in operation from the former to the latter place, 25 miles. No statements of the proceeds of either of those roads are published. The former has never paid any dividend to its stockholders; and a large portion of its former business is being drawn off by the State Southern Railroad to Monroe. The road from Detroit to Pontiac is doing a respectable and increasing business.

COLLEGES. The only public and permanently organized literary institution in the State, which may be considered as fairly in operation, is the "University of Michigan," which was opened for the reception of students in the fall of 1842, since which time, the number of students has been gradually increasing. Last collegiate year, there were three classes,

a freshman, sophomore, and junior, consisting of about 60 students. Of the five professors appointed by the Board of Regents, and constituting the present Faculty, only two, the Professor of Ancient Languages, and the Professor of Mathematics, have been in actual service, and in receipt of salaries. During the last year, a tutor was added, to enable these gentlemen to perform, ad interim, the duties to some extent of the Professor of Moral and Mental Philosophy, and of a Professor of Natural Philosophy. It is expected, that the Professor of Moral Philosophy will enter upon the duties of his chair at the beginning of the next academic year. The University has a very valuable cabinet of natural history, (see Almanac, 1844,) and a well-selected library of about 4,000 volumes. There are now four preparatory schools, beside the one at Ann Arbor, the seat of the University, in operation, supported in part by the Board of Regents, as branches of the University; namely, at Kalamazoo, White Pigeon, Tecumseh, and Romeo, having in all, under their charge, at the last reports, about 150 students. In Detroit, as well as at some other points in the State, there are some well conducted and useful grammar or high schools, where the elements of a liberal English education are taught. In some of them are taught, also, some of the ancient and principal modern languages.

Charters have been granted for some three or four literary institutions, to be organized on private foundations, or connected more or less with some one of the leading Christian denominations. The "Wesleyan Seminary," at Albion, in Calhoun county, has its buildings partly up, and is getting under way with very fair prospects and very respectable means for an infant institution; the funds for its endowment having been mostly contributed by members of the Methodist persuasion. A charter for an institution to be called "Marshall College" was obtained by the Rev. John P. Cleveland, formerly a Presbyterian clergyman in Detroit, and latterly at Marshall, but who is now settled at Cincinnati, Ohio; and it is not supposed that the institution will soon, if ever, be organized, as originally contemplated. The Baptists have a 'Literary Institute" chartered, which was at one time partially under way at Kalamazoo, but which is probably superseded at present by the branch of the University at that place. The Catholics have a charter for an institution called "St. Philip's College," located near Detroit, but which has not made much progress yet towards being opened as a collegiate institution.

STATE LAND OFFICE.

This office was opened in April, 1843, and has the general charge and disposition of the school, university, internal improvement, and other lands, belonging to the State. Part of the 500,000 acres granted by Congress to this State for purposes of internal improvement were adver. tised for sale, and brought into market about the middle of July, 1843;

and during the 41⁄2 months to Dec. 1, 1843, there was sold of these and other internal improvement lands, to the amount of $61,941.31, all of which, except a few dollars, was paid in internal improvement warrants. An additional quantity of these half million acres of internal improvement lands, as also of some other State lands, were brought into market in June, 1844, and are selling off rapidly for State warrants.

Payments of principal or interest due on school or university lands can be made either at the land office or at the State treasury. About 25 per cent. only of the principal on sales of school or university lands is required to be paid, except at the option of the purchaser; the unpaid balance bearing an interest of 7 per cent. per annum. A part of what has been paid in on account of the principal of those funds remains in the State treasury; but the greater portion has been loaned out to different counties or individuals, on bonds and mortgages, or other securities.

STATE PRISON. - The State Penitentiary, situated at Jackson, is constructed on the Auburn plan. The number of prisoners October 31, 1842, was 87; received during the year ending October 31, 1843, 43; discharged during the year, 36; number remaining October 31, 1843, 94. The earnings of the convicts for the year 1843, are estimated by the agent at $10,346.36; but the convicts being mostly employed in extending the prison wall, and rebuilding a prison shop burnt in August, 1843, the sum of $8,000 was drawn from the State treasury for their support.

