No. 23.

་

1848.

Michigan, March 30, 1848.

Hon. Wм. M. FENTON, President of the Senate :

SIR-The undersigned have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the following resolution, this day adopted by the Senate: Resolved, That the auditor general, state treasurer and commissioner of the state land office, be and they are hereby requested to inform the Senate, at their earliest convenience, whether any reasons exist in favor of abolishing the office of the commissioner of the state land office, or in favor of removing said office from the village of Marshall to the capital of this state, and if so, that they will state them; and also, that they state whether the public convenience will be subserved by the abolition or removal of such office.

In reply to so much of the aforesaid resolution, as relates to the abolition of the office of Commissioner of the State Land Office, they would state that they know of no reasons in favor of abolishing that office, nor are they of opinion that the public interest would be subserved thereby. On the contrary, they consider that even the present business of that office renders it one of the most laborious, important and responsible departments of the state government; and they know of no other office or department of the government, upon which the duties of that office could be well devolved, in addition to the duties now respectively imposed upon them by law, without danger of the school and university funds, and other interests of the state, suffering much more than the two or three hundred dollars that might be saved in the difference between the present salary of the Commissioner, and the necessary allowance to the additional clerk or clerks, who would be required in the office to which the duties might be proposed to be transferred.

The business of the land office is large and constantly increasing. The correspondence is very extensive, involving many intricate and

grievance to go 45 miles further in bad roads in the spring of the year to do their business.

4th. Much the greater portion of the persons having business with the office, are better accommodated at Marshall, so far as a facility and safety of the mails are concerned.

5th. Marshal has also the advantages of the Telegraph for matters of enquiry.

For these reasons, and because the people at the central and northern parts of the State can pay their money into the treasury, it is my opinion that the interests of the citizens of the State will for the present be better subserved by having the office remain at Marshall.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Ver respectfully, your ob't serv't,

ABIEL SILVER, Commissioner.