for appropriations of specific amounts from the general fund for the payment of interest. I recommend the repeal of Act No. 139, Laws of 1871, and the passage of an act making an appropriation from the general fund of such an amount as may be necessary annually hereafter for the payment of interest on the bonded debt.

Under the provisions of Joint Resolution No. 31 of 1869, swamp lands appropriated by any law for the construction of roads in the Upper Peninsula may be used in the construction of railroads. Section 15 of Act No. 155, Laws of 1869, has been construed as conferring upon the Swamp Land State Road Commissioner for the Upper Peninsula exclusive authority and power, without the advice or consent of the Governor or the State Board of Control, to transfer lands appropriated for State Roads to railroad companies. Without now entering upon the discussion as to the meaning of this section, I am clearly of the opinion that the Commissioner should possess no such power.

The Legislature, at its last session, placed the entire body of State Swamp and Indemnity Lands, and all State Swamp Land Roads of the Lower Peninsula, in the hands of the Board of Control. The experience of the past year has, in my judg ment, confirmed the wisdom of the action then taken. I recommend the repeal of Section 15, Act No. 155, Laws of 1869. I also recommend that the swamp lands and roads of the Northern Peninsula be placed under the direction of the Board, with the same power as is now exercised over those of the Southern Peninsula.

I respectfully call your attention to what, to me, seems to be a serious defect in the provisions of Act No. 195, Session Laws of 1871. It was unquestionably the intention of the Legislature, to make it the duty of railroad com

panies to provide all suitable safeguards for the protection of life and property on the line of such roads, by constructing fences, ditches, and cattle-guards, to prevent cattle and other animals from getting on the track; and to make these corporations liable for all damages resulting from neglect in the construction or the maintenance of these safeguards. The railroad companies claim, that under the provisions of Section 36, they are not liable for stock killed, except where the owner of the animal owns or occupies the land directly adjacent to the locality where the killing occurs. If this construction is correct, then these corporations are not required to fence or place cattle-guards upon the line of their roads, where the land immediately adjacent is vacant, though other lands a few rods distant are cultivated and occupied. This section needs careful revision to remedy the defect referred to.

The Supreme Court, at its last term, decided that the statute providing for the removal from office, of school district officers and inspectors, for offenses therein named, does not apply to fractional school districts. There is a large number of fractional districts in the State, and some means should be provided for the removal of delinquent officers in these as well as in districts located wholly within one township. I recommend that the law be so amended as to apply alike to all school districts.

The attention of many of the municipal governments of the State having been directed to the necessity of a more abundant and sure supply of water for the ordinary purposes of the people, and the protection of property in case of fire, quite a number of these corporations have taken measures for the construction of water-works. Frequently it is found necessary to bring the water from a distance outside of the corporate limits. In some such cases, the right to lay supply pipes has been

obtained with great difficulty. This is a matter of much importance, and your attention is called to the necessity for a revision of the general law on this subject.

My attention has been called to a statute of the State of New York, which makes it impossible, without the existence of a similar statute in this State, for the guardian of minor heirs residing in Michigan, but having property belonging to them in the former State, to obtain possession and control of such property. Inconvenience and loss have already resulted from the want of such provision, and I recommend the passage of such an act as the New York statute contemplates and requires.

The report of the Geological Survey of the entire Upper Peninsula, including valuable maps and charts, is nearly ready for publication, and may be completed to be laid before the Legislature at its next regular session. No provision, however, has been made for its publication. Without this, the whole work will be of comparatively little value. I respectfully suggest the propriety of passing a Joint Resolution, authorizing the Board of State Auditors to audit and allow such necessary expenses of publication as may be ordered and approved by the Geological Board.

My attention has been called by the President of the United States, to the twenty-seventh article of the recent "Treaty between the United States and Great Britain," which article is in these words, to wit:

"ARTICLE 27. The Government of Her Britannic Majesty engages to urge upon the Government of the Dominion of Canada to secure to the citizens of the United States, the use of the Welland, St. Lawrence, and other canals in the Dominion, on terms of equality with the inhabitants of the Dominion; and the Government of the United States engages that the subjects

of Her Britannic Majesty shall enjoy the use of the St. Clair Flats Canal, on terms of equality with the inhabitants of the United States, and further engages to urge upon the State Governments to secure to the subjects of Her Britannic Majesty, the use of the several State canals connected with the navigation of the lakes or rivers traversed by, or contiguous to the boundary line between the possessions of the High Contracting Parties, on terms of equality with the inhabitants of the United States."

I am not aware that the laws of this State, relating to the use of the St. Mary's Falls Ship Canal, in any way discriminate between the citizens of the United States and those of any other country. But it is proper that Michigan should place upon record its approval of the article, by giving official assent to the use of the canals within its borders, upon terms of entire equality, to the subjects of Her Britannic Majesty and the citizens of our own country. I recommend the passage of a joint resolution to this effect.

Early in October last several of the Northwestern States were visited by fires, unparalleled in the annals of history. A large portion of the beautiful and wonderfully prosperous city of Chicago was reduced to ashes; the accumulations of years of industry and toil were swept away in a day. In Wisconsin the widespread conflagration was attended with a most fearful loss of life.

While the people of Michigan were engaged in the noble work of furnishing relief to the sufferers in Chicago, the same devouring element was making sad havoc in our own State. Thriving towns, farm and school houses, churches, stock, crops, and thousands of acres of valuable timber were consumed. Nearly three thousand families, or about eighteen thousand persons, were rendered houseless and deprived of the necessaries of life.

Immediately after the fires, two State Relief Committees were appointed, one at Detroit for the eastern, the other at Grand

Rapids for the western part of the State. Committees or agents were also designated in each of the counties and many of the towns of the burned districts, to procure information as well as to receive and distribute supplies to the sufferers.

Responsive to the appeal of the Executive and of the committees, prompt and liberal contributions of money, food, and clothing came from our own citizens, from almost every State in the Union, from Canada, and from beyond the Atlantic. Cash contributions to the Relief Fund have been received as follows:

By the Hon. Thos. W. Ferry, Grand Haven...

492 00

23,329 73

66

Hon. W. W. Wheaton (then Mayor), Detroit...

11,345 64

By other committees and individuals, probably..

30,000 00

Total....

$462,106 30

Large quantities of clothing and other supplies have also been received, the value of which is estimated at fully $250,000. Lieutenant-General Sheridan very promptly proffered aid for our suffering people. From his department of the federal government we received two thousand pairs of blankets, four hundred men's overcoats, and one thousand pairs of men's socks.

I also received from the Hon. George M. Robeson, Secretary of the Navy, a liberal offer of clothing, which was declined, because the quantity of that article then in the hands of the