COMMON SCHOOLS. Amount of school moneys apportioned from the State treasury amongst the several school-districts, for the last three years, being the net income of the school fund during that period.

Number of districts that reported last year, 1,743.

Amount apportioned.

$15,496.96

19,292.17

28,063.56 Average number of

months school was kept, about four. Amount raised in the several districts for school purposes, $44,705.90, in addition to which, and to the $28,000 derived from the school fund, there will be levied and collected in each of the counties, a tax of half a mill on the dollar, which will yield, throughout the State, about $14,000; making in all about $87,000 raised for school purposes, or fully one half more than the whole tax assessed for the support of the State government. Michigan ranks next to five of the six New England States, as to having the least comparative number of adults within her limits, unable to read and write. Great exertions are made, and great interest is felt, throughout the State generally, for the maintenance of good common schools; and it is believed, that both as to means for educating the rising generation, and as to the success of her school system, she is but little, if at all, behind the most forward of the eastern States.

Jesse D. Bright,
William Sheets,
Royal Mayhew,
H. J. Harris,
James Morrison,
James M. Ray,
Michael G. Bright,
T. J. Reynolds,
Joseph R. Pratt,
T. B. Kinder,

State Agent, $1,000 and travelling expenses. of Indianapolis, Quartermaster General, of Jeffersonville, Keeper of the Penitentiary, of Indianapolis, State Librarian,

100

Profits.

300

The judges are appointed by the Governor and Senate for 7 years, and the senior in commission is the Chief Judge. This court holds its sessions at Indianapolis, in May and November. It has appellate jurisdiction only, except in capital cases, and cases in chancery in which the President of the Circuit Court may be interested.

The President Judges and the Prosecuting Attorneys are elected by the legislature, the judges for 7 years, and the attorneys for 2 years; and the Associate Judges and Clerks of the Courts are elected by the people for 7 years. The President Judges receive each a salary of $800 and the Judge of the 5th Circuit is allowed $300 in addition, optional with the County Commissioners of his Circuit; the Attorneys have each a salary of $150 and perquisites. The Judges hold two terms in each county annually. There are two Associate Judges in each county, who receive $2 a day during the session.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Indianapolis and Madison Railroad. The distance between Indianapolis and Madison is about 80 miles. The railroad is nearly completed to Columbus, about 40 miles, half way between the two first-named points.

The Wabash and Erie Canal begins at the town of Toledo, on the Maumee bay, at the western extremity of lake Erie, passes up the valley of the Maumee river a distance of 75 miles in the State of Ohio, and thence through the State of Indiana, a further distance of 145 miles to Lafayette, making the whole length now opened, 220 miles. The canal is in rapid progress from Lafayette to Terre Haute, 90 miles, two thirds of the work being completed. From Terre Haute to Evansville, about 140 miles, some 45 miles are nearly finished, and $225,000 have been expended on the remainder. The whole canal will be 450 miles long. It is of large dimensions, and has been built at a great cost. The lower portion of this canal, for a distance of 60 miles, is 6 feet deep, and 60 feet wide.

FINANCES.

The revenue paid in for the year ending October 31st, 1843, was $213,716.66. The amount of the common school fund, derived from bank dividends, was $59,243.44. The number of acres of land assessed in 1843, was 14,674,599. The value of all property taxed, was $103,709,853. The number of polls taxed was 121,919. The internal improvements of the State consist of one railroad, three turnpike roads, and five canals. The amount of the State debt was $13,899,000.00; of which sum, $1,527,000.00 accrued from bank stock, and the balance for internal improvements. The expenses of government in 1843, were $90,897; for 1844, they are estimated at $100,000. The income is estimated at $240,000, mostly paid in State Treasury Notes